Certainly, Mao Zhe couldn’t tolerate the fact that the Second Mountain Lord was killed right in front of him just outside of Profound Yang Mountain. If he put up with this, he would lose all face.
Therefore, right after Yun Fei Bai was killed, Mao Zhe immediately attacked Yang Kai.
Zhou Ya and Geng Qing came to their senses, and as their eyes turned bloodshot, they clenched their teeth and charged towards their enemy from both sides.
Yang Kai guffawed, “Good! Let’s fight!”
Without backing down, he lifted his spear and dashed towards the three of them. In an instant, a series of clanging sounds were heard as they fell into a fierce melee. All of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, and as their World Forces collided, the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven fell into turmoil. People from Profound Yang Mountain looked in the direction of the battle with horrified expressions.
As the four figures flew around in the air, the lights of their Divine Abilities blossomed. It was as though both parties were determined to completely destroy the other.
However, Yang Kai seemed to be on the losing side.
Previously, the reason he was able to fight against three people on his own was that Yun Fei Bai and the others were restricted in their movements. Yun Fei Bai was severely wounded to begin with, and in order to protect him, Zhou Ya and Geng Qing were not able to fully use their powers.
Nevertheless, things were different now.
Without Yun Fei Bai burdening them, Zhou Ya and Geng Qing had no more constraints and were able to fully utilize their powers. Furthermore, the Head Mountain Lord was significantly stronger than the wounded Yun Fei Bai.
As soon as they traded moves, Yang Kai could feel that even though he had merged his Small Sealed World with his Small Universe, the richness of his World Force was still not comparable to that of the Head Mountain Lord.
He indeed lived up to the expectations of a person who was just one step away from the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
However, Yang Kai had no intention of retreating. As a Master of the Dao of Space, his mobility was vastly superior to others in the same realm. At that moment, the three Mountain Lords didn’t have a way to lock down Yang Kai, so although they could hurt him from time to time, it didn’t matter to him given his physical strength and restorative power.
The Head Mountain Lord bellowed, “Stop jumping around like a monkey! How disgraceful!”
Yang Kai ignored him as he swept, stabbed, and slashed with his Azure Dragon Spear. Spear shadows fell on them like rain, and every attack carried a horrifying force. Geng Qing and Zhou Ya were terrified as they didn’t dare to directly meet these attacks.
After half a day of intense battle, Mao Zhe suddenly furrowed his brow. That was because he realised that as time passed, the young man’s strength was steadily increasing.
Compared to half a day ago, this young man was significantly stronger.
Initially, this young man could only jump around to dodge their attacks, but now, he was able to counterattack while defending himself. This kind of tendency became increasingly conspicuous.
Mao Zhe couldn’t figure out what was going on.
In fact, the reason Yang Kai managed to make it to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm was that he had consumed a World Fruit; however, be it the Fifth-Order or the Sixth-Order, he had only just broken through so he didn’t have enough time to solidify his cultivation.
He entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven right after he ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, and while the battles with Ma Tian Yuan and Yun Fei Bai had slightly stabilized his cultivation, it wasn’t complete.
Then, he cultivated in seclusion to refine a World Fruit and ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
He hadn’t even solidified his Fifth-Order cultivation when he rose to the Sixth-Order, so his cultivation was pretty unstable.
Nevertheless, the intense battle Yang Kai was presently engaged in was perfect for strengthening his foundation and consolidating his cultivation. This kind of fight was much more effective than simply cultivating in seclusion.
It could be said that as time passed, the power he was able to showcase would intensify until he reached his current limit. That was the reason Mao Zhe had this strange feeling.
The four figures darted around. One moment they were in the sky, and the next moment they were on the ground, then the same process repeated. Wherever they went, the ground cracked and the sky trembled as their World Forces continuously clashed with one another.
Zhou Ya’s eyes trembled as the figure who was flickering around the three of them shocked her.
All of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but why was this young man so ridiculously strong? She initially thought that since the Head Mountain Lord had joined them, there was no way this young man could resist. To her surprise, it turned out to be a difficult battle.
There were probably over a hundred wounds on the young man’s figure, and some of his bones must have cracked. Nevertheless, instead of growing weaker, he only became stronger with each passing breath.
She also realised that it was getting harder for her to parry his attacks.
All of a sudden, Mao Zhe narrowed his eyes and bellowed, “Are you using us in this battle to adapt to your new strength?”
After a long fight, he finally figured out that the young man must have just ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so he wasn’t familiar with his own power yet. That was the reason the young man became stronger as the battle dragged on.
Upon that realization, he roared in indignation, “Brat, how dare you!”
He was just one step away from the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, so he was practically unmatched in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. If it weren’t because the young man was proficient in the Dao of Space, Mao Zhe was confident he could easily defeat him in a one-on-one fight; however, it was never easy dealing with a Master of the Dao of Space as it was simply impossible to corner one. This was what made the young man before him so arrogant.
After realising the young man’s intention, it was expected that Mao Zhe was infuriated.
Yang Kai grinned at him and said, “You’re touted to be the strongest cultivator in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, but this is all you’ve got?” After he finished speaking, he retracted all the spear shadows and fell silent with a solemn expression. Then, he yelled, “Golden Crow Casts the Sun!”
Following that, a bird was heard cawing while a Great Sun rose from his back.
Geng Qing’s expression changed drastically as he shouted, “Watch out, Big Brother! This brat possesses a Divine Manifestation!”
“What!?” An astounded Mao Zhe looked up, and when he saw the magnificent Great Sun, his eyes couldn’t help but shrink.
It was indeed a Divine Manifestation! A Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was able to cast a Divine Manifestation. Mao Zhe couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
While Mao Zhe fell into a dazed state, Yang Kai had integrated himself with the Great Sun and charged towards the Head Mountain Lord.
Mao Zhe immediately retreated. Although he was very close to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, he wouldn’t dare to directly meet a Divine Manifestation; after all, this was something only High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were able to use.
However, his efforts were futile. He was instantly engulfed in Space Principles as Near Distant Horizon infinitely extended the space around him.
“Water Reflects the Moon!” Yang Kai roared.
A full Moon appeared out of thin air as it cast its icy glow across the land, causing a chill to shoot up everyone’s spine.
The Sun and the Moon appearing together was a miraculous sight. The three Mountain Lords stared dazedly at the sky where the dazzling Great Sun and the Ice Cold Moon rose and set in a seemingly endless cycle. The immense power coming from the swirling cycle seemed to engulf the entire universe.
Everything in this world seemed to have been covered by this gyro formed from the Sun and the Moon.
As the cycle spun, those present at the scene felt as though they were travelling across time. Coupled with the Space Principles that Yang Kai continuously surged, it formed into an extremely profound Space-Time warping effect.
It was an entirely new power that Yang Kai had yet to use.
A force that could destroy the Heavens and shatter the Earth came over the three Mountain Lords and they immediately surged their World Forces to try to defend themselves.
Following a deafening boom, a huge halo of light erupted. It was as though the entire World had shattered at that instant.
The energies of the spinning Sun and the Moon exploded and sent shockwaves out across the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven. The forces of scorching heat and bone-piercing cold clashed and formed into an immense destructive power.
Everything at the centre of the explosion was seemingly wiped from existence.
A moment later, a figure, whose clothes were ragged, shot out of the light with a horrified expression. He was none other than the Head Mountain Lord of Profound Yang Mountain.
As expected of a man just one step away from the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, he was still able to escape alive despite facing such an attack. Nevertheless, his pale face and the blood at the corner of his lips clearly indicated that he was wounded.
Presently, he was holding Geng Qing in one hand and Zhou Ya in the other.
Compared to him, Geng Qing and Zhou Ya were more severely wounded and had passed out. Moreover, their bodies looked like they were being corroded by a strange power that continuously ate away at their vitality. This odd strength was profound and unpredictable, alternating between hot and cold, turning their skin from red to blue randomly. The condition they were in was extremely strange.
Still reeling from shock, Mao Zhe took a look in Yang Kai’s direction, only to see that the young man had fallen into a dazed state. With the spear in his hand still outstretched, Yang Kai seemed to be lost in his own thoughts while a mysterious light that contained some profound secret swirled around him.
Mao Zhe was dumbfounded as he realised that the young man had comprehended something about his Grand Dao during this life-and-death battle.
If he interrupted Yang Kai now, the latter would surely suffer an immense loss.
However, Mao Zhe was too terrified of the attack just now and didn’t have the courage to create trouble for Yang Kai. With Geng Qing and Zhou Ya in his hands, he shot towards Profound Yang Mountain and activated its Grand Array as soon as he was inside.
In the centre of the battlefield, the chaotic force slowly subsided. Yang Kai stood there silently as he comprehended the explosion of power just now.
The Dao of Space was the foundation on which he built his Dao Seal, and it could be said that his mastery over the Dao of Space was unrivalled.
Nevertheless, when it came to the Dao of Time, he had always been an amateur.
After ascending to the Open Heaven Realm, he had his own Small Universe in his body. There were the Manifestations of Golden Crow Casts the Sun and Water Reflects the Moon in his Small Universe. The rising and falling of these celestial entities granted him a deeper understanding of the Dao of Time.
Both the Dao of Space and Dao of Time were extremely esoteric and abstruse Grand Daos. The average person would be extremely fortunate to comprehend even the slightest bit of either of them, let alone master both.
It was only thanks to some rare opportunities that Yang Kai managed to achieve this.
In fact, he had never thought about merging these two Grand Daos into one. It wasn’t until he engaged in a life-and-death battle with the three Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain that he gave it a try on a whim.
Yang Kai never imagined the results would be so shocking.
Space Principles and Time Principles had perfectly blended together through the integration of the Golden Crow Casts the Sun, Water Reflects the Moon, and Near Distant Horizon, forming a brand-new Divine Ability.
A glint flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes as he muttered under his breath, “Let’s call it Sun and Moon Divine Wheel.”
The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel wasn’t complete yet, and had plenty of room for improvement. Nevertheless, this Divine Ability contained an entirely new power, something akin to Space-Time Strength that combined both Space Principles and Time Principles.
However, it wasn’t the right time to think about this. Yang Kai raised his gaze and looked at Profound Yang Mountain.
The three Mountain Lords had returned to Profound Yang Mountain, and presently, the Grand Array was activated in full defensive mode. Many people were seen moving around as they got ready to face a formidable enemy.
Yang Kai snorted and placed his Azure Dragon Spear over his shoulder before striding towards Profound Yang Mountain. With a grin, he called out, “Do you think you’re safe hiding behind this thin wall? Since you dared harm my Proprietress, I’ll destroy your entire Sect today!”
Seeing that Yang Kai was coming over, Mao Zhe, who was standing on a peak of Profound Yang Mountain, bellowed, “Don’t go too far, boy!”
He had returned to his home territory and activated the Grand Array, but Yang Kai still pursued them as though he was determined to destroy them, which infuriated him.
Prior to this day, Mao Zhe had never expected that someone in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm would be able to defeat him. Furthermore, it was in a three-on-one fight in his favour.
He had joined forces with Geng Qing and Zhou Ya earlier, but after the battle, the two of them became injured and passed out while he was scared out of his wits.
[Where does this brat come from? One month ago, Second Brother said he was just a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master!] Since he was in a rush earlier, Mao Zhe didn’t have the chance to ask about what had happened.
There was no way a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could break through to the Sixth-Order in just one month and showcase such horrifying power.
If Mao Zhe knew that the other party was so formidable, he would’ve been more polite; however, now, those from Profound Yang Mountain had fallen out with him, and even the Second Mountain Lord was killed. It had turned into a blood feud that could never be resolved.
In just a moment, Yang Kai arrived at Profound Yang Mountain and saw a thick light barrier surrounding it.
Thrusting his spear into the light barrier caused a dent to form, but it soon recovered.
After probing it lightly, Yang Kai nodded. Although the Grand Array here wasn’t as profound as his own Nine Heavenly Layers, it was still quite extraordinary. After all, Profound Yang Mountain had been around in the Shadowless Cave Heaven for over ten thousand years. Their heritage which had been accumulated over the years couldn’t be underestimated.
Nevertheless, since Yang Kai had arrived at this place, he would not back down easily.
Then, he looked up at Mao Zhe, who was staring coldly at him atop the main peak, and grinned. The smile was so eerie that Mao Zhe felt his chest tightening.
“What is that brat trying to do?” Mao Zhe muttered with a frown.
Before he could figure it out, he heard the young man yelling, “Dragon… Transformation!”
A deafening Dragon Roar was heard, then a gigantic golden Dragon Head manifested behind Yang Kai’s back before disappearing into his body. Following that, a series of cracking sounds were heard.
As the sounds rang out, the gazes of those on Profound Yang Mountain slowly lifted and filled with horror. They were rooted to the spot as they witnessed the small figure of a man rapidly transform into an enormous monster.
The creature was covered in Dragon Scales and his hands had turned into razor-sharp Dragon Claws. The Dragon Tail behind him swung heavily, and the Dragon Horns on his forehead looked as though they were made from pure gold. His whiskers flapped in the air, and as he breathed, the entire world seemed to pale.
If this 4,000-metre-long creature wasn’t intimidating enough, the colossal spear in his claws was capable of freezing everyone’s heart.
Yang Kai’s Azure Dragon Spear was now a 4,000 metres long weapon, matching his own length as it gleamed with a terrifying glow.
As rich Dragon Pressure permeated the air, those on Profound Yang Mountain found it hard to breathe even though they had the protection of the Grand Array.
“Dragon Clan!” Mao Zhe exclaimed as his pupils contracted to the size of needles, “Impossible!”
Yang Kai shook his head as the scorching breath he puffed out seemed able to burn a hole in space. As he raised his gigantic spear, he roared in a thunderous voice, “Taste my spear!”
He bluntly pushed his spear forward, whereupon a gale brought up all the sand and stones around him. The cultivators on Profound Yang Mountain screamed, panicked, and ran about randomly.
Not daring to be negligent, Mao Zhe quickly fished out the Array Jade and focused the Grand Array’s power to defend against this strike.
The long spear fell heavily on the Grand Array’s light barrier like it was a giant tree.
Following a loud boom, a deep indent was formed on the light barrier as its glow flickered wildly.
Yang Kai roared and exerted more force with his hands, but he was still unable to penetrate the Grand Array. The horrifying shockwave coming through the Grand Array shook the entire Profound Yang Mountain, causing many cultivators to fall to the ground. Some of the weaker cultivators even started bleeding, looking quite battered.
A moment later, the light barrier bounced back, pushing Yang Kai away as he was forced backwards several hundred metres.
As he arched his brow, Yang Kai praised, “Truly incredible!”
The heritage accumulated for over thousands of years by Profound Yang Mountain was indeed extraordinary. The Grand Array was so sturdy that Yang Kai wasn’t able to break it with one strike. A hint of ruthlessness flashed across his eyes as he stepped forward in an imposing manner.
Mao Zhe widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Junior Brother, please stop! We can talk this out!”
Yang Kai cackled wildly, “There’s nothing to talk about between us!”
Then, he heavily struck the light barrier once more.
Following that, some people were heard grunting. In one of the Array Nodes, three Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who assisted Mao Zhe in maintaining the Grand Array, sprayed out mouthfuls of blood as their auras withered. It was apparent that they were injured by the horrifying force coming through the barrier.
Mao Zhe looked at them and felt his chest tightening. Then, he turned to gaze at Yang Kai, and upon seeing that the latter was preparing to strike again, he said through gritted teeth, “Junior Brother, the Shadowless Cave Heaven is only this big. Don’t go too far lest we meet again in the future as enemies!”
Yang Kai snorted and roared, “Why must I worry about the future? Today I will destroy Profound Yang Mountain and sacrifice all of you to my spear. We won’t ever see each other again!”
Mao Zhe was so exasperated that he almost spat blood, but there was nothing he could say to refute him.
Following a series of strikes, the Open Heaven Realm Masters, who assisted in running the Grand Array in its several Array Nodes all became injured as their auras dimmed. Some of them had even passed out already.
A resentful Mao Zhe had the urge to go out and fight Yang Kai to the death, but he didn’t have the guts to do so seeing as the other party was so imposing. They were defeated earlier even though the three Mountain Lords had joined forces. Now that Geng Qing and Zhou Ya had passed out and he himself was injured, there was no way he could be a match for Yang Kai on his own.
Mao Zhe let out a sigh then performed different hand seals to mobilise the Grand Array’s power.
Now, he could only sacrifice some of the outer peaks by shrinking the protection range of the Grand Array. Only by doing so would he stand a chance to ward off the other party’s horrifying attacks.
Following a strike, the light barrier broke apart as Yang Kai continued pushing his spear forward and jabbed into a peak, which caused it to shake and almost collapse.
Yang Kai took a glance with his cold-looking eyes and realised that some of the peaks were no longer in the protection range of the Grand Array. Only a small area in the centre was still protected by the light barrier. Upon seeing that, he knew that Mao Zhe must have given up on the outer peaks to protect the centre. By doing so, not only would Mao Zhe consume less energy, but he could also focus the Grand Array’s power to better fend off Yang Kai’s attacks.
Yang Kai snorted, and then his Dragon Pressure permeated the air as though it had materialised, which caused the surrounding space to become extremely heavy.
On the peaks that were completely exposed, the cultivators from Profound Yang Mountain shivered like quails without a home in the winter. All of their eyes were filled with horror as they watched the behemoth approach them.
Yang Kai directly swept his spear across one of the peaks. As the cultivators shrieked, a terrifying World Force surged and broke the peak into halves. Stones rolled down what was left of the mountain as the peak crumbled, plunging its inhabitants into turmoil.
Standing in the centre of the Grand Array, Mao Zhe widened his eyes with fury.
Profound Yang Mountain was the foundation he had built in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. It was also one of the safest places in the Shadowless Cave Heaven from the Astral Wind. If this place was destroyed, Profound Yang Mountain would cease to exist. Without this shelter, no one would stay there and obey his orders.
*Hong long long!*
More peaks collapsed. Yang Kai’s arrival was no different from a doomsday for them. He kept on destroying the peaks with a power that could destroy the Heavens and shatter the Earth.
The peaks that were exposed outside of the Grand Array were soon turned into ruins. Just when Yang Kai was about to sweep his spear across the last peak, he stopped as his gaze fell upon a certain figure.
She was a woman who was standing still and silently gaping at him. Instead of feeling terrified about her imminent death though, she looked as though she was about to be liberated.
[It’s her!] At first glance, Yang Kai could recognise that she was the one who had secretly looked for him and gave him the directions that led to the Proprietress’ whereabouts.
At that time, he speculated that she must have been forced to become Yun Fei Bai’s plaything for reasons that were beyond her control. That was the reason she secretly gave Yang Kai a hand.
It was thanks to the directions in the jade slip that he was able to find the Proprietress and the others.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai moved towards the peak and thrust his spear into the ground before his giant figure turned blurry and disappeared beneath the mountain.
The people inside the Grand Array gazed at Yang Kai as they had no idea what he was up to now.
All of a sudden, the mountain started trembling, as though an immense force was coming from beneath it. Mao Zhe narrowed his eyes as he thought of a possibility.
The next moment, as all of them widened their eyes in disbelief, the mountain slowly rose into the air. Beneath the mountain was a gigantic creature whose nostrils puffed out a scorching breath as he hoisted the mountain on his hunched back. Following a great roar, the figure straightened up.
All of them couldn’t believe their eyes while Mao Zhe’s pupils contracted. This man actually lifted a mountain!
What kind of horrifying power was required to do that? Although Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters could easily showcase immense power, they had to use the World Force in their Small Universes to achieve that.
Rarely anyone in the entire 3,000 Worlds was able to literally lift a mountain like this one using solely physical strength. At the very least, it was the first time Mao Zhe saw someone capable of this.
Following that, Yang Kai shook the mountain and roared, “All you ants crawling on this mountain, scram!”
The cultivators on the mountain started falling and crashed to the ground. The quiet woman, who was originally standing on the peak, happened to fall down in front of Yang Kai, who gently then let out a breath and sent her over a hundred kilometres away before she lightly landed on the ground.
*Hong…*
Yang Kai shuffled towards the centre of Profound Yang Mountain. With every step he took, the ground shook violently.
*Hong hong hong…*
His movements were initially slow, as every step he took would leave a huge mark on the ground. However, after several steps, he started running in light steps as his figure bent forward a little.
Inside the Grand Array, Mao Zhe had his expression change drastically as he bellowed, “Activate the Grand Array’s full might now!”
As soon as Mao Zhe gave this order, he heard Yang Kai roaring as the latter hurled the mountain, which was on his back, at the Grand Array. The expansive shadow blocked the light out of everyone’s sight.
Those from Profound Yang Mountain immediately focused the Grand Array’s power to defend.
A loud boom rang out as the mountain crashed into the Grand Array and formed a huge dent on it. The light barrier kept flickering as though it would shatter at any moment.
Following that, Yang Kai brought down his spear on the Grand Array and worsened the dent in the light barrier.
Mao Zhe roared, “Do you really want to kill us all, brat? Do you think this Monarch is afraid of you!?”
Yang Kai had crossed his bottom line by appearing determined to wipe out Profound Yang Mountain.
“Come then!” Yang Kai pushed out his spear, “Fight with me if you have the gall!”
Mao Zhe was so infuriated that he looked like a volcano that was about to erupt.
*Hong…*
As the ground shook, the light barrier appeared dimmer than before. The horrifying force coming through the air caused the cultivators on Profound Yang Mountain to turn pale and stagger.
Spear shadows poured down on the Grand Array like rain and caused it to flicker even more wildly.
Mao Zhe was terrified to learn that even though he had shrunk the protection range to consolidate the Spirit Array’s power, it was still nearly impossible to fend off the other party’s violent attacks.
Under such a bombardment, it would only take half an hour before the Grand Array of Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed.
Mao Zhe reckoned that he had to make a move now. It would be too late by the time the Grand Array was shattered.
Having made up his mind, he said through clenched teeth, “Come with me and kill this brat! Whoever can behead him, this Monarch will promote to the position of Fifth Mountain Lord of Profound Yang Mountain!”
Upon finishing his words, he flung away the Array Jade and charged out towards Yang Kai.
Many cultivators followed him closely. Although they were wary of Yang Kai’s strength, they were tempted by Mao Zhe’s promise. Since Mao Zhe had made such a declaration in public, he wouldn’t go back on his word. If one of them was lucky enough to kill this gigantic monster, that person would really become the Fifth Mountain Lord.
As they flew into the air, those from Profound Yang Mountain were totally united at this moment. Before they even arrived, the lights of their Secret Techniques and artifacts started blossoming. All the attacks contained the World Forces of these Open Heaven Realm Masters as they bombarded Yang Kai.
Ignoring this barrage, Yang Kai swept his several-thousand-metres long spear through the air, seemingly cutting space in half. As he aimed at the area with most people, he yelled, “How dare mere ants act so impudent in front of this King!”
The spear’s might was overwhelming. The clever ones had quickly dodged it while the sluggish ones got struck in mid-air and directly exploded into blood mist, leaving no trace of their existence behind.
Following the attack, those from Profound Yang Mountain started backing down. As they looked at the blood rain pouring down from the sky, they were no longer as hot-headed as before.
*Hong hong hong…*
The wave of Secret Techniques and artifact attacks peppered Yang Kai, causing him to stagger backwards.
Although a 4,000-metre-long Dragon was intimidating, being so large made it nearly impossible for Yang Kai to dodge incoming attacks.
All of those attacks were powerful Secret Techniques sent out by Open Heaven Realm Masters.
However, other than the Divine Abilities of the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters that could slightly harm him, the rest of these attacks were essentially negated by Yang Kai’s Dragon Scales. Even the attacks from Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters couldn’t damage his foundation as they were only capable of leaving some small flesh wounds.
It was a well-known fact that Dragons had superb defence.
Yang Kai stepped forward while kicking the peaks in front of him, sweeping his spear across the mountains below. At that instant, there wasn’t even a single person in a radius of several kilometres around him. Wherever he went, the cultivators from Profound Yang Mountain would immediately flee.
Mao Zhe was infuriated as he attempted to boost morale once more, but his efforts yielded no results.
Yang Kai turned his head and extended his claw towards him as he said with a grin, “There will be no more Profound Yang Mountain in the Shadowless Cave Heaven from today onwards!”
As Space Principles undulated, the claw ignored space and distance and directly grasped Mao Zhe.
Yang Kai exerted more force with his hand and a series of cracking sounds were heard coming from his palm.
Nevertheless, the next moment, an immense force exploded inside his fist. Then, Yang Kai felt excruciating pain as a bloody hole was formed on the back of his hand, out of which a ray of light shot. It was Mao Zhe, who was formerly grasped in his claw.
As his Dragon Blood dripped onto the ground, Yang Kai looked down and saw a huge hole in his claw, one through which he could see the ground below.
However, it didn’t bother him one bit as he swung his hand and roared in a thunderous voice, “Good, you indeed live up to your reputation as the strongest Master in the Shadowless Cave Heaven!”
It was impossible for an average Master to break through Yang Kai’s flesh, but Mao Zhe had easily done just that. Otherwise, he couldn’t have gotten rid of his restriction.
As Yang Kai took a deep breath, his chest started bulging as it was filled with air.
Right after Mao Zhe got out of the death grip, he shot towards Yang Kai. As his World Force surged, he rapidly formed a set of hand seals and sent out a powerful Divine Ability towards him.
However, when he saw Yang Kai’s posture, Mao Zhe felt his chest tightening. Sensing an impending crisis, he immediately dodged.
“Fire Dragon’s… Flaming Breath!” As Yang Kai roared, he spat out a jet of black flames.
As the scorching fire shot from his mouth, it burned down the sky and ground without distinction. As Golden Crow’s True Fire permeated the area, Mao Zhe’s Divine Ability was vaporized.
In an instant, the remaining Spirit Peaks of Profound Yang Mountain were engulfed in Golden Crow’s True Fire. Under the scorching heat, the peaks started melting into lava.
Yang Kai swung his head around as the fire coming from his mouth swept out. Many of the cultivators, who were unable to dodge it, were burned and fell from the sky shrieking.
Mao Zhe immediately retreated and narrowly escaped from the Golden Crow’s True Fire. He hadn’t forgotten about the unconscious Geng Qing and Zhou Ya as he held them in his hands.
It took Yang Kai a moment before he stopped spitting fire as his chest shrank back down to normal size. With a scornful gaze, he looked up at Mao Zhe, who was floating in mid-air.
Mao Zhe felt his heart sinking as he watched the dark flame burning through the mountains. He knew that after this battle, Profound Yang Mountain would be completely destroyed. Just like what Yang Kai had said, there would be no Profound Yang Mountain in the Shadowless Cave Heaven from today onwards.
He narrowed his eyes and wondered what kind of monster his Second Brother had offended. Not only was his Second Brother killed, but Profound Yang Mountain was also destroyed alongside him.
Yang Kai lifted his spear and pointed at Mao Zhe. His message was clear. [Come fight with me!]
Mao Zhe looked down at him, then took a glance at the unconscious Geng Qing and Zhou Ya. After taking a deep breath, he shouted, “This Monarch shall never forget what has happened here today, and will one day settle accounts with you!”
Following that, his figure started fading.
Yang Kai bellowed, “Do you think you can run away?”
He thrust out his spear and penetrated Mao Zhe’s figure, but he felt like he had struck nothing but air. Mao Zhe remained looking dispassionately at Yang Kai as his figure shattered and vanished into thin air.
Yang Kai immediately released his Divine Sense and frowned, for he was unable to locate Mao Zhe, as though the latter had disappeared from this world. He shook his head and remarked, “How strange!”
In fact, he was fully aware that as a seasoned Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Mao Zhe must have some trump cards that could save his life. If he was determined to flee, Yang Kai wouldn’t be able to stop him despite being a Master of the Dao of Space.
With that said, Yang Kai had achieved his goal through this battle. He managed to kill Yun Fei Bai while the latter was fleeing and even destroyed Profound Yang Mountain. It could be said that he had gotten revenge on the Proprietress’ behalf.
The figures around him gaped at him in horror. They were the surviving survivors of Profound Yang Mountain.
Since the Head Mountain Lord had fled, they were now at a crossroads. Certainly, they wouldn’t have the guts to go against Yang Kai. Even the Head Mountain Lord was defeated, so how were they supposed to be a match for him?
However, where else could they go? Profound Yang Mountain was where their foundation was. Presently, the dark Golden Crow’s True Fire was still burning through everything, so they didn’t know what to do even though they wanted to put out the flames.
When Yang Kai shot a cold glance at them, they became horrified and subconsciously stepped backwards, worrying that this guy might slaughter them to the last.
Fortunately, Yang Kai only snorted as his humongous figure shrunk and returned to his Human Form. With his spear resting on his shoulder, he shook his head and declared, “He fled just because he can’t beat me. What a useless guy!”
Then, he leapt into the air and disappeared into the distance.
It wasn’t until Yang Kai’s aura was completely out of their perception range that these surviving cultivators from Profound Yang Mountain let out a sigh of relief, as though they had just escaped from death’s door.
As they exchanged glances, they had no idea what to do now.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai landed on a spot that was 100 kilometres away. With Azure Dragon Spear over his shoulder, he squatted on a certain hill.
There was a woman standing silently nearby. Noticing the movements, she looked up and met with Yang Kai’s eyes, whereupon she subconsciously took a few steps back. As she pressed her lips together, she saluted Yang Kai in an elegant manner.
“Yun Fei Bai is dead,” Yang Kai said.
The woman never responded to him, as though she was born mute.
“Many thanks for your directions some time ago,” Yang Kai said and got up. Then, he swung his spear and jabbed it into the ground, “If it weren’t for you, I couldn’t have easily found my Proprietress.”
“That was the least I could do,” the woman replied gently.
“Where do you want to go?” Yang Kai asked as he looked in Profound Yang Mountain’s direction, “That place is destroyed, so can’t go back anymore.”
The woman seemed lost. After giving it a thought, she shook her head, “I’m not going back, and I don’t know where I can go.”
Yang Kai suggested by saying, “There’s Astral Wind in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so if you don’t look for a safe place, your Small Universe will collapse one day, costing you your life. Since Profound Yang Mountain is gone for good, you can either go to Unrivalled Guild or Twin Spirit Island. I’d suggest that you go to Twin Spirit Island because I’ll be staying there for the time being. If you go there, just tell them my name. Right, my name is Yang Kai.”
Then, he leapt into the air and headed straight to Twin Spirit Island.
The woman remained on the spot for a while before she saluted in the direction Yang Kai had left, then she turned around and headed in a different direction.
It took Yang Kai one day to return to Twin Spirit Island, but before he even landed, the fog faltered and revealed a passageway as a figure came forward and cupped his fists, “Greetings, Senior Yang!”
The person was the Open Heaven Realm Master who greeted the Proprietress previously. He must be stationed here following the Island Masters’ order. He had also seen Yang Kai showcasing his might just outside of Twin Spirit Island some time ago, so he admired the young man’s power greatly.
In response, Yang Kai nodded.
The man continued, “The Island Masters have said that you can enter as soon as you return.”
“The Island Masters are truly thoughtful.” Not long after Yang Kai stepped into the fog, he turned around and asked, “Where’s my Proprietress?”
The person replied respectfully, “Don’t worry, Senior. Madam Lan is recuperating in a secret room, so she should be fine. After you enter the island, someone will lead you to her current residence.”
Yang Kai nodded and shuffled inside.
Upon entering Twin Spirit Island, he immediately caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance. The island was as beautiful and refreshing as a spring day, which was a stark contrast to the desolateness of the outside world.
An innocent-looking woman was awaiting Yang Kai. Upon seeing him, she saluted him and led him to the Proprietress’ room.
A while later, Yang Kai stopped in his tracks in the deepest part of a bamboo forest on Twin Spirit Island. There were some simple-looking bamboo huts here and the place was pretty serene, so it was indeed suitable for recuperation.
Chef and Accountant were seated with their legs crossed just outside one of the bamboo huts.
Upon hearing the noise, they opened their eyes and looked up. When they realised that it was Yang Kai, they became elated and got to their feet.
Yang Kai waved his hand to motion for the woman to leave, then he shuffled forward and took a glance at the bamboo hut that was covered in a barrier before asking in a small voice, “How is Proprietress?”
Both of them shook their heads.
Chef said, “She started recuperating in seclusion right after she came here. We don’t know how she’s doing.”
Accountant shot a glance at Yang Kai with his usual hollow-looking eyes, “Are you injured?”
Certainly, Yang Kai couldn’t be completely unharmed after a battle with Profound Yang Mountain. Besides the fact that the back of his hand was burst through by Mao Zhe, he was also struck by the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques of many Open Heaven Realm Masters. However, since he had a sturdy physique, these injuries didn’t matter to him.
“I’m fine.” Yang Kai shook his head, “What was that strange Artifact Armour she wore?”
Although the armour was powerful, it had some serious drawbacks. The Proprietress couldn’t even recognise Yang Kai and had attacked him as a result of the wild Monster Qi the armour gave off. If he hadn’t used the Soul Warming Lotus at the most critical moment to restore clarity to her mind, she wouldn’t have easily come to her senses.
After a sigh, Chef replied, “We don’t know what it is, but Proprietress calls it the Blood Monster Battle Dress. We have no idea where she obtained it, nor had we seen her use it prior to that battle. It was a first for us too.”
Yang Kai frowned, “That’s a terrible thing. She shouldn’t ever use it again.”
Chef replied, “You can try convincing her when she comes out. Let’s see if she’ll listen to you.” Then, he thought of something and gazed at him doubtfully, “By the way, how did you go from the Fifth Order to the Sixth Order in just one month? Moreover, hadn’t you just ascended to the Fifth Order?”
Accountant gazed at him with suspicion as well.
When Yang Kai previously showcased his Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm might, even Chef and Accountant were flabbergasted, not to mention Yun Fei Bai and the others. They thought that they were mistaken, but Yang Kai had indeed defeated Yun Fei Bai and the other Mountain Lords, a feat only possible due to him being in the Sixth Order.
Upon inspection now, they could confirm that Yang Kai’s aura was really that of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Certainly, Yang Kai didn’t think there was a need to hide anything from them, so after giving it a thought, he asked, “Have you ever heard of World Fruits?”
…..
In one of the palaces on Twin Spirit Island, Hua Yong clenched a Communication Bead in his hand as a myriad of expressions came over him.
When Shu Mu Dan saw that, she asked in puzzlement, “What happened, Husband?”
Hua Yong replied, “Yang Kai is back.”
Shu Mu Dan asked with a smile, “So what if he’s back? Why do you look so apprehensive?”
Hua Yong explained, “He had said that he was going to Profound Yang Mountain, but now he’s back barely a few days later. So… did he actually go to Profound Yang Mountain?”
Shu Mu Dan said, “Whether he went to Profound Yang Mountain or not has nothing to do with us, does it?”
Hua Yong burst into laughter, “My Wife… people always say that a woman will become foolish when she’s pregnant, but I didn’t believe it. However, when I see you now, I think there’s some truth to the saying.”
Shu Mu Dan glared at him in a charming manner.
Hua Yong coughed and went on to say, “He previously vowed that he was going to Profound Yang Mountain, but it is the most powerful great force in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and Head Mountain Lord Mao Zhe is just one step away from the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Furthermore, Mao Zhe has a lot of formidable subordinates working for him. If Yang Kai really went over there, how could he have come back safely?”
“He didn’t go there, then,” Shu Mu Dan remarked.
Hua Yong fell silent. If Yang Kai had really gone to Profound Yang Mountain and then returned safely, his power would be horrifying.
Shu Mu Dan suggested by saying, “You can just send someone to Profound Yang Mountain to find out what happened. It’ll only take a few days to make a round trip.”
Upon hearing that, Hua Yong nodded, “You’re right, my Wife.”
Shu Mu Dan glowered at him, “Who is the foolish one here?”
“It’s me. It’s me,” Hua Yong put on a fawning smile, then he ordered one of his subordinates to head to Profound Yang Mountain to investigate whether there were any traces of recent battle. If Yang Kai really went to Profound Yang Mountain, he would’ve engaged in a fight with Mao Zhe, so there must be some traces left.
After putting away the Communication Bead, he said, “My Wife, please follow me to meet Yang Kai. Regardless of whether he went to Profound Yang Mountain or not, the power he showcased is more than enough for us to be wary. Since there’s also Lan You Ruo, I’m worried that Twin Spirit Island will not be the same again.”
Upon finishing his words, he let out a sigh, for he wasn’t sure whether this kind of change was a blessing or a curse.
Both Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. If they joined Twin Spirit Island, they would definitely become the Third and the Fourth Island Masters, which would strengthen their collective power. By then, those from Twin Spirit Island wouldn’t have to be afraid of Profound Yang Mountain and Unrivalled Guild anymore.
However, if Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo weren’t willing to live under the rules of others and insisted on becoming the Head and the Second Island Masters, the couple would have no choice but to give in to their demands.
The couple had been married for a long time, so Shu Mu Dan immediately knew what was on her Husband’s mind when she saw him sigh. Then, she draped her arm around his and comforted him by saying, “You don’t have to worry about it, Husband. We’ve had some contact with Madam Lan, and it’s obvious that she’s a reasonable woman. I believe that even if she joins us, she won’t make any rude demands.”
Hua Yong still said worriedly, “I hope so.”
…..
Outside the bamboo forest, Chef asked in disbelief, “You consumed a Mid-Rank World Fruit!? It’s a precious item that can make a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master directly ascend to the next Order. It’s rumoured that a High-Rank World Fruit can even allow a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master directly reach the next Order!”
Accountant lamented, “It’s no wonder that you can make it to the Sixth Order in one month. You were previously unconscious, so I guess you were refining the medicinal efficacies of the Mid-Rank World Fruit instead of recuperating. Am I right?”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded.
Chef’s eyes seemed to be glowing as he rubbed his palms together and put on a fawning smile, “Do you have more Mid-Rank World Fruits?”
“Nope.” Yang Kai spread his palms, “I only obtained three Mid-Rank World Fruits in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary. Yue He and Lu Xue respectively had one, then I consumed the last one.”
The smile on Chef’s face froze as he landed a slap on his thigh in exasperation, “How wasteful! Lu Xue was just a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Why did you let her have it?”
Yang Kai explained, “We were faced with a formidable enemy at that time. If she hadn’t broken through, I would’ve been killed. I had no other choice.”
Chef widened his eyes as he appeared to be heartbroken.
After giving it a thought, Accountant said, “No wonder Yue He was able to reach the Sixth Order so soon. It’s because she had consumed a World Fruit… Hmm? Some people are coming.”
The three of them immediately stopped talking and looked outside the bamboo forest. A moment later, two figures came into their sights. They were the Island Masters of Twin Spirit Island.
The trio hurriedly greeted the couple.
Hua Yong came over with a smile and cupped his fists, “You’re back, Little Brother Yang.”
“En, I just returned.” Yang Kai saluted him, “I was worried about my Proprietress, so I rushed over to check on her instead of visiting you two. Please pardon my lack of etiquette.”
Hua Yong said with a smile, “What are you talking about, Little Brother? Madam Lan is injured, so it’s only natural for you to be worried about her. I don’t mind this kind of formality. In fact, I’m truly honoured that all of you are my guests on Twin Spirit Island.”
After a small talk, all of them took a seat.
Hua Yong asked, “Did you just come back from Profound Yang Mountain, Little Brother?”
Yang Kai nodded, “That’s right.”
Hua Yong’s brow twitched, but he still asked nonchalantly, “How was it?”
After pondering on it for a moment, Yang Kai replied with a solemn expression, “Mao Zhe was truly strong, so it wasn’t easy to deal with him.”
A glint flashed through Hua Yong’s eyes as he said with a smile, “Mao Zhe has been in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm for a long time. If it weren’t because resources in the Shadowless Cave Heaven were so scarce, he would’ve ascended to the Seventh Order by now. When my Wife and I arrived at the Shadowless Cave Heaven back then, we exchanged pointers with him and realised that he was truly formidable. Many years have passed, so his strength must have only increased.”
Yang Kai nodded, “The Open Heaven Realm really requires much accumulation over a long period of time.” Then, he turned to look at Shu Mu Dan’s belly and put on a smile, “It seems that you’ll soon give birth to your child, Madame.”
Shu Mu Dan gently stroked her belly and replied with a smile, “It’s still too early. Perhaps it’ll take me another year or two.”
“Huh?” Yang Kai was shocked, “I thought that pregnancy only lasts for ten months.” The size of her belly suggested that she would soon give birth, so why would it take her a year or two?
Shu Mu Dan explained smilingly, “That is only the case for commoners or weaker cultivators, Junior Brother Yang. Given my cultivation, it isn’t so easy for me to bear a child. In order to give my child the best possible future, I have to build a solid foundation in my belly for the child. Therefore, pregnancy lasts much longer.”
Hua Yong said with a smile, “This child has been in her stomach for over three years already.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai, Chef, and Accountant were dumbfounded.
Although Yang Kai and the others were powerful Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, they had never come across a pregnant Open Heaven Realm Master prior to this, so it was expected that they knew nothing about it. As they gazed at Shu Mu Dan’s bulging belly, they tutted in amazement.
After a bit of a chat, Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan left. Before that, Yang Kai and the others were told that some people were standing guard outside the bamboo forest, so they could just tell them if they had any requests.
Yang Kai thanked them and personally saw the couple off.
Nothing major happened in the following days.
The Proprietress was still recuperating while Yang Kai had gained immense benefits as a result of the great battle he fought some time ago, so he needed time to sort through them. The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel especially needed some improvement, which couldn’t be achieved in just a day or two. Chef and Accountant had to recuperate as well.
Therefore, all of them remained silent in the bamboo forest.
A few days later, the Proprietress stepped out of her room. The three of them, who were standing guard outside, immediately opened their eyes and gazed at the second floor, only to see a charming Proprietress standing there, looking down at them with a smile.
All of them were elated as Chef exclaimed, “You’re awake, Proprietress.”
The Proprietress beckoned to them, “Come up.”
Upon finishing her words, she turned around and stepped into the room.
The trio made a beeline for the bamboo hut and went upstairs before staring at the Proprietress with concern.
Yang Kai suddenly frowned and said, “Proprietress, the Monster Qi around you…”
She was still evidently shrouded in Monster Qi, which was the same as the aura exuded from the Blood Monster Battle Dress that she wore previously. Although it was now significantly weaker, it couldn’t be underestimated.
The Proprietress explained, “It’ll take me a long time before I can dispel this Monster Qi entirely, but I’m fine now. It was thanks to you that I was saved.”
If Yang Kai hadn’t used the Soul Warming Lotus to cleanse her Knowledge Sea, she would’ve ended up in a horrible state. She could’ve been transformed by the Monster Qi and become a real Monster who had lost all sense of self.
After she finished speaking, she furrowed her brow and looked doubtfully at Yang Kai, “Why are you in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm now?”
Chef hurriedly replied, “Proprietress, let me explain. This Brat had some World Fruits…”
Upon hearing his explanation, the Proprietress figured everything out and nodded, “You had quite the opportunity there.”
Then, she recalled that Yang Kai had previously obtained some Innate Open Heaven Pills born in the Universe Furnace in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. She couldn’t help but be amazed at Yang Kai’s luck, for he was always able to obtain things that were rarely seen in the world.
Furthermore, the Soul Warming Lotus was still inside her body. She wondered where he found this kind of Supreme Treasure.
However, since he had consumed a Mid-Rank World Fruit and ascended to the Sixth Order, it had slightly made up for her regrets. Yang Kai was originally a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so his limit in the future would be the Seventh-Order. After consuming the Mid-Rank World Fruit though, his limit would be the Eighth-Order.
If he had a chance to obtain a good enough amount of Innate Open Heaven Pills, he would then have hope of ascending to the Ninth-Order. With that said, once the Universe Furnace appeared, it would lead to a period of turmoil, so it wasn’t easy to snatch such pills.
After returning the Soul Warming Lotus to Yang Kai, the Proprietress said, “Follow me to meet the Island Masters of Twin Spirit Island later. We’ll probably be staying here for a long time. Since this is their territory, we have to show them due respect.”
“Yes,” the three of them replied respectfully.
In the Main Hall of Twin Spirit Island, Hua Yong was seated on the Master’s seat as he widened his eyes in disbelief while an equally shocked Shu Mu Dan was seated just beside him. In front of them was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who was reporting his findings to them.
The Open Heaven Realm Master was the subordinate that Hua Yong had sent to find out what had happened in Profound Yang Mountain a few days ago. Upon his return on this day, he immediately reported to Hua Yong what he had discovered.
However, Hua Yong found it hard to believe what his subordinate was telling him.
“You say that Profound Yang Mountain is now engulfed in pitch-black flames, all of its Spirit Peaks are destroyed, and the ground has been cleaved apart? It’s been completely destroyed?”
“I couldn’t believe it either, but that was indeed what I saw,” the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master replied with his head hung low, “The traces of an epic battle are everywhere around Profound Yang Mountain. There are also some remnant fluctuations of World Forces.”
“Yun Fei Bai is dead?” Hua Yong asked again, “And even Mao Zhe fled after he was defeated?”
“I didn’t see it, but that was what I heard.”
“Where did you hear this news from?” Hua Yong inquired in shock.
The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master replied, “It was the people from Profound Yang Mountain who told me about it. After Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, those Open Heaven Realm Masters had nowhere to go. Some of them left with the Mountain Lords, and no one knows where they are now. Others didn’t know what to do next. When I arrived to investigate the situation, they saw me and came over to express their willingness to join Twin Spirit Island. I heard the news from them.”
“Where are those people now?” Hua Yong asked.
“I wouldn’t dare to make a decision, so I told them to wait outside the island as I had to report the matter to you both, Island Masters. They await your decision now.”
“Tell them to come in,” Hua Yong ordered.
The person nodded and dashed out of the hall. A moment later, he led seven people into the Main Hall. The strength of these people varied from the Third-Order to the Fifth-Order. Upon entering the hall, they appeared apprehensive and afraid.
Hua Yong found them to be familiar, so he reckoned that they were indeed from Profound Yang Mountain.
The Shadowless Cave Heaven was only so big, and the three great forces had co-existed in this place for thousands of years, so even though Hua Yong didn’t know their names, he had at least seen some of these people before.
The person at the front was an elderly man in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. He stepped forward and cupped his fist at Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan, “Zhang Shun greets the Island Masters.”
“You are Zhang Shun?” Hua Yong asked.
The elderly man nodded his head, “Yes.”
“I will ask you some questions, so you’d better answer me honestly. If you dare to lie to me, you know what the consequences are!” Hua Yong bellowed with a solemn expression.
Zhang Shun hurriedly replied, “Please ask me right away, Island Master Hua. This Old Master will definitely tell you everything he knows without the slightest omission or deception.”
Hua Yong nodded gently and questioned, “Is Yun Fei Bai dead or alive?”
Zhang Shun said, “The Second Mountain Lord… I’m sorry. Yun Fei Bai is dead. He was killed by a young man wielding a spear. His head exploded. As for what the young man’s name is, this Old Master has no idea.”
“Are you serious?” Hua Yong widened his eyes as he felt a chill running down his spine. Yun Fei Bai was the Second Mountain Lord of Profound Yang Mountain. Just like Hua Yong, he was a powerful Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so how could he be killed just like that?
“This Old Master saw it with his own eyes.” As Zhang Shun spoke, he couldn’t help but shudder as though he recalled something terrifying.
“What about the other Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain?” Hua Yong asked again.
Zhang Shun shook his head, “After Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, the Head Mountain Lord disappeared with the unconscious Third and Fourth Mountain Lord. This Old Master has no idea where they are and how they’re doing.”
“Tell me what you saw that day in detail!”
Not daring to be negligent, Zhang Shun immediately narrated everything he saw back then.
When Hua Yong heard that Yang Kai had intercepted Yun Fei Bai and the others just outside of Profound Yang Mountain, he widened his eyes in disbelief, thinking that a madman had arrived in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. How did the young man have the guts to do such a thing on his own?
He had single-handedly dealt with the Mountain Lords and eventually killed Yun Fei Bai. Even the Head Mountain Lord was unable to stop him in time.
In the following battle, even Mao Zhe was no match for him as he had to return to Profound Yang Mountain and take advantage of the Grand Array, seemingly not daring to meet the young man head-on again.
Nevertheless, the relentless young man turned into a 4,000-metre-long Dragon and even lifted a mountain which he smashed onto Profound Yang Mountain until they were unable to resist. In the end, the young man turned Dragon spat out Golden Crow’s True Fire and burned the entire Profound Yang Mountain to the ground. After the Head Mountain Lord went missing, the young man then nonchalantly left.
Zhang Shun was pretty articulate, so he was able to retell what had happened in a vivid and descriptive manner. As Hua Yong listened to him, he couldn’t help but visualise the epic battle.
After Zhang Shun finished speaking, the Main Hall fell into dead silence.
A dazed Hua Yong remained seated as a myriad of expressions came over him.
Upon Yang Kai’s return a few days ago, he had indirectly asked him what happened in Profound Yang Mountain. At the mention of Mao Zhe, Yang Kai only said that the Head Mountain Lord was worthy of his reputation.
Therefore, Hua Yong thought that Yang Kai’s trip to Profound Yang Mountain was unfruitful, but he hadn’t expected that the outcome was actually the opposite.
Yang Kai had killed the Second Mountain Lord, injured the remaining Mountain Lords, and even destroyed Profound Yang Mountain. So, what did he mean when he praised Mao Zhe for being strong?
Hua Yong couldn’t help but think that a great change was about to happen in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Over thousands of years, even though there had been some grudges between the three great forces in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, they were able to co-exist peacefully. That was mainly because resources in this place were scarce, so no one was willing to get into unnecessary fights. The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had tacitly remained at peace with one another.
Therefore, even though there were only two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on Twin Spirit Island, which meant that they were the weakest among the three great forces, they were still able to exist for such a long time. That was because in order to swallow Twin Spirit Island, Profound Yang Mountain or Unrivalled Guild would have to pay a hefty price, and the rewards might not even be worth it.
However, now, even a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yun Fei Bai was killed while the injured Mao Zhe had gone missing. There was practically no one in the Shadowless Cave Heaven that was a match for Yang Kai.
Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, and given the power Yang Kai had showcased, both Unrivalled Guild and Twin Spirit Island wouldn’t be able to resist him.
The young man was able to single-handedly turn things upside down in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
If Yang Kai had the intention, he could easily become the Overlord of the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Unless all the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shadowless Cave Heaven joined forces, no one would be able to stop him.
Zhang Shun wondered what was on Hua Yong’s mind as the latter’s expression repeatedly changed, so he called out in a gentle voice, “Island Master Hua…”
It was then Hua Yong’s gaze refocused.
Zhang Shun said, “Island Master Hua, please show us mercy. Now that Profound Yang Mountain has been destroyed, we have become homeless. If you can accept us, we will pledge to be loyal to you both until death!”
“We’re willing to be loyal to you until death!” All of them pledged in unison.
Usually, if these people asked to join Twin Spirit Island, Hua Yong would’ve been elated. There had never been a change in the status quo in the Shadowless Cave Heaven over the years. The cultivators from the three great forces would never hop to a different one. Therefore, in order to strengthen one’s great force, they had to wait for newcomers to come into the Shadowless Cave Heaven and immediately lure them in.
For example, as soon as Yang Kai arrived, he came across Ma Tian Yuan who right away tried to recruit him.
Although the powers of these people in the hall varied as they were in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Order, they were all still Open Heaven Realm Masters in the end; hence, they could increase Twin Spirit Island’s overall strength.
With that said, there were rarely any newcomers in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. There would usually only be a newcomer every eight to ten years. That was the reason there were only such a small number of cultivators in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Zhang Shun and the others wanted to join Twin Spirit Island, but Hua Yong didn’t feel pleased one bit as he was still reeling from the shock of the fact that Profound Yang Mountain had been destroyed, Yun Fei Bai was killed, and Mao Zhe was injured. If he was previously wary of Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo, he was now terrified of them.
Furthermore, Yang Kai had some grudges against those from Profound Yang Mountain. If Hua Yong accepted these people, would Yang Kai be displeased?
The worries in Hua Yong’s mind made him feel apprehensive.
Seeing as a myriad of expressions came over Hua Yong, Shu Mu Dan knew what was on his mind, so she called out gently, “Husband.”
It was then Hua Yong came to his senses and took a glance at Zhang Shun and the others before waving his hand, “Have a rest first.”
He didn’t express whether he agreed to let Zhang Shun and the others join Twin Spirit Island.
The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master nodded and led the worried Zhang Shun and the others out of the hall.
While Hua Yong was still anxious, someone rushed into the hall and cupped his fist, “Island Masters, Madam Lan wishes to meet you to thank you for allowing her to stay.”
“What!?” Hua Yong stood straight up, “Madam Lan is coming? Is she on her own? Or is she coming with her subordinates?”
The man had no idea why the Island Master appeared so alarmed, but he still replied honestly, “Madam Lan has her three subordinates with her.”
Hua Yong’s face stiffened. Yang Kai alone was terrifying enough, and now Lan You Ruo was coming as well.
Shu Mu Dan asked, “Why do you look so anxious, Husband? Although Yang Kai is a powerful man with incredible methods, we have never offended him. In fact, we’ve given him a hand. He probably won’t harm us.”
There was a bitter smile on Hua Yong’s face as he replied, “I understand what you mean, but you’re fully aware of the situation in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. No one has ever left this place before. If Lan You Ruo and Yang Kai stay on Twin Spirit Island, there won’t be a problem in the short term. However, will they still be willing to act as subordinates in the future?”
Shu Mu Dan said with a frown, “Perhaps you’re overthinking, Husband.”
Hua Yong shook his head, “I think we have to put our guard up.”
His anxiety infected Shu Mu Dan as she said worriedly, “What should we do, then? Are we not going to meet them?”
“They’re already here on Twin Spirit Island, so it’s not like we can avoid meeting them forever.” Hua Yong knitted his brows for a moment before he gritted his teeth, “I guess we have to play it by ear and find out their intentions first. If they insist… We’ll have to give up our positions to them.” He sighed.
Then, he waved his hand and told his subordinate to welcome Madam Lan in before taking a seat.
A moment later, the Proprietress led Yang Kai and the others into the hall while Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan rose from their seats. After they greeted one another, they sat down.
Hua Yong asked with concern, “Your injuries were fairly serious, Madam. But now, you look glowing. It’s obvious that you’re on the mend.”
The Proprietress replied with a smile, “Many thanks for your concern, Island Master Hua. My injuries have stabilized, so I just need some time to recuperate.”
Hua Yong said smilingly, “Although Twin Spirit Island isn’t big, it is quite peaceful. You can just stay here to recuperate.”
The Proprietress smiled faintly, “I’m worried that we’ll bother you both.”
Shu Mu Dan shook her head, “There’s no need to be so formal with us, Madam Lan. There are rarely visitors on Twin Spirit Island. We’re honoured to have you here.”
Both of them were women, so they had some common interests and soon entered into a jovial chat.
Hua Yong stole glances at Yang Kai from time to time and realised that the latter remained standing silently behind Lan You Ruo as though he was really just a subordinate.
He was shocked as he wondered how charismatic Lan You Ruo must be that someone like Yang Kai was willing to work under her. They didn’t look like a couple either so a romantic relationship seemed unlikely.
It seemed that Lan You Ruo was the leader, so as long as Hua Yong could appease her, things would be easier.
After they chatted for a bit, Hua Yong suddenly asked, “What are your future plans, Madam Lan?”
Upon hearing that, the Proprietress put on a bitter smile, “To be honest with you, Island Master Hua, it has only been a year since this Mistress arrived in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so I know little about this place. Now, I just want to recuperate, so I don’t have any plans yet.”
Hua Yong probed, “If you’re fine with it, why don’t you join Twin Spirit Island? There are only a small number of safe places in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and Twin Spirit Island is one of them. By staying here, you’ll be safe from the Astral Wind.”
The reason the Proprietress brought Chef and Accountant to Twin Spirit Island was precisely for security’s sake. At that time, Yang Kai was unconscious, and she was unable to deal with Yun Fei Bai, Geng Qing, and Zhou Ya on her own; therefore, she wanted to seek refuge in Twin Spirit Island.
Although Hua Yong didn’t immediately accept her, she had expressed her intention to join before, so now that Hua Yong mentioned it again, she would appear capricious if she turned him down.
Before coming to this place, the Proprietress had already pondered on this matter; therefore, upon hearing Hua Yong’s words, she smiled and nodded, “Many thanks, Island Master Hua. This Mistress is more than happy to join Twin Spirit Island.”
Hua Yong guffawed, “It’s wonderful that you’re willing to join Twin Spirit Island. Just like my Wife and I, you are a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so we’d like to appoint you to be the Third Island Master.”
Just when the Proprietress was about to agree to it, Yang Kai, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly said, “I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
Hua Yong’s face stiffened as his smile froze. Shu Mu Dan was also anxious as she stared fixedly at Yang Kai.
The Proprietress kept a faint smile on her face, but she didn’t ask why Yang Kai turned them down. He must have his own reason for saying that.
After a gulp, Hua Yong stared at Yang Kai and asked, “What do you mean, Brother Yang?”
He called Yang Kai ‘Little Brother’ the last time they met, but now it was ‘Brother Yang’. Apparently, Yang Kai’s status in his mind had changed over the past few days, but no one cared about that small detail at the moment.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Twin Spirit Island got its name because there are two similar-looking islands. In that case, there should only be two Island Masters. Why is there a need for a Third Island Master?”
Upon hearing that, Hua Yong felt his heart sinking as he asked in a bitter voice, “What do you think we should do about it then, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai batted his eyes, wondering why this man even asked such a question.
As their eyes met, Hua Yong looked away and gazed at his Wife’s bulging belly, then he let out a long sigh, “Good. Since you have such an intention, Brother Yang, we’ll grant your wish. I hope that you’ll give us a place to stay on this island, considering that my Wife is still pregnant.”
His words puzzled Yang Kai.
A befuddled Proprietress stared at Hua Yong and asked, “What do you mean, Island Master Hua?”
The furious Hua Yong thought that they were trying to usurp his great force, and now they were even taunting him like this? Since Yang Kai had said that there shouldn’t be a Third Island Master, he apparently didn’t want to be under anyone. Hua Yong wasn’t a match for him, and he had to take care of his Wife and unborn child, so he had no choice but to give in.
While he remained silent, Yang Kai suddenly realised something and asked with a frown, “Are you misunderstanding something, Island Master Hua?”
A dejected Hua Yong stared at him and questioned, “What do you think I’ve misunderstood, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai burst into laughter, “Are you thinking that since I’ve said there should only be two Island Masters on Twin Spirit Island, it means Proprietress and I want to take over your positions?”
Hua Yong balled up his fists, “Isn’t that what you meant?”
It was then that Chef and Accountant realised what was going on. As they exchanged glances, they smiled helplessly.
Yang Kai shook his head, “You’re overthinking things, Island Master Hua. This Yang doesn’t have such an intention. By saying that there should only be two Island Masters, I mean the Proprietress is not going to join Twin Spirit Island, nor will she become the Third Island Master. It’s not what you think.”
“You’re not going to join Twin Spirit Island?” Hua Yong widened his eyes.
Yang Kai said, “This Yang just hopes that you’ll give us a place to stay while we look for the exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven; after all, we won’t be staying here forever.”
An embarrassed Hua Yong blushed heavily.
He couldn’t be blamed for having such a misunderstanding, for he had always worried that the arrival of Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo would change the current affairs in Twin Spirit Island. That was why he was overthinking. Furthermore, Yang Kai’s words were pretty ambiguous, which naturally aroused some suspicions.
Now, Hua Yong finally realised that he was reading too much into things.
However, he was still a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master so he was able to regain his composure quickly as he said with a solemn expression, “Are you going to look for the exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven, Brother Yang?”
“En.” Yang Kai nodded.
Hua Yong sighed and explained, “It’s not that I want to discourage you, but I’m worried that no exit to the Shadowless Cave Heaven exists. It has been over 10,000 years since we arrived in this place, and the Head Mountain Lord of Profound Yang Mountain Mao Zhe and the Three Chiefs of Unrivalled Guild have been around for about as long. If there really was an exit, we would’ve discovered it by now.”
“That’s right. We’ve been looking for the exit for countless years, but we haven’t found a clue yet,” Shu Mu Dan said.
“There’s no harm in trying,” Yang Kai smiled faintly.
Hua Yong bit his tongue when he saw the young man’s expression and nodded, “Since you’re so determined, this Hua will stop dissuading you.”
In fact, he had met many people like Yang Kai before. Every newcomer to the Shadowless Cave Heaven was determined to find the exit at first, but after several tens to hundreds of years, they would lose hope and accept their fate.
“If you can really find the exit, please bring my Wife and I with you when you depart.” Hua Yong cupped his fists with a serious expression.
Yang Kai nodded, “En. If I can find the exit, and both of you are willing to leave with us, we can take care of one another on the road.”
“I shall offer my thanks in advance then.” Hua Yong put on a smile, “If you’re fine with it, I’ll give you the bamboo forest that you’ve been staying in and assign some people to tend to your needs.”
The Proprietress nodded, “Many thanks, Island Master Hua.”
Hua Yong took a glance at Yang Kai and said, “Brother Yang, if you ever decide to join Twin Spirit Island one day, we’ll be more than willing to give you the positions of Head Island Master and Second Island Master.”
It wasn’t certain whether he was sincere or not, so Yang Kai didn’t respond to him. Yang Kai didn’t have the heart to join Twin Spirit Island to begin with. The reason he had arrived at the Shadowless Cave Heaven was to bring the Proprietress out of this place, so he wasn’t willing to stay here for long. Moreover, he was a newcomer who hadn’t gained a footing, so even if Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan were willing to give up their positions, it wasn’t like Yang Kai had the necessary authority to lead this great force.
What’s more, although others couldn’t find the exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven, it didn’t mean he couldn’t. After all, Yang Kai had found his way into this place, unlike others who had accidentally fallen into it.
The Proprietress was still troubled by the residual Monster Qi in her body, so she needed a quiet place to recuperate; hence, the four of them soon left.
As Hua Yong watched them leave, he breathed a sigh of relief. Now, it seemed that Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo didn’t have the intention of taking over his great force, which allowed him to set his mind at ease.
However, this was only temporary. Just like what he had said to his Wife earlier, there wouldn’t be a problem in the short term. Nevertheless, a long time later, once Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo realised that there really wasn’t a way to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, they might develop some ill intentions.
Then, he suddenly became energised as he said, “My Wife, it’s the chance for us to strengthen our power.”
A puzzled Shu Mu Dan inquired, “You mean…”
“Mao Zhe and the others are missing, and Profound Yang Mountain has been destroyed, so there are a lot of people who have lost their place to stay. In the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven, only Twin Spirit Island and Unrivalled Guild can take them in. Those from Unrivalled Guild might not be aware of the situation yet, so we should take action quickly.”
Following that, he turned around and told his subordinate to bring Zhang Shun and the others over. After a jovial chat, he directly agreed to let these people join Twin Spirit Island.
Zhang Shun and the others had nowhere to go, so they were feeling apprehensive. Upon hearing Hua Yong’s words, they were ecstatic.
Then, Hua Yong ordered them to invite their friends and family as he welcomed them to join Twin Spirit Island as well. Zhang Shun and the others were grateful and soon left Twin Spirit Island to look for their friends from Profound Yang Mountain.
Upon their persuasion, many of the cultivators from Profound Yang Mountain were soon absorbed into Twin Spirit Island, which significantly increased their power.
Inside the bamboo forest, the Proprietress was recuperating in seclusion while Chef and Accountant had respectively selected a bamboo hut to cultivate.
Both of them had ascended to the Open Heaven Realm right after the Blood Monster Cave Heaven collapsed. Strictly speaking, it had only been a short time since they achieved an ascension, so they needed a large amount of time to solidify their cultivations.
That was the case for Yang Kai, as well. He had to consume a lot of Open Heaven Pills to strengthen the heritage of his Small Universe. While cultivating, he also studied his new Sun and Moon Divine Wheel in an attempt to improve it.
Since his venture into the cultivation world, Yang Kai had rarely cultivated in seclusion, for he didn’t need to do so much in the past. In fact, the speed at which he traversed the Martial Dao was extraordinarily quick. Every time he broke through, it would only take him a short time before he would take another step forward. Therefore, he didn’t have to cultivate in seclusion to refine various resources like what the other cultivators did.
The speed at which he cultivated was rapid to begin with, so if he just sat there and cultivated in seclusion, it would actually destabilise his foundation.
Therefore, every time he achieved a breakthrough, he would go out and get into fights to solidify his realm.
However, the Open Heaven Realm was different. When a cultivator reached this realm, he or she would need a lot of patience. It took time to strengthen the heritage of one’s Small Universe.
It was expected that Yang Kai wasn’t used to this. He had attempted to refine Open Heaven Pills when he was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, and the rate of consumption was shocking. Now that he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he realised that he needed even more Open Heaven Pills, and the results were not even as good as before.
Hence, he decided to refine some resources and realised that it was much more useful than refining Open Heaven Pills alone.
It was only now that Yang Kai realised why Open Heaven Realm Masters were still crazy about procuring resources of different Orders, especially the resources that matched their own Order. Refining these resources was significantly more efficient than refining Open Heaven Pills.
Yang Kai initially didn’t have a lot of resources with him because his previous spoils were all given to Bian Yu Qing. Those in Void Land required a lot of resources after all.
Now, however, he had the resources he had snatched from Ti Zheng and the other ambushers. The contents of the Space Rings of four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were mind-boggling as there were countless materials of different Orders inside, even including some High-Rank ones.
However, half a month later, Yang Kai suddenly stopped cultivating and frowned as though he was pondering on something.
A moment later, he got to his feet and headed to the adjacent bamboo hut, then knocked on the barrier lightly.
Soon, the barrier disappeared and Yang Kai stepped inside and went upstairs.
Presently, Chef was seated on the ground with his legs crossed as he looked doubtfully at him, “What’s wrong?”
Yang Kai took a seat in front of him and said with a solemn expression, “I’d like to ask you something.”
Chef extended his hand to motion for him to ask right away.
It was then that Yang Kai told him about his cultivation process over the past fifteen days, then he frowned, “Although it’s not conspicuous, I have a feeling that something is wrong. If I keep on cultivating like this, I feel something terrible will happen to me.”
A speechless Chef shot him a glance, “Although I have no idea what resources you’ve been refining, it seems you haven’t been trying to harmonise your Yin, Yang, and Five Elements.”
“What do you mean?” Yang Kai arched his brow with a humble expression.
After a sigh, Chef explained, “You rushed to ascend to the Open Heaven Realm, then you immediately entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so it makes sense that no one told you about what you had to take note of after you broke through. Fortunately, you’ve realised the problem early, so it’s not too late to correct it.”
A shocked Yang Kai asked, “So, there’s really something wrong with my cultivation?”
“It’s a minor problem.” Chef waved his hand to motion for him to be at ease, “The Small Universes of Open Heaven Realm Masters are formed from condensing the Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements, then splitting Heaven and Earth apart in our bodies. The reason Open Heaven Pills are able to strengthen our Small Universes is that these pills also contain a balance of Yin, Yang, and the Five Element Powers. It could be said that every Open Heaven Pill has a bit of World Force in it. Once you consume Open Heaven Pills, you’re essentially refining the World Force in it. That’s how you can fortify your heritage.”
Yang Kai nodded his head to indicate he understood.
“Open Heaven Pills are refined by Alchemists, so they contain some readily available World Force; however, raw materials are different. Refining a Fifth-Order Fire Element material only adds Fire Element Power to your Small Universe. Since that’s the case, you’ll have to refine the other six Elements to balance your Yin, Yang, and Five Elements again. Only by maintaining this kind of balance can you increase your World Force and improve your cultivation.”
Then, Chef shot him a glance, “You only refined materials from one or two Elements instead of all of them, right?”
It was then Yang Kai realised what had gone wrong, “I see.”
He had a feeling that there was something wrong with his cultivation method, but he was unable to figure out what it was. Upon hearing Chef’s explanation, he now understood.
Just like what Chef had said, he didn’t try to harmonise Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements, which caused an imbalance in his Small Universe. There wouldn’t be a problem in the short term, but if he didn’t correct this issue, it would eventually destabilise his Small Universe.
Once that happened, it would have serious consequences and take much effort to fix.
“So, when we refine cultivation materials, we should do so after collecting a complete set?”
“It’s the ideal way, but you can also try to collect those materials while refining one of them. However, you have to make sure that the entire set is in the same Order.” Chef paused for a moment, “You’re familiar with the water barrel theory of the Open Heaven Realm, right?”
Yang Kai replied, “En, the shortest plank in the barrel is what decides the Order an Open Heaven Realm Master can reach directly.”
“That’s right.” Chef nodded, “The water in the barrel is like the heritage of our Small Universe. Cultivating in the Open Heaven Realm is akin to increasing the height of the barrel. All seven planks have to be heightened at the same time. Just one of them won’t do.”
Yang Kai cupped his fists with a solemn expression, “Many thanks for your teachings.”
Chef grinned, “It was the Proprietress who taught me all this; otherwise, I wouldn’t have known about it either. You’ve suffered a setback because no one taught you, that’s all.”
Yang Kai nodded. His decision to ascend to the Open Heaven Realm was rushed, so no one was around to teach him what to do after he succeeded and he was left trying to figure things out on his own.
Chef went on to say, “After making it to the Open Heaven Realm, it’s time to slowly build up your Small Universe.”
As he spoke, he patted his rounded belly, “If you manage it well, you’ll become powerful, and vice versa, which is also why there’s a huge gap in power between Open Heaven Realm Masters even in the same Order. In order to increase the heritage of your Small Universe, you can either refine Open Heaven Pills, materials of different Orders, or other sources of World Force that match your own. Either way, this all takes a long time. You’re now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so you’re able to refine Mid-Rank materials up to and including Sixth-Order ones. Given the current heritage of your Small Universe, you’re still unable to refine High-Rank materials. With that said, the higher the Order of a material, the more useful it’ll be to you.”
Yang Kai nodded in agreement. He had experimented over the past fifteen days by refining materials of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth-Order.
Given his Sixth-Order cultivation, he was able to refine all these materials quickly. The benefits of Third-Order materials were almost negligible. Fourth-Order materials were slightly better, while the Fifth-Order ones were much better. He hadn’t tried to refine a Sixth-Order material, so he had no idea how effective it would be. Nevertheless, he reckoned that it would be terrific.
Although he had snatched the Space Rings of four High-Rank Open Heaven Masters and obtained some High-Rank materials, he was still unable to collect a complete set of Sixth-Order materials. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been forced to ascend to the Fifth Order at that time.
After returning from Chef’s place, Yang Kai immediately attempted to harmonise his Yin, Yang, and Five Elements in order to get rid of the hidden dangers in his Small Universe.
He had ample resources with him, so he didn’t need to be thrifty. As he refined a lot of Fifth-Order materials, not only had the heritage of his Small Universe improved, but his Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivation had also been solidified.
While refining these materials, he didn’t forget to improve his comprehension of his Sun and Moon Divine Wheel. However, since this Divine Ability involved an entirely new Space-Time Strength, he had no idea where to start.
Therefore, he could use a wisp of his consciousness to study the movements of the celestial entities and the passing of time in his Small Universe in the hope that he would be able to comprehend something out of it.
Two months later, Yang Kai stepped out of his bamboo hut.
The Proprietress was still recuperating. She was left with some serious backlash from using the Blood Monster Battle Dress, so it wasn’t easy to dispel the Monster Qi in her body.
On the other hand, Chef and Accountant were cultivating, so Yang Kai decided not to bother them. After leaving a jade slip behind, he dashed out of the bamboo forest.
It had been three months since he arrived in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Now that his Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivation had been sufficiently fortified, it was time he searched for a way out.
Yang Kai had to return to Void Land to take charge of everything. On top of that Yue He and Bai Qi must be worried about him.
However, before he tried to look for the exit, he had to visit Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan. They had been around in the Shadowless Cave Heaven for over 10,000 years, so they must be aware of everything in this place. Perhaps they could give him some useful hints.
Hua Yong hospitably greeted Yang Kai in the reception hall. During this period of time, Twin Spirit Island had accepted a lot of Open Heaven Realm Masters from Profound Yang Mountain, which greatly strengthened them. As the Island Master, Hua Yong appeared to be glowing.
“Are you going to look for a way out, Brother Yang?” Hua Yong appeared solemn upon hearing Yang Kai’s intention.
Yang Kai nodded, “Since we can enter the Shadowless Cave Heaven, we must be able to leave as well. I’m going to look for the exit. Do you happen to have any clues, Island Master Hua?”
Hua Yong was quite eager to see Yang Kai leave. The young man was horrendously powerful and had destroyed Profound Yang Mountain. The fact that he was staying on Twin Spirit Island was a potential concern.
Moreover, if Yang Kai could really find a way out, it would be beneficial to Hua Yong as well.
Therefore, upon hearing Yang Kai’s intentions, he didn’t attempt to stop him. After giving it a thought, Hua Yong suddenly dipped his finger into his tea and drew a circle on the table.
Yang Kai looked doubtfully at him.
Hua Yong pointed at the table and said, “If this table is the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven, this circle represents the region the three great forces are able to operate. Well, there are only two great forces now.”
Yang Kai took a glance and pondered on it, “You mean you haven’t fully explored the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven?”
Hua Yong shook his head, “It’s impossible to explore the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven.”
He pointed at the centre of the circle and said, “It takes half a month to go from this place to the edge of the circle. Basically, the Astral Wind will appear once every month; therefore, once you reach the edge of the circle, you have to hurry back; otherwise, you won’t have a place to hide when the Astral Wind strikes, which will destabilise your Small Universe.”
Upon hearing his explanation, Yang Kai nodded, “In that case, with their respective Headquarters as the centres, the people from the three great forces can only move around in a range that they can go back and forth in one month.”
“That’s right.” Hua Yong bowed his head, “Once, many years ago, the three great forces cooperated and mobilised all of our subordinates to look for a potential exit. Unfortunately, we were unable to find anything within the range that we could reach. It will likely be extremely difficult for you to look for the exit.”
There were many people in the three great forces and they had been trying for years but still couldn’t find a clue about how to leave. It had only been a few months since Yang Kai arrived in this place, so it was impossible that he could do something that the three great forces couldn’t after millennia of trying.
On the other hand, Yang Kai’s eyes seemed to be glowing, “In that case, the exit might just be outside this circle.”
The other cultivators could only move around within the circle, or else they would be harmed by the Astral Wind; however, Yang Kai wasn’t afraid of it at all. If the exit was really in a place that was outside the circle, he would be able to find it sooner or later.
Hua Yong said, “Mao Zhe thought the same thing. He even hypothesized that the source of the Astral Wind might be where an exit could be found.”
“Why would he say that?” Yang Kai asked in puzzlement.
Hua Yong replied, “He suspected that the Astral Wind isn’t native to the Shadowless Cave Heaven and instead comes from the outside world. Therefore, the place where the Astral Wind comes from must have a passageway that leads to the outside world.”
“Perhaps he’s right,” Yang Kai nodded in agreement.
“If that’s really the case, there won’t be any hope for us.” Hua Yong smiled helplessly, “Can anyone resist the Astral Wind and reach the exit? Even if the person can leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, no one can guarantee he won’t fall into the source of the Astral Wind. By then, he won’t be able to save himself.”
His worries were not unfounded. If Mao Zhe’s speculation was right, once a person left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, they would immediately fall into the origin of the Astral Wind. The wind that was coming from the outside world was already horrifying enough, so its source would definitely be even more terrible.
However, while others were unable to bear the Astral Wind, Yang Kai wasn’t afraid of it.
After giving it a thought, he asked, “Do you happen to know the direction the Astral Wind comes from?”
Although Yang Kai had experienced the Astral Wind several times now, he had never paid attention to the direction it came from.
An astounded Hua Yong gazed at him and asked, “Are you going to search in that direction, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai replied, “I have to give it a try since the exit might just be over there.”
Hua Yong stared at him in stunned shock for a time before a look of admiration filled his face, “You’re a pretty audacious man. Since you’re so determined, I won’t dissuade you. However, once you leave Twin Spirit Island, you’d better be careful of the Astral Wind. Once the wind rises, you have to look for a place to avoid it.”
Yang Kai nodded. After the direction was pointed out to him by Hua Yong, he turned around and left.
Hua Yong saw him off and wished him success, then he watched the young man disappear in the direction he had pointed out.
A glint flashed through his eyes as he shook his head. There was no doubt that Yang Kai’s venture wouldn’t be fruitful. Although he was powerful, there was no way he could resist the Astral Wind. It could be expected that he would return in a month or two looking battered and defeated.
After leaving Twin Spirit Island, Yang Kai headed in the direction Hua Yong had pointed out at full speed.
More than ten days later, Yang Kai stopped in his tracks and sensed his surroundings, then he became ecstatic. That was because the wind was blowing towards him!
He was certain he was outside of the circle Hua Yong had drawn after more than ten days of moving forward; after all, he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who was also a Master of the Dao of Space, so he was much faster than the average Open Heaven Realm Master.
Presently, he was worried that he might be heading in the wrong direction as he didn’t have a way of fixing his bearings. Since the wind was blowing at his face though, he could trace it back to its source.
A moment later, the wind became stronger. Yang Kai could clearly feel that the Astral Wind had directly entered his Small Universe as it swept his World Force away and began wearing down his heritage.
In the next instant, a gigantic ancient tree appeared behind Yang Kai. The tree crown was so vast that it was as though it could cover the entire sky. As the branches hung low, a burst of vitality filled the air and the Astral Wind was immediately blocked outside of the tree’s range.
Yang Kai still had no idea why his Towering Evergreen Divine Manifestation was able to block the Astral Wind, but he speculated that the Wood Element Power he had condensed from the Immortal Tree was simply powerful enough to ward it off.
That was the reason he had the confidence to leave Twin Spirit Island.
Other cultivators could only move around in a range that would take them half a month to return to their Headquarters from, or else they would be harmed by the Astral Wind. However, Yang Kai was immune to it. When the Astral Wind came, he just had to use his Towering Evergreen to fend it off.
After identifying the right direction, Yang Kai flew against the wind, the Manifestation of the gigantic tree hovering behind him.
One hour later, the Astral Wind stopped as all the noise died down.
Yang Kai, who was moving at full speed, stopped in his tracks and looked ahead. That was because three rays of light suddenly rose from a hill on the horizon and dashed into the distance. They happened to be heading in the same direction as him.
Yang Kai was shocked as he hadn’t expected to come across anyone here. It was said that the cultivators from the three great forces couldn’t come out this far, so supposedly, there shouldn’t be anyone in this place.
After all, there was nowhere in this region that could ward off the Astral Wind, so it must have affected these three people just now.
As Yang Kai stared intently in their direction, he suddenly burst into laughter, “So it’s them! Did they decide to take such a big risk?”
The three rays of light were actually the Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain, Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, and Zhou Ya.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai realised that it wasn’t surprising that they were here.
Since Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, they had nowhere else to go. They obviously wouldn’t go to Twin Spirit Island as the Proprietress and Yang Kai were there, so they would only embarrass themselves if they did.
It was impossible for Unrivalled Guild to accept them as well. Although there were three Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Unrivalled Guild, Mao Zhe and the others also numbered three. If they were accepted, conflicts would arise in Unrivalled Guild. Mao Zhe wasn’t known for being unreasonable and ruthless, but he also had his pride, so the Three Chiefs would be worried that Mao Zhe would covet their great force.
Since these two places wouldn’t welcome them, Mao Zhe and the others really had nowhere to go.
Hua Yong had said that Mao Zhe was the one who suggested that the origin of the Astral Wind was probably an exit to this place. Since there were no other safe places in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, it was only reasonable that Mao Zhe would take a risk and go against the wind to look for the way out.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai had never expected to bump into them here.
He never intended to hunt them down as the reason he destroyed Profound Yang Mountain some time ago was simply to get revenge for the Proprietress. Since Profound Yang Mountain was gone, Mao Zhe and the others had become as pitiful as stray dogs and there wasn’t a need for Yang Kai to add insult to injury.
However, since they were heading in the same direction, they would meet up sooner or later.
Half a day later, Mao Zhe and the others seemed to have noticed something as they looked behind them.
Zhou Ya’s eyes trembled when she looked back, then she exclaimed, “There’s someone following us, Big Brother!”
A stunned Mao Zhe turned his head, then he widened his eyes and gritted his teeth, “It’s Yang Kai!”
When Mao Zhe accidentally fell into the Shadowless Cave Heaven back then, Profound Yang Mountain was the first place he landed on. It had been 10,000 years since then. Profound Yang Mountain wasn’t expansive as there were only about ten or so peaks, but over the years, he had managed to grow it into the largest great force in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and he had a lot of top cultivators who worked for him. Profound Yang Mountain was practically his foundation in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
It didn’t matter that some of his subordinates were injured or killed as that would only mean a loss in power; however, the fact that Profound Yang Mountain was razed to the ground basically meant that his foundation was ruined, which meant that it would be hard for him to survive in the hostile environment in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
The culprit of all his misery was the young man named Yang Kai; therefore, it was expected that he was incensed when he saw him again.
His eyes seemed able to spit fire as his murderous intent surged. He appeared eager to swallow Yang Kai alive as he watched the young man approach.
Geng Qing and Zhou Ya were also alarmed as they quickly surged their World Force and readied themselves for a fight.
They had experienced Yang Kai’s horrifying power before. Prior to that, they believed that Mao Zhe was at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Unless he was faced with an Open Heaven Realm Master in the Seventh Order or above, he was basically peerless.
However, after the battle on Profound Yang Mountain, they realised there was always a mountain beyond the mountains.
It was inconceivable that there was such a terrifying Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in the world. In that battle, they were knocked out before it even climaxed. When they awakened, they were no longer on Profound Yang Mountain. Furthermore, Mao Zhe broke it to them that Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, so it wasn’t inhabitable anymore.
Then, Mao Zhe led them to Unrivalled Guild in an attempt to join that great force.
They had no other choice. In the Shadowless Cave Heaven, only the Headquarters of the three great forces were safe from the Astral Wind. In order to survive in this place, they had to join one of the great forces.
Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, and they couldn’t possibly go to Twin Spirit Island; hence, they were only left with Unrivalled Guild.
Nevertheless, the Three Chiefs didn’t seem to have the intention of accepting them as they mocked them explicitly. Infuriated, the three of them turned around and left.
Since they had nowhere to go, they could only take the risk and look for the possible exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
At the time, Mao Zhe had said it was better to risk it all for a chance to survive than to allow the Astral Wind to slowly grind them to death.
However, they couldn’t believe that Yang Kai had relentlessly pursued them all the way here to hunt them down. That was the reason they felt humiliated and incensed.
“What a coincidence! How are you three?” Yang Kai landed about 1,000 metres from the trio with a friendly smile on his face.
With a dark expression, Mao Zhe questioned, “Are you determined to kill us ruthlessly? In that case, let’s fight! Although this Monarch isn’t a match for you, it won’t be easy for you to kill me either.”
Yang Kai gazed at him with a tilted head, “Do you think I’m here to kill you all, Head Mountain Lord?”
Mao Zhe snorted, “Are you not?”
Yang Kai slowly shook his head, “No. Yun Fei Bai offended and humiliated my Proprietress, so he only had himself to blame that he was killed. The reason I destroyed Profound Yang Mountain was that I was angered. To me, the moment Profound Yang Mountain was ruined, the accounts between us were settled. Of course, if you want to seek revenge, I don’t mind spending some time dealing with you. Let’s see if you’re capable of doing that.”
Mao Zhe sported a grim expression but didn’t respond. Apparently, he didn’t believe him.
Zhou Ya asked, “Since you’re not hunting us down, what are you doing here, then? Don’t tell me you’re here to take in the view.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I believe we’re here for the same reason.”
Geng Qing was startled for a moment before he asked, “Are you also looking for the exit to the Shadowless Cave Heaven?”
Yang Kai replied, “Island Master Hua told me the Head Mountain Lord had a speculation that the source of the Astral Wind was an exit to the outside world, so it might be possible to find it if one travels against the wind,” As he spoke, he took a glance at Mao Zhe.
Upon hearing that, Mao Zhe snorted, “En. It was this Monarch who came up with this view; however, no one can prove whether it’s true.”
“We’ll find out by looking for the origin of the Astral Wind.” Yang Kai shrugged smilingly at them, “Do you want to work with me?”
Mao Zhe sported an odd expression as he asked, “You want to work with us?”
“Why not?” Yang Kai arched his brow, “In fact, there isn’t a blood feud between us unless you want to avenge Yun Fei Bai’s death.”
“We’ll put aside the death of my Second Brother for now. You destroyed Profound Yang Mountain, which practically left us homeless in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. This feud is absolutely irreconcilable, so what right do you have to work with us?” Mao Zhe sneered.
Yang Kai shrugged, “Since you’ve said so, I won’t force you to agree to it; however, I hope that you won’t be begging for my help later.”
Upon finishing his words, he shot a meaningful glance at Mao Zhe.
The Head Mountain Lord scoffed, “Ridiculous. What would this Monarch have to beg you for?”
Yang Kai nodded, “I hope you can keep that tough attitude when the time comes. Don’t make me look down on you. See you soon!”
Then, he took a step forward as his figure vanished. When Mao Zhe and the others came to their senses, he was already far away in the distance.
There was a solemn expression on Geng Qing’s face as he remarked, “The Dao of Space is indeed extraordinary!” Just now, he was unable to figure out how Yang Kai disappeared. He would be unable to fend him off if Yang Kai decided to launch a sneak attack on him using a Space Secret Technique since the latter was also a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Zhou Ya frowned, “I can’t believe he’s looking for an exit as well. Is he sick of living?”
The reason the three of them had fallen into such a state was that they had no other choice since there was nowhere in the Shadowless Cave Heaven that they could call home. Unless they found the exit and left this place, they would be killed by the Astral Wind sooner or later.
However, it was puzzling that Yang Kai was also trying to search for the exit when he already had a shelter.
His action suggested that he wasn’t lying as he was truly going against the wind.
A myriad of expressions came over Mao Zhe as he looked in the direction Yang Kai had disappeared. Although he wasn’t certain whether Yang Kai’s words were true, he reckoned that the latter really didn’t have the intention of fighting with them; otherwise, the young man wouldn’t have been so polite just now.
“He happens to be ahead of us, so we’ll just use him to find the path for us.” A glint flashed through Mao Zhe’s eyes as he waved his hand, “Follow him.”
When he initially heard Yun Fei Bai mention that Yang Kai was a Master of the Dao of Space, Mao Zhe had the intention of capturing Yang Kai and making use of his expertise to look for the exit. However, things eventually got out of hand. Yun Fei Bai was killed, Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, and the three of them had to flee in embarrassment.
Now that Yang Kai was leading the way, they could simply follow him and make use of his skill to find the exit.
With this plan in mind, they kept a distance of 100 kilometres behind Yang Kai, paying close attention to him.
The Shadowless Cave Heaven was a Universe Cave Heaven left behind by an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master after his death. Supposedly, there should be some kind of inheritance of the Shadowless Divine Monarch in this place. Although it might not be as ample as the one in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, it shouldn’t be so destitute.
However, the arrival of the Astral Wind once a month meant that even if there were any resources left behind, they would’ve lost their spirituality and turned into dust over the years. After all, the Astral Wind was so eerie that even Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were unable to resist it.
So far, Yang Kai hadn’t discovered anything useful. Wherever he went, all he could see was barren land as the entire world was infused with Death Qi.
From time to time, he would stop to observe his surroundings for a moment before continuing his journey.
Mao Zhe and the others followed him closely, but they had no idea what he was trying to do. They also tried to look into the places Yang Kai had stopped, but they couldn’t find anything of interest.
As time passed, Mao Zhe and the others began to grow anxious.
The Astral Wind would appear once a month and they had previously endured it once, which caused huge losses to their Small Universes. If they couldn’t find the exit before the Astral Wind struck again, they would suffer even greater losses.
A few days later, the three of them stood in the void as they silently observed the figure on a barren peak that was a few kilometres away.
An impatient Zhou Ya asked, “He’s been standing there for half a day. What is he trying to do?”
Although Yang Kai had stopped in some places from time to time, it was the first time he remained stationary for such a long time.
Mao Zhe stared intently at Yang Kai and observed every change in his expression, then he excitedly said, “Perhaps he has discovered something.”
Upon hearing that, Zhou Ya and Geng Qing were thrilled as they looked in Yang Kai’s direction with nervous but hopeful gazes.
It would be a good thing for them if Yang Kai could find the exit. In that case, they would be able to leave this accursed place.
There came a moment when Yang Kai let out a breath and opened his eyes, then he gazed at the three of them with a smile, “Head Mountain Lord, what if I say I’ve found the exit? Would you believe me?”
Mao Zhe became excited, “Are you serious?”
Yang Kai pointed at the space in front of him and declared, “It’s right here!”
Mao Zhe immediately released his Divine Sense to scan the area, but a long time later, he shook his head, “This Monarch can’t detect anything, so I don’t know if I should believe you or not.”
Yang Kai guffawed, “It’s simple to prove if I’m telling the truth.” After he finished speaking, Space Principles around him surged as he performed a set of hand seals.
All of a sudden, Mao Zhe had a bad premonition as he exclaimed, “What are you doing?”
Yang Kai flashed a grin at him, “Take a guess.”
Mao Zhe yelled, “Stop him!”
As he spoke, he charged forward and surged his World Force before pushing out his palm at Yang Kai.
“Too late!” Yang Kai roared as he jabbed his hands into the Void and stomped his foot on the ground, “Open!”
A cracking sound was heard as though something had snapped. The three of them were dumbfounded as they saw a crack appearing in the Void above the peak.
The horrifying sound of a gale reverberated as the Astral Wind came rushing through the Void Crack that was forcefully opened.
“It’s the Astral Wind!” Mao Zhe’s expression changed drastically.
A Void Crack suddenly appeared above the barren peak, and through the crack came the violent Astral Wind.
Mao Zhe was both surprised and shocked.
He was surprised because his speculation was right. The origin of the Astral Wind was really where the exit was. The Astral Wind didn’t belong in the Shadowless Cave Heaven to begin with; instead, it blew into this place from the outside world. Perhaps they could leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven by going past the crack.
However, he was shocked because it was the first time he saw such an intense Astral Wind.
He had lived in the Shadowless Cave Heaven for about 10,000 years, but it was the first time he came across such a violent gale.
On second thought though, it wasn’t so surprising. This place was considered the source of the Astral Wind, so it was expected that the gale here was fiercer than other parts of the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Mao Zhe could clearly feel the Astral Wind gusting into his Small Universe, bringing his World Force away and undermining his heritage. All of his vitality weltered, and it was as though his bones had softened.
“You’re insane!” Mao Zhe glared at Yang Kai in a way as though he wanted to eat him alive, “Even if you want to die, don’t drag us down with you!”
While he reproached the young man, he kept looking for somewhere that could fend off the Astral Wind. Unfortunately, there wasn’t such a place within his sight. The Astral Wind seemed to have filled the entire universe, and no place was safe.
Yang Kai, however, was just standing in front of the Void Crack. There was an ancient tree behind him that exuded vibrant vitality. He was engulfed in the low-hanging branches and as the Astral Wind gusted through the canopy, the branches swayed lightly but the man inside wasn’t bothered one bit. He just stared silently at the three of them who looked like they were on pins and needles.
Mao Zhe swept a glance over the ancient tree, then his pupils contracted as he shouted, “You’re able to fend off the Astral Wind?”
“What’s so hard about that?” Yang Kai put on a faint smile.
“That’s impossible!” Mao Zhe growled.
Although he wasn’t willing to believe it, what he was seeing wasn’t fake. Yang Kai was just standing outside of the wind source. Supposedly, he would be more severely affected than the others; however, the reality was that within the ancient tree’s range, the Astral Wind was warded off as though it was blocked by an invisible force.
[That’s the reason he’s so confident!] A realization dawned upon Mao Zhe. Just now, he doubted why Yang Kai had come all the way here to look for the exit instead of staying on Twin Spirit Island; after all, the Astral Wind would strike once a month, and every strike could cause immense losses to a cultivator’s Small Universe.
Nevertheless, it now seemed that Yang Kai wasn’t afraid of the Astral Wind.
At that instant, he recalled that Yang Kai had told him to keep it up and he must never beg him for help. The young man was clearly waiting to embarrass him.
Mao Zhe was so infuriated that his murderous intent surged and he roared, “Kill!”
Upon finishing his words, he charged towards Yang Kai.
Without hesitation, Zhou Ya and Geng Qing followed right behind him. The three Mountain Lords had joined forces again as they pounced on the young man in an imposing manner.
They had previously done that on Profound Yang Mountain, but they were eventually defeated by Yang Kai. It wasn’t that they were weak. It was because Mao Zhe believed that he was the strongest cultivator in the Shadowless Cave Heaven that he underestimated Yang Kai. Once a mistake was made, it was hard for him to turn things around.
After the incident, he gave it a thought and reckoned that if he hadn’t been negligent, things wouldn’t have ended up in such a terrible state. Regardless of how powerful Yang Kai was, he hadn’t reached the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm. He was just a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Given the harsh lesson previously, Mao Zhe wouldn’t dare to lower his guard now; therefore, he went all out from the start. His Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm aura shook the World as he attacked.
When Yang Kai, who was standing outside the Void Crack, saw that the Mountain Lords were as ferocious as tigers, he merely shook his head and before the three of them could strike him, he directly disappeared from the spot.
Mao Zhe almost sprayed out a mouthful of blood with exasperation.
He was ready to strike, but his target had gone missing all of a sudden, which made him feel like he had punched a pile of cotton. It was expected that he was vexed.
Turning his head, he saw Yang Kai standing just more than 10 kilometres away and staring silently at them.
“Big Brother!” Geng Qing awaited his order.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Mao Zhe said through gritted teeth, “Go!”
Then, he directly plunged into the Void Crack and disappeared. Seeing that, Geng Qing and Zhou Ya hurriedly followed him.
“They’re pretty resolute.” Yang Kai watched them leave and nodded gently.
As the Astral Wind devastated the surroundings, the three of them were losing their strength with each passing breath. If this dragged on, it could cause their Small Universes to collapse.
Rather than getting tangled up with Yang Kai, they figured it was better to look for the exit through the wind source. As long as they could get out of the wind source, they would be able to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven and obtain their freedom.
However, it wasn’t an easy feat to leave.
Yang Kai looked silently at the Void Crack he had torn apart with a meaningful grin on his face as the relentless Astral Wind caused the branches of the ancient tree behind him to sway.
After just ten breaths of time, three figures shot out of the Void Crack, looking battered with unstable auras. They were Mao Zhe and the others who had entered the crack just now.
In just ten breaths of time, their auras had dropped significantly. It was apparent that they had suffered some huge losses. Presently, they all looked horrified as though they were being pursued by some kind of hideous beast. In quick steps, they ran as far away as possible from the Void Crack and disappeared over the horizon.
Before they vanished from sight, Mao Zhe glared at Yang Kai and snarled, “This Monarch will never forget what you’ve done to me and will get even with you one day!”
Yang Kai put on a faint smile and nonchalantly chased after them.
Mao Zhe and the others thought that they would just stay as far away from the wind source as possible, but regardless of how far they went, they were still unable to get rid of the Astral Wind’s harassment.
What made them even more incensed was the fact that Yang Kai was calmly following them, and they were unable to get rid of him.
He didn’t attempt to attack them as he just gazed at them from afar as though he was watching a good show.
Two hours later, Zhou Ya screamed with a pale face, “Something is wrong, Big Brother!”
Mao Zhe’s expression was so cold that it was as though one could scrape a layer of frost off his face. Certainly, he had also realised that something was off. Usually, the Astral Wind would only last for about an hour before it stopped, but now it had far exceeded its normal duration.
After giving it a thought, he realised that the cause of the Astral Wind this time was that Yang Kai had torn the Void apart and exposed the wind source. If the Void Crack wasn’t closed, the wind source wouldn’t disappear; therefore, they were unable to draw on their past experiences to make a judgement.
However, under the influence of the Astral Wind, the heritages of their Small Universes were draining away at a steady pace. There would come a moment when their cultivation regressed or their Small Universes might even fall apart directly.
One hour later, the Astral Wind still didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon and Zhou Ya appeared to be in a desperate state.
Geng Qing took a glance at the relentless Yang Kai and said through clenched teeth, “Why don’t we fight it out with him, Big Brother?”
There was a bitter smile on Mao Zhe’s face as he shook his head, “We’re no longer a match for him.”
If they were still in peak condition, they could have joined forces and fought against Yang Kai; however, presently, their strengths had plummeted significantly, so how were they supposed to defeat him?
They were unable to flee either. If Yang Kai had the intention, he could wait for their strength to drop further and easily kill them off. He didn’t even need to make a move actually, for it would only take three to five days before the three of them were killed by the Astral Wind.
All of a sudden, Mao Zhe stopped in his tracks and turned around. As he stared at the approaching Yang Kai, he questioned in a grim voice, “What do you want?”
Yang Kai stopped and hovered in mid-air. The branches of the ancient tree behind him hung low and his stable aura suggested that he hadn’t even been affected by the Astral Wind one bit in the past three hours.
He looked condescendingly at Mao Zhe and asked, “You’re an intelligent man, Head Mountain Lord, so why is there a need to ask the obvious?”
Mao Zhe asked, “You’ve torn space apart and exposed the wind source. Now, the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven will be devastated by the Astral Wind. What benefits would that bring you?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I just wanted to see if I could break through the Void and connect to the outside world. Exposing the wind source was just an accident.”
Mao Zhe scoffed, “Even if that’s true, what are you trying to achieve by following us but not attacking? I hope you’re not going to tell me that you want to collect our corpses.”
Yang Kai sneered, “I don’t have such a distasteful hobby.”
Mao Zhe’s face fell as he took a glance at the tree behind the young man, “Do you want us to submit to you, then?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I’m just trying to give you all a chance to survive. In this situation, you’re going to lose your lives if you don’t submit to me. I believe no one is willing to lose their life when there is another option, including you all. Why would you turn me down when there’s a chance to survive?”
Mao Zhe said through clenched teeth, “This Monarch has lived for a long time, and has killed countless people before. Do you think I fear death?”
Yang Kai rubbed his palms together, “I admire the fact that you’re not afraid of death, Head Mountain Lord. You’re truly valiant. If you insist on dying today, I won’t stop you. After you pass away, I’ll help you find a proper place and bury your corpse. However… sometimes simply dying isn’t the worst fate a man can face. Seeing the cultivation you’ve accumulated over millennia slowly being scraped away, all your hopes, dreams, and aspirations taken from you piece by piece, now that sounds like a fate worse than death.”
Mao Zhe’s expression darkened when he heard that.
Just like what Yang Kai had said, life or death already didn’t matter to someone like Mao Zhe. He had lived for a long time and killed innumerable people in the past. He could accept it if he were to die in battle.
However, seeing his life’s work slowly taken from him, the heritage of his Small Universe shaved off one piece at a time while being powerless to resist, it was simply intolerable. It was just like seeing a thief barging into his house, taking away all his property and burning his home down while he was forced to watch.
The whole point of cultivation was to traverse one’s Martial Dao. No one could tolerate the notion of their cultivation being stolen from them.
Geng Qing’s face was livid as he shuddered in rage and unwillingness. It was as though he could imagine himself perishing into nothingness.
Zhou Ya pressed her lips together and her eyes were filled with fear and anxiety.
Yang Kai extended his hand and said, “I truly admire the fact that you’re so calm in the face of death. Since you’re determined to die, I will stop persuading you. All of you may set off on your journey to the Yellow Springs now!”
He appeared ready to watch them slowly perish on their own.
The Astral Wind never stopped as the entire Shadowless Cave Heaven was devastated by the sandstorm it kicked up.
Two parties silently confronted each other. While Yang Kai was calm and collected, a myriad of expressions came over the three Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain.
“Big Brother,” Zhou Ya called out gently.
Mao Zhe turned to look at her, and as their eyes met, he couldn’t help but recall the moments they had spent together in the past. The coldness on his face slowly melted away.
After a sigh, he gazed at Yang Kai and asked, “Will you ensure our safety if we submit to you?”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “Not only can I ensure your safety, but I can also bring you out of the Shadowless Cave Heaven.”
Mao Zhe shook his head, “How do I know if your Divine Manifestation is able to protect others as well?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “It’s easy. Just come over and give it a try if you don’t believe me.”
Mao Zhe nodded, “I’ll do that then.” After he finished speaking, he was ready to charge towards Yang Kai.
Geng Qing immediately stopped him, “I’ll do it, Big Brother!” Before Mao Zhe could object to it, he had already gone on ahead. Apparently, he was worried that Yang Kai might harm Mao Zhe, so he decided to give it a try in his stead.
In the blink of an eye, Geng Qing had already reached Yang Kai, who didn’t stop him and even opened a gap in the Towering Evergreen’s protection to let him come in.
Geng Qing remained vigilant while standing beside Yang Kai. As he looked up at the tree crown and observed the low-hanging branches, his expression was soon transformed by shock.
Standing in the protection range of this ancient tree, he couldn’t feel the slightest harassment from the Astral Wind. Besides that, the ample vitality around him soothed his body and mind, and his fatigued figure seemed to have been rejuvenated in an instant.
He had never seen or heard of such a Divine Manifestation before.
More than ten breaths later, he dashed out of the protection range. Before that, he took a glance at Yang Kai with a conflicted gaze.
Upon his return, he secretly spoke to Mao Zhe and narrated what he had gone through just now. As Mao Zhe listened to him, he narrowed his eyes.
A moment later, Mao Zhe let out a sigh, “Fine. We have nowhere else to go in Shadowless Cave Heaven. If you’re able to bring us out of this place, we’re willing to submit to you.”
If he could leave this place, he would have a chance to ascend to the Seventh Order, which was greatly tempting.
Yang Kai rubbed his palms together and said, “Head Mountain Lord is a straightforward and flexible man. However… how do I know if it’s not just an empty promise? Since you’ve made such a decision, I hope you’ll give me some assurance. I don’t wish for you to betray me one day; after all, we haven’t really been on good terms.”
Mao Zhe snorted, “What kind of assurance do you want? Do you want us to make a heart demon oath?”
“There’s no need for that.” Yang Kai grinned at him and summoned an ancient-looking book, “You just have to use your Blood Essence to write your names in here.”
Mao Zhe’s expression changed, “What’s this?”
“The Loyalty List!” As Yang Kai spoke, he tossed the book at Mao Zhe.
After taking it, Mao Zhe opened it and realised there were only nine pages in the Loyalty List. A person named Chen Tian Fei was on the first page, Hei He was on the second page, and some Yun Xing Hua was on the third page. The rest of the pages were blank.
As he scanned the Loyalty List with his Divine Sense, Mao Zhe realised that the book contained a mysterious power. Although he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he was still unable to see through it.
The thin book felt extremely heavy in his hands, as though it weighed as much as a mountain.
He looked up at Yang Kai and asked, “What’s the use of this thing?”
Yang Kai replied honestly, “Once you leave your name on it, your life will come under my control.”
Mao Zhe’s expression changed.
Geng Qing bellowed, “Brat, don’t go too far!” The three of them were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. If Yang Kai’s words were true, they would essentially become his slaves by leaving their names in this book. He’d rather die than be humiliated in such a way.
Yang Kai dispassionately said, “You can decide whether you want to leave your names on it or not, I won’t force you. However, what I can tell you is that if you’re willing to leave your names there, I’ll bring you out of the Shadowless Cave Heaven and return you to the 3,000 Worlds. If you’re not willing to do that, it’s fine as well. If we have a chance to get along with one another in the future, you’ll find out what I’m really like.”
Mao Zhe suddenly asked, “What’re the cultivations of these three people?”
Yang Kai was startled for a moment before he realised that the other person was talking about the people on the Loyalty List, then he replied, “Two of them are in the Fourth Order and the remaining one is in the Fifth Order.”
Mao Zhe nodded, “The people on the Loyalty List must have some grudges with you. You were not willing to let them off, but you didn’t want to kill them either, so you made them leave their names on the list so they would work for you.”
“Correct.”
“Good.” Mao Zhe nodded, then he put a finger into his mouth and bit it to squeeze out his Blood Essence. After that, he turned to page four of the book and wrote down his name.
“Big Brother!” Geng Qing and Zhou Ya were flabbergasted. Once he left his name there, he would never be able to resist Yang Kai again.
After leaving his name on page four. Mao Zhe tossed the book at Geng Qing and replied, “Rather than waiting for death here, we should seize the chance to live.”
In the meantime, he secretly spoke to the two of them, “I’ve heard about the Loyalty List before. It was made by a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master named Loyalty Demon using the blood and flesh of Xie Zhi. It can be used to enslave Open Heaven Realm Masters, but only those below the High-Rank.”
Although he had already heard about the Loyalty List, he didn’t let his emotions show on his face when Yang Kai mentioned the book’s name.
He was at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, and if he hadn’t been trapped in the Shadowless Cave Heaven where there was a lack of resources, he would’ve ascended to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm a long time ago. If he could return to the outside world, he could gather enough resources and shake off the book’s control in no time.
That was the reason he didn’t even hesitate to leave his name on the book.
Geng Qing and Zhou Ya were excited upon hearing Mao Zhe’s intention but still pretended to know nothing as Geng Qing said through clenched teeth, “Since you’ve made such a decision, Big Brother, I’ll follow suit!”
Then, he squeezed out his Blood Essence and put down his name before passing the book to Zhou Ya.
A moment later, Zhou Ya left her name on page six.
Yang Kai extended his hand and retrieved the book, then flashed a smile at them, “Wise people will submit to the circumstances. I’m glad that you’ve made such a decision. I’m sorry for offending you some time ago. From now on, we’re all one family.”
Mao Zhe replied in a muffled voice, “You didn’t offend us. It was just that we had different stances.”
Yang Kai opened up his Towering Evergreen and beckoned to them, “The wind is strong outside. Please come in here and follow me to seal the Void Crack.”
The three of them exchanged glances and dashed towards Yang Kai.
Upon entering the protection range of the ancient tree, they realised that the Astral Wind was completely shut out. Zhou Ya couldn’t help but let out a breath with a relieved look on her face.
Mao Zhe’s expression turned milder as he examined the branches and fell into his thoughts, “Your Wood Element Divine Manifestation is simply incredible, Brother Yang. What’s the Order of your Wood Element Power?”
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai replied, “I don’t know what Order it is either actually, but it’s a High-Rank one at least.”
He had no idea what the Order of the Immortal Tree was, but upon hearing that, Mao Zhe thought that he simply wasn’t willing to tell him the truth, so he stopped asking.
“A High-Rank Power!” Mao Zhe exclaimed, “Your foundation is indeed solid since you had the guts to condense a High-Rank Power. I saw you using a Fire Element Divine Manifestation and a Water Element Divine Ability that are also of the High Rank. Did you intend to directly ascend to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “That was indeed my original plan, but an accident happened so I only ended up in the Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm.”
Mao Zhe’s brow twitched as he was horrified deep down inside.
He couldn’t believe that someone was ambitious enough to plan to directly ascend to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm. Although Yang Kai didn’t make it in the end, the foundation he had built wouldn’t be wasted. That was the reason he was able to defeat Mao Zhe even though both of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
As they casually chatted, they headed towards the wind source.
They arrived at their destination in just four hours. The Void Crack where the wind source was located was torn apart by Yang Kai using Space Principles. Supposedly, it would slowly heal under the influence of the local World Principles. However, the Astral Wind was extremely abrasive, and the Principles in the Shadowless Cave Heaven were already somewhat broken, so the crack didn’t seem to be showing signs of healing.
The crack was still around even though half a day had passed.
Standing in front of the crack, Yang Kai manipulated his Space Principles and pushed out his palms. As Space Principles undulated, the crack slowly healed wherever his palms moved over.
After an hour, Yang Kai finally managed to close the crack and the Astral Wind disappeared. Next, he put away his Towering Evergreen and frowned before falling into his thoughts.
Mao Zhe and the others had suffered immense losses, so they immediately sat on the ground with their legs crossed. Following that, they fished out piles of Open Heaven Pills and various other resources to refine them in order to make up for the losses in their Small Universes.
Yang Kai didn’t have to do this, so he found a place nearby and started doing his own things.
Half a day later, Mao Zhe opened his eyes and saw a newly created array. Yang Kai appeared busy, but he wasn’t certain what he was doing.
Although Mao Zhe was unresigned and resentful of the young man, he wouldn’t let his emotions show on his face as he had left his name on the Loyalty List. Hence, he went over and asked curiously, “What are you doing, Brother Yang? Do you need my help?”
“There’s no need for that. It’s almost done.” Yang Kai waved his hand.
After observing it for a moment, Mao Zhe finally realised what the young man was doing and asked, “Are you building a Space Array?”
Yang Kai nodded, “En. It takes more than ten days to come here from Twin Spirit Island. It’ll be much easier with a Space Array around.”
“Are you going back to Twin Spirit Island?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “The reason I came to the Shadowless Cave Heaven was to look for my companions. Since I’ve found them as well as the exit, we’d better leave this place sooner rather than later. The environment in the Shadowless Cave Heaven is far too hostile.”
Upon hearing Yang Kai’s words, Mao Zhe set his mind at ease.
Since Yang Kai was ready to bring the people from Twin Spirit Island over, he should have the confidence to achieve his goal; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken such a huge risk.
“Are you all coming to Twin Spirit Island with me? Or are you going to wait for me here?” Yang Kai asked.
After pondering on it for a moment, Mao Zhe asked, “According to the regular pattern, the Astral Wind will strike again in ten days. Will you be able to come back here in ten days, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I don’t think so.”
It would take him more than ten days to arrive at Twin Spirit Island, so there was no way he could return to this place before the wind came; moreover, he would have to spend some time on Twin Spirit Island.
“We’re going with you, then,” Mao Zhe decided. They would have Yang Kai’s protection by following him while they would be powerless to resist the wind if they stayed here.
Since an agreement had been reached, they immediately set off on their journey towards Twin Spirit Island.
They didn’t speak to each other on the road, and ten days later, the Astral Wind indeed struck again. Yang Kai used his Towering Evergreen to ensure everyone’s safety. Although the three of them had experienced it before, they were still awestruck by the Divine Manifestation.
A few days later, they finally arrived at Twin Spirit Island.
After a message was sent out, the fog around the island separated and Yang Kai led the three Mountain Lords towards the bamboo forest where the Proprietress and the others resided.
When the person, who was guarding the Grand Array, saw Mao Zhe and the others, he was shocked and immediately reported it to Hua Yong.
As Yang Kai shuffled into the bamboo forest with the three of them, Chef and Accountant, who were cultivating, were astounded. Upon leaving their huts to have a look, they were startled.
“Where’s Proprietress?” Yang Kai asked.
“She’s still cultivating in seclusion,” Chef replied, then pulled Yang Kai away and pointed in the direction of Mao Zhe and the others, “What’s going on? Why have they come here with you?”
Yang Kai took a glance at the three of them and explained, “They were captivated by my charm, so they’ve surrendered to me. Now, they have to obey my command.”
Chef shot him a dry glance as he apparently didn’t believe him.
“I’m going to meet Proprietress,” Yang Kai said, then headed to the bamboo hut where she resided. Chef, Accountant, and the three Mountain Lords exchanged glances.
Standing outside the hut, Yang Kai raised his hand and gently knocked on the door. He only opened the door and entered the place upon getting her response.
Outside the bamboo forest, Hua Yong was covered in cold sweat as he dashed forward alongside Shu Mu Dan. They both appeared worried.
When he was told that Yang Kai had returned to Twin Spirit Island with the three Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain, he didn’t believe his subordinate at first; after all, Yang Kai had previously burned down Profound Yang Mountain and killed the Second Mountain Lord Yun Fei Bai.
That was a blood feud that was practically irreconcilable.
It would be a miracle if they didn’t fight the moment they met, so how was it possible that they had come back together?
However, since the subordinate swore that he had seen it with his own eyes, Hua Yong had no choice but to believe him and rushed over to look into the matter.
“What’s Yang Kai trying to achieve?” Hua Yong was befuddled. Previously, Yang Kai said he was going to look for the exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven, but he returned with Mao Zhe and the others after just one month.
Was he going to make a move on Twin Spirit Island? Had he come to any agreement with Mao Zhe and the others?
Hua Yong couldn’t help but let his thoughts run wild.
When he reached the bamboo forest and saw those people who seemed to be in a confrontation, he narrowed his eyes and called out, “Head Mountain Lord Mao!”
Shu Mu Dan’s face stiffened as she put up her guard.
Mao Zhe turned to look at Hua Yong and cupped his fist, “Island Master Hua.”
Hua Yong gulped with difficulty as he wasn’t certain what he was about to face. Regardless, he still stepped forward and said in a bitter voice, “You should’ve informed us that you were coming to Twin Spirit Island, Head Mountain Lord Mao. It’s rather impolite of us to not at least welcome you at our doors.”
Despite his polite tone, he was practically implying that Mao Zhe was too disrespectful by coming to his territory without informing him. Although Hua Yong was timid, he wasn’t a pushover.
Mao Zhe said impassively, “We have nowhere to go. Since Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, I’m no longer the Head Mountain Lord. It wasn’t this Mao’s intention to come to Twin Spirit Island. We were merely following Sir Yang.”
“Sir Yang?” Hua Yong was stunned, wondering who the person was that Mao Zhe was talking about.
Just then, Yang Kai’s voice was heard coming from the hut, “You’re here, Island Master Hua. Please come up together with your Wife. I need to tell you something.”
Upon hearing that, Hua Yong darted his gaze between the hut and Mao Zhe in puzzlement. Since he was unable to figure anything out, he gave a signal to Shu Mu Dan to tell her to be careful, then strode towards the hut with a frown.
After entering the place, they saw Yang Kai and Lan You Ruo seated across from each other as they seemed to be having a chat. When the latter pair saw the couple, they quickly rose from the chairs.
Upon saluting one another, everyone took a seat.
An anxious Hua Yong asked, “What’s going on with Head Mountain Lord Mao and the others, Brother Yang? I heard that they came here with you.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Relax, Island Master Hua. They’ve indeed come here with me, but they don’t have any ill intentions against Twin Spirit Island.”
Hua Yong fell silent with a grim expression. Although he had allowed Yang Kai to come and go from Twin Spirit Island as he pleased, it didn’t mean the young man could bring Mao Zhe and the other Mountain Lords with him. However, since he wasn’t a match for Yang Kai to begin with, Hua Yong decided to keep his mouth shut.
Upon seeing his expression, the Proprietress comforted him by saying, “Island Master Hua, just so you know, Mao Zhe and the others have submitted to Yang Kai. Without his order, they won’t make any rash moves.”
“They’ve submitted to him?” Hua Yong’s brow twitched. He had the urge to ask Lan You Ruo whether she even understood what she was talking about. However, when he recalled that Mao Zhe had called Yang Kai ‘Sir Yang’, he couldn’t help but fall into a state of disbelief.
“Let’s not talk about them just now.” Yang Kai waved his hand, “I’d like to talk about leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven.”
A shocked Hua Yong lifted his head, “Have you found the exit, Brother Yang?”
Shu Mu Dan couldn’t help but cover her mouth and gaze at Yang Kai in shock.
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai nodded, “En, I’ve found the exit. Just like what Mao Zhe speculated, the origin of the Astral Wind is the passageway that’s connected to the outside world. By moving past it, we’ll be able to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven.”
“You went to the source of the Astral Wind?” Hua Yong exclaimed.
Yang Kai nodded in response.
After giving it a thought, Shu Mu Dan spoke, “The Astral Wind suddenly struck again for no reason more than ten days ago, and it lasted for about half a day. It’s different from the regular pattern…”
Yang Kai explained, “That’s because I tore the space around the source of the Astral Wind apart and opened a passageway to it.”
Shu Mu Dan exclaimed.
Disbelief was written all over Hua Yong’s face as he said, “In just one month, Brother Yang has achieved something that we haven’t been able to do for over 10,000 years!”
A humble Yang Kai replied, “Luck played a big part in it.”
An excited Hua Yong said, “Since you’ve found the exit, do you have the confidence to leave this place?”
Yang Kai said, “I was about to talk about this very issue, Island Master Hua. It’s not hard to leave this place, but the problem is what we will face after leaving Shadowless Cave Heaven.”
Hua Yong furrowed his brow, “What do you think we’ll face, Brother Yang?”
“Have you forgotten about what you’ve told me before?” Yang Kai stared at him.
After giving it a thought, Hua Yong replied, “We’ll probably fall into the source of the Astral Wind after leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven. It must be very dangerous there.”
Yang Kai nodded, “That’s right. Once we leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, we’ll fall into the origin of the Astral Wind. I have no idea how dangerous it will be. To be honest with you, I have a way of fending off the Astral Wind. At the very least, the Astral Wind gusting into the Shadowless Cave Heaven doesn’t bother me at all; however, I don’t know what will happen after we fall into the Astral Wind’s source.”
Hua Yong was shocked upon hearing this. It was only now that he understood the reason Yang Kai had the confidence to leave Twin Spirit Island and look for the exit.
It was no wonder that Yang Kai’s aura didn’t seem to have been affected one bit even though the Astral Wind had struck twice over the last month. He actually had a way to defend against it.
After a moment of silence, Hua Yong asked, “Are you going to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, Brother Yang?”
“Yes.” Yang Kai nodded, “Many thanks to both of you for taking care of us. If you want, you can come with us, and I’ll do my best to take care of you. Of course, I welcome the rest of the people from Twin Spirit Island if they want to leave as well. I’m also going to inform those from Unrivalled Guild about it.”
“Unrivalled Guild?” Hua Yong looked doubtfully at him, “Are you friends with them?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “No. However, we will have greater strength with more people accompanying us. We don’t know what will happen after we leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so I’m willing to bring those who want to come with me.”
Hua Yong bowed his head, “I admire how righteous and just Brother Yang is.”
“Island Master Hua is too kind, it’s the least I can do.”
Shu Mu Dan, who had remained silent all along, suddenly asked, “The origin of the Astral Wind must be extremely dangerous. Do you have the confidence to move past it, Senior Brother Yang?”
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai replied with a serious expression, “I cannot give you an affirmative reply since I have no idea what the situation is like on the other side.”
“Even if it’s a path of certain death, do you still insist on leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven?”
Yang Kai said with a smile, “Life is not a clear path laid out before us. I don’t strive for everything to be perfect, only to not have any regrets. Rather than remaining trapped here forever, I’m willing to give it a try.”
Shu Mu Dan became startled for a moment before she pressed her lips together and nodded, “I understand.”
Hua Yong said, “This is a serious matter, so I cannot make a decision in a short time. Please give us a few days to sleep on it, Brother Yang.”
“En,” Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Proprietress still needs another month or so to recover, so we won’t be leaving so soon. You can tell me about it after you make a decision.”
“Many thanks,” Hua Yong cupped his fists, then he rose from the chair and left with Shu Mu Dan. Upon reaching the door, he suddenly turned around, “This is a serious matter, Brother Yang, so I hope you won’t break it to the rest of the people on Twin Spirit Island for now.”
Yang Kai’s expression changed when he heard that, then he replied with a smile, “Don’t worry, Island Master Hua. You have full control over the affairs in Twin Spirit Island. I won’t interfere.”
It was then Hua Yong thanked him and left the place.
After the couple was gone, the Proprietress said with a smile, “He’s pretty cautious. He must be worried that his subordinates will start having other ideas if the news is leaked.”
“It can’t be helped.” Yang Kai could understand. If word got out that he was able to bring some people out of Shadowless Cave Heaven, many of those from Twin Spirit Island would be tempted to join him. If Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan decided to stay in the end, but Yang Kai brought most of their people away, the power of Twin Spirit Island would be greatly weakened.
It was expected that Hua Yong didn’t want the news to be leaked so soon, and he was able to set his mind at ease since Yang Kai had given him the assurance.
“Are you really going to inform those from Unrivalled Guild about this?” The Proprietress asked.
Yang Kai nodded, “They’re all pitiful people, so I don’t mind lending them a hand. It’s up to them whether they’ll believe me or not.”
The Proprietress paused before nodding as well, “Give me a month. If it’s just like what you’ve said, we’re going to face a lot of trouble after leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so I should restore my full strength before we depart.”
“Of course.”
A moment later, Yang Kai stepped out of the bamboo hut.
The people outside the hut were still staring at one another, so Yang Kai directly wedged into the spot between both parties before turning to look at Mao Zhe, “I’m going to Unrivalled Guild.”
Mao Zhe retracted his gaze and frowned, “Why are you going there?”
“I’m going to ask them whether they want to leave Shadowless Cave Heaven. I don’t mind bringing them with me.”
Geng Qing widened his eyes, “You want to bring those from Unrivalled Guild with you?”
“What’s wrong with that?”
After a moment of silence, Geng Qing shook his head, “There’s no problem.” If possible, he wouldn’t want those from Unrivalled Guild to tag along. After Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, the three of them headed to Unrivalled Guild in an attempt to seek shelter, but the Three Chiefs had no qualms about mocking them, which was why they eventually left in exasperation. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have taken such a huge risk to look for the exit.
Geng Qing naturally wished for those from Unrivalled Guild to be trapped inside the Shadowless Cave Heaven forever.
However, since Yang Kai had made a decision, he wasn’t in any place to object to it. Technically, the three of them were now Yang Kai’s subordinates as their lives were under his control. They didn’t have the right to change his mind.
“You’ll come with me, Zhou Ya. I don’t know where Unrivalled Guild is after all.” Yang Kai gazed at her.
Zhou Ya looked inquisitively at Mao Zhe, who then said, “Since Sir has given the order, you should go with him.”
It was then Zhou Ya nodded gently.
Yang Kai swept a dispassionate glance over Mao Zhe before shuffling forward.
After leaving Twin Spirit Island, Zhou Ya led the way and headed to Unrivalled Guild.
While they were on the road, Zhou Ya asked, “Sir, you’re already so powerful at such a young age. I’m sure you’re from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises.”
Yang Kai shot her a glance and said, “Did Mao Zhe tell you to inquire about my background?”
Zhou Ya’s face stiffened as she forced a smile, “Don’t get me wrong, Sir. I’m just curious. Since you’re not willing to tell me, please just ignore my question.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and revealed her alluring profile and her snow-white skin.
“You’ll find out about my background after we leave this place. Even if I tell you about it now, you probably won’t believe me.”
“En,” Zhou Ya replied with her head hung low.
Over the years, she had always been in an important position. As the Fourth Mountain Lord of Profound Yang Mountain, she was famous throughout the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Now that she had become someone else’s servant who had lost control over her own life, she wasn’t used to it.
The three Mountain Lords speculated that Yang Kai was a Core Disciple nurtured by one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises. Otherwise, he couldn’t have possessed a power that was in the same Order.
Furthermore, the fact that Yang Kai had refined so many High-Rank materials strengthened their beliefs.
Unrivalled Guild was pretty far away from Twin Spirit Island, so it took them five days to arrive at their destination. Upon their arrival, Zhou Ya said, “We’ll soon reach the Headquarters of Unrivalled Guild. You must act carefully, Sir.”
Yang Kai looked up but couldn’t see anything unusual. Suppressing the doubt in his heart, he continued following Zhou Ya as they moved forward.
In just a moment, they saw a smooth-looking cliff, which was so flat that it was as though it was cut using a knife. There was a protruded rock in the middle that served as a platform.
Zhou Ya and Yang Kai landed on the platform, then she pointed at the wall, “This is the Headquarters of Unrivalled Guild.”
Yang Kai released his Divine Sense and realised that there was a barrier in front of the wall of this platform. There must be some space behind the wall.
“Inform them of our arrival,” Yang Kai ordered.
Zhou Ya nodded, then she performed a hand seal and pressed both her hands against the wall, whereupon a layer of visible ripples spread around.
A moment later, rumbling sounds were heard coming from behind the wall. A passage was revealed in the flat wall, then more than 100 people flooded out of it. There were three bald men, whose figures were built like bulls, at the front. What surprised Yang Kai was that the three of them looked identical. They were apparently triplets.
The auras of the three of them suggested that they were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Needless to say, they were the Three Chiefs of Unrivalled Guild.
Yang Kai tutted in amazement. Over the years, he had met quite a number of twins, but it was the first time he came across triplets. What was especially rare was that these three burly brothers had all ascended to the Sixth Order.
It was no wonder that Unrivalled Guild was able to face off against Profound Yang Mountain as the Brothers were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Furthermore, since they were triplets, they probably had some kind of innate connection. It wouldn’t be surprising if they had cultivated a Combined Attack Technique. If both parties got into a scuffle, Mao Zhe on his own wouldn’t be a match for them.
Now, it seemed that among the three great forces in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, Twin Spirit Island was indeed the weakest. Besides the fact that they only had two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on their side, their collective power was also no match for the other two great forces.
The reason they had survived until this day was that the environment in the Shadowless Cave Heaven was truly hostile as the resources were scarce. Among the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, unless there was a great blood feud, they wouldn’t easily get into a fight as once they were exhausted or injured, it would be hard for them to recuperate.
As soon as the Brothers appeared, Zhou Ya gently spoke to Yang Kai, “Sir, they’re the Three Chiefs of Unrivalled Guild. Their names are Shi Shan, Shi Qiu, and Shi Yue. As for who is who, I can’t really tell.”
A speechless Yang Kai swept a glance over the Brothers and realized he couldn’t tell them apart either.
The Brothers were fierce upon their appearance, but when they saw Zhou Ya, their eyes seemed to be glowing. One of them called out, “I was just wondering who had the guts to knock on our door. It’s you, beautiful little girl.”
Another person said smilingly, “What’s wrong? Have you changed your mind and decided to be our Wife?”
The last person said, “That’s great! We’ll marry you today and let you know what it’s like to be a bride.”
Zhou Ya was so exasperated that she started flushing, then she said through gritted teeth, “Stop spouting nonsense, you ugly men! I’ll never be your Wife.”
The first person who spoke stroked his bald head and sported a ferocious expression, “Beautiful girl, since you’re not willing to be our Wife, why are you even here? Are you sick of living? We don’t mind granting your wish as we’re adept at torturing women.”
The second person glanced at Yang Kai and tutted, “Who is this pretty boy? I’ve never seen him before.”
The last person remarked, “He must be this woman’s lover.”
Just then, a person rushed over and spoke to the Brothers with a horrified expression.
Since the downfall of Profound Yang Mountain, the survivors had either gone to Twin Spirit Island or Unrivalled Guild. Presently, some of the people standing behind the Brothers were originally from Profound Yang Mountain, so they could immediately recognise Yang Kai. At that instant, they started trembling in fear, wondering if he wasn’t happy with destroying Profound Yang Mountain alone. Had he come all the way here to ruin Unrivalled Guild?
Upon hearing the subordinate’s words, the three Brothers stiffened and gazed at Yang Kai with widened eyes. They examined the young man as though they were trying to look into his Soul.
One of them suddenly said in a small voice, “That’s Yang Kai? I thought he’d look mighty. You know, with more muscles. It’s surprising that he has such thin arms.”
The second Brother nodded, “Don’t be negligent, Third Brother. You can’t judge a book by its cover. This person really doesn’t seem ordinary.”
“Why do you think so, Big Brother?”
“He doesn’t even flinch when facing the three of us, so he’s definitely not an average cultivator.”
“You’re right, Big Brother. But why is he here?” The Third Brother asked in puzzlement.
“I don’t think he’s well-meaning. I heard that it hasn’t been a long time since this person arrived in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, but he has already destroyed Profound Yang Mountain. I’m worried that he has the intention of ruling over this place.”
“He wants to rule over this place? Over our dead bodies!”
“That’s right. We’re united against anyone who dares to invade our territory.”
“Let’s get ready to fight, Big Brother.”
“I’m worried that we’re no match for him. I heard that he had barged into Profound Yang Mountain and severely wounded Mao Zhe. Although the three of us can join forces to defeat Mao Zhe, I don’t think we’d be able to achieve what he’s done. It proves that he’s… just a bit more powerful than us.”
“We’ll just give it a try to find out whether we’re a match for him. Why don’t we just summon our trump cards later to make sure that he won’t have enough time to respond?”
The Brothers gathered together as they stared at Yang Kai and discussed their tactics, out loud.
Yang Kai’s brow twitched as he turned to look at Zhou Ya, who lowered her head and secretly spoke, “These guys seem to have been born dim-witted.”
A speechless Yang Kai wondered how they even ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. With that said, they obviously had extraordinary aptitudes.
Presently, the Brothers seemed to be in a conflict as they were arguing about who would make the first move. Their faces had reddened as they were agitated.
Yang Kai coughed into his fist, then cupped his fist at them, “Greetings, Three Chiefs. My name is Yang Kai. I’m sorry for the sudden visit. Hmm… What are your names?”
The three of them immediately stopped arguing. One of them loudly patted his own chest, “My name is Shi Shan.”
The second person said, “I’m Shi Qiu.”
The third person said in a grim voice, “Shi Yue.”
Yang Kai gazed seriously at them in an attempt to connect their faces to their names, but his effort was in vain. Not only did these burly men look alike, but their demeanours and voices were also similar. More importantly, their auras were almost identical.
Perhaps even their own mother wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.
Yang Kai decided to give up as he said, “Please don’t get me wrong. This Yang has no ill intentions against Unrivalled Guild. I also don’t intend to rule over the Shadowless Cave Heaven like what you were worrying about.”
Shi Yue exclaimed, “He heard our conversation, Big Brother!”
A hint of ruthlessness flashed through Shi Qiu’s face, “We’d better make a move first, or else we’ll be at a disadvantage, Big Brother.”
Shi Shan widened his eyes in shock as he puffed out a scorching breath through his nostrils. As he glared at Yang Kai, his gaze became increasingly ferocious.
Faced with the imminent danger, Yang Kai took some steps backwards and raised his hands, “Wait a moment. I don’t intend to go against the three of you, nor am I here to fight. I’ve come all the way here to tell you that I’ve found the exit of this Shadowless Cave Heaven, and I’m going to leave in one month. If you want, you can come with me. If not, I’m not going to force you.”
Yang Kai found it hard to deal with these three. Before coming to this place, he had imagined various circumstances when he met the Three Chiefs of Unrivalled Guild, but he hadn’t expected that it would turn out this way.
“You’ve found the exit?” Shi Shan was startled as the ruthlessness in his eyes went away.
“Yes.” Yang Kai bowed his head.
“Why should we believe you?” Distrust was written all over Shi Yue’s face as he gazed at Yang Kai, “We’ve been looking for the exit for thousands of years but to no avail. How did you even find it?”
“I have my methods.” Yang Kai shook his head, “As for how I’ve found it, I can’t really tell you. However, Zhou Ya was with me at that time. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her about it.”
In an instant, the three Brothers shifted their attention to Zhou Ya.
Zhou Ya frowned, apparently not willing to talk to them, but she still nodded her head in the end, “Sir Yang is not lying to you. He has really found the exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven. The reason we’ve come all the way here is to inform you about it.”
The doubt of the brothers evaporated as they appeared ecstatic, “He’s really found the exit?”
Yang Kai was dumbfounded. It seemed that these guys were truly dim-witted as they readily believed Zhou Ya’s words. Nevertheless, it saved him a lot of trouble so he just went with it.
The brothers could barely contain their excitement while the cultivators from Unrivalled Guild looked at Yang Kai with fervent gazes. No one was willing to stay in the Shadowless Cave Heaven if they had a chance to leave. Resources in this damned place were scarce, so they had no future if they stayed here.
Many of them had been stuck in this place for thousands of years. Due to the Astral Wind, Ma Tian Yuan’s cultivation had dropped from the Sixth Order to the Fifth Order, so he was rather pitiful. Many of them were indeed tempted by Yang Kai’s words.
Yang Kai said, “Just so you know, even though I’ve found the exit, we might come across some trouble if we want to leave. There might be some unforeseeable danger.”
Shi Shan stroked his bald head and stared at Yang Kai, “We have nothing to do with one another. Since you’ve found the exit, you could’ve left on your own. Why have you come over to inform us? Do you have any ulterior motive?”
Shi Qiu and Shi Yue immediately gazed vigilantly at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai burst into laughter, “What ulterior motive could I have? Just like what I’ve said, even though I’ve found the exit, there might be some danger ahead; therefore, having more people to help is a good thing. If you’re willing to come with me, I may need your assistance when the time comes.”
Upon hearing his explanation, the brothers understood his intentions.
“I’m going to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven in one month. If you want to come with me, you can look for me in Twin Spirit Island before then. I’ll be staying there during this period of time.” Upon finishing his words, Yang Kai cupped his fist and left with Zhou Ya.
The reason he had come over was to inform the Three Chiefs about his plan. Since he had achieved his goal, he didn’t remain. These three were truly dim-witted, so it might do more harm than good if he talked any further.
The brothers were rooted to the spot as they watched Yang Kai leave.
Behind them, the Open Heaven Realm Masters exchanged glances.
Meanwhile, in a luxuriously decorated room on Twin Spirit Island, Hua Yong was drinking on his own. A series of footsteps were heard coming from behind him, then a warm body pressed against his head. A pair of slender hands were placed on his forehead as the woman gently massaged him.
Hua Yong closed his eyes and rested his head against his Wife’s belly. He could clearly feel the fetal movements coming through the skin. As he took a whiff of the pleasant fragrance, his mind was slowly soothed.
“Are you in a dilemma, Husband?” Shu Mu Dan asked gently.
“Yes.” Hua Yong sighed, “It’s too difficult to make a decision, my Wife.”
Yang Kai had put him in a really tight spot. Before his arrival, Hua Yong and his Wife had stayed in the Shadowless Cave Heaven for about 10,000 years. Although the environment was hostile, their lives had been quite peaceful. However, in just a few days, Yang Kai had basically turned this place upside down. Profound Yang Mountain was destroyed, and only three of the Four Great Mountain Lords were left. Moreover, those three had become Yang Kai’s subordinates.
On top of that, Yang Kai found the Shadowless Cave Heaven’s exit, which the cultivators in this place were unable to do for thousands of years.
Certainly, Hua Yong wanted to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven as well. They practically had no future in this place; however, it took a lot of courage and determination if they wanted to leave.
Others had no idea what they could face after going past the exit, but Hua Yong was fully aware of it; after all, Yang Kai had explained the situation to him already.
Upon moving past the exit, they would probably fall into the source of the Astral Wind, which was a death trap. The Astral Wind coming into the Shadowless Cave Heaven was already so violent, so Hua Yong couldn’t imagine what would happen if they really fell into its source. Although he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it wouldn’t take long before his Small Universe was worn away entirely.
Shu Mu Dan said gently, “Sir Yang has said that he has a way to defend against the Astral Wind, hasn’t he?”
Hua Yong replied, “Yes, but he’s going to bring a lot of people with him. Lan You Ruo, Mao Zhe, and the others are going with him. If we also join them, are you sure he will have enough power to protect all of us? Moreover, he has left to inform Unrivalled Guild about it. Once the news is leaked, many people will be tempted to leave with him.”
Shu Mu Dan said, “Since he has made such a decision, he probably has the power to do it.”
Hua Yong shook his head, “I’m worried that an accident might happen.”
Shu Mu Dan flashed a smile at him, “Since you find it hard to make a decision, why don’t we think about what will happen if we stay?”
“If we stay…” Hua Yong narrowed his eyes.
Shu Mu Dan went on to say, “If we stay here, we’ll probably become the sole Rulers of the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Mao Zhe and the others are definitely leaving, and now Sir Yang has left for Unrivalled Guild. I believe those three brothers won’t be able to resist such a temptation, so they’ll most likely tag along. By then, we will be the only two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.”
Hua Yong’s gaze brightened as he listened to his Wife. If that was the case, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing to stay.
Shu Mu Dan continued to say, “Afterwards, we can consolidate the forces in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. There won’t be three great forces anymore; only Twin Spirit Island will be left.”
“You’re right.” Hua Yong repeatedly nodded as he could barely contain his joy.
Shu Mu Dan then continued, “Lin’er will be born in a year or two. Given our capabilities, we definitely can raise him well; however, resources in the Shadowless Cave Heaven are scarce, and the situation has been exacerbated since the three great forces have basically dug up every last useable resource over the years. We can’t be certain about Lin’er’s aptitude, but it obviously won’t be too weak. Nevertheless, how far can he go without resources? The World Energy in the Shadowless Cave Heaven is poor to begin with, so perhaps he’ll be able to reach the Origin King Realm or the Dao Source Realm. At any rate, he can never make it to the Open Heaven Realm, which means his life will be pretty short. After he dies of old age, we’ll have to personally bury him.”
As Hua Yong listened to her speak up until now, he couldn’t help but shudder. Then, he turned around and pressed his hands against her belly as though he was trying to protect his child. He gazed at his Wife and said, “Please don’t say such terrifying things.”
Shu Mu Dan just stared silently at him.
As their eyes met, Hua Yong finally realised his Wife’s intention, “You’re trying to persuade me to leave, aren’t you?”
Shu Mu Dan shook her head, “Since this Mistress is married to you, I will follow you forever and will support whatever decisions you make. If you want to stay in this place, I’ll stay here with you. If you want to leave, I’ll follow. However… we have a child now, so I hope that you’ll think about his future too.”
As she spoke, she lovingly stroked her belly.
A hesitant Hua Yong said, “But the origin of the Astral Wind…”
Shu Mu Dan said, “Since Sir Yang is determined to leave, he must have the confidence to achieve his goal. He wouldn’t have taken such a huge risk if there was no chance of survival. No one is willing to throw their life away for nothing.”
Hua Yong furrowed his brows for a moment before he said, “Please let me sleep on it.”
Shu Mu Dan nodded gently, “Please don’t feel burdened in any way. I’ll support you no matter what.”
A moved Hua Yong took her hands. There was nothing else he would ask for since he already had a wife like her.
After she was gone, Hua Yong drained another few bottles of wine and became a bit tipsy. Upon making a decision, he told his subordinate to immediately inform him when Yang Kai returned.
The subordinate nodded and withdrew.
About five days later, Yang Kai returned to Twin Spirit Island and started arranging a Space Array in the bamboo forest.
The Proprietress needed a month or so to fully heal from the backlash from wearing the Blood Monster Battle Dress, so Yang Kai used this time productively.
Since there was already a Space Array in front of the exit, arranging one here allowed him to move around easily.
While he was busy, someone informed him that Hua Yong was inviting him to a banquet.
In the Main Hall, Hua Yong and Yang Kai were seated as a group of curvaceous ladies danced in front of them.
This sight was pretty rare as no one in Shadowless Cave Heaven was below the Open Heaven Realm. That was because anyone who wasn’t in the Open Heaven Realm wasn’t allowed to enter. In other words, the ladies who were dancing were all Open Heaven Realm Masters. Although they were in the Low-Rank, they were still Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Only in a special environment such as the Shadowless Cave Heaven would these ladies put down their pride and dignity to survive in such a way. In the outside world, even the Cave Heavens and Paradises wouldn’t let Open Heaven Realm Masters do such a thing.
As the melodic music sounded, the hourglass figures danced elegantly. These ladies, who were of different styles of beauty, tried their best to showcase their advantages and seduce Yang Kai.
They heard that Yang Kai had single-handedly destroyed Profound Yang Mountain, and even the three Mountain Lords had become his subordinates. If Yang Kai were interested in them and willing to protect them, they would be able to enjoy a great life.
To the side, Hua Yong observed Yang Kai and realised that even though the young man was enjoying the show, he didn’t show any lust towards these women. While Hua Yong was disappointed, he admired the fact that Yang Kai didn’t seem to indulge in such amorous hobbies, which was a rare quality.
After three rounds of wine, Hua Yong waved his hand to motion for the ladies to leave.
Yang Kai put down his wine cup and gazed at the older man, “Do you have anything you need me to do, Island Master Hua?”
Hua Yong must have a reason for inviting him to a banquet. Yang Kai speculated that it was about leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven, but he wasn’t certain what he was up to.
A horrified Hua Yong replied, “I wouldn’t dare, Brother Yang. You’re a powerful man who single-handedly destroyed Profound Yang Mountain and subdued Mao Zhe. This Hua can never achieve what you’ve done. I wouldn’t dare to tell you to do anything. There are just some questions I’d like to ask you.”
Yang Kai motioned for him to ask.
After measuring his words, Hua Yong asked, “Which Cave Heaven or Paradise are you from, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai couldn’t believe that Hua Yong had this kind of speculation as well. Zhou Ya had previously asked him about it, which should be an order from Mao Zhe. It was only now that he realized Hua Yong shared the same sentiment.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t surprising. He had showcased a power that was much greater than those in the same Order. To most people, only an elite from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises was capable of doing that.
Yang Kai shook his head with a helpless smile, “That would be a misunderstanding, Island Master Hua. This Yang is just a rogue cultivator. I’m not from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises.”
Hua Yong exclaimed, “No way!” He couldn’t believe that Yang Kai could be so powerful if the latter wasn’t from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises.
Yang Kai said, “It’s true.”
Hua Yong gasped as he increasingly admired the young man. Yang Kai was already so mighty when he wasn’t from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises. Would he have been even more formidable had he come from one of those?
After a moment of hesitation, Hua Yong asked, “Are you without any foundation in the outside world, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai replied honestly, “I’ve founded a force called Void Land and now serve as its Lord.”
Upon hearing that, Hua Yong became relieved, thinking that the young man had a base at the very least. Although Void Land sounded like the name of a Second Class great force, it was expected as Yang Kai was a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
Hua Yong couldn’t help reminiscing about the past, “Before coming to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, my Wife and I had a territory in the outside world as well, but… 10,000 years have passed. That place has probably been occupied by someone else by now.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “What is there to worry about since you’re still alive? Both of you are in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. If you leave Shadowless Cave Heaven, you can occupy any Spirit Province and rise again.”
Hua Yong shook his head, “This Hua is old now, so I’m not as ambitious as when I was young. Now, I just hope to look for a peaceful place so that my Wife and I can nurture our child together.” All of a sudden, he rose from the chair and cupped his fist at Yang Kai with a solemn expression, “Brother Yang, this Hua has an impolite request.”
Yang Kai quickly stood up and replied, “Please don’t be overly formal with me, Island Master Hua. Please tell me right away.”
Hua Yong said, “My Wife and I would like to join your Void Land. Are you willing to accept us? This Hua will be grateful if you do!”
Yang Kai’s expression changed, “You want to join Void Land?”
Hua Yong said, “En. Do you not accept any outsiders?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “That’s not it. It’s just that it’s only been slightly more than 10 years since Void Land was established, so its foundation is rather weak…” He paused for a moment, “If you don’t mind my place being small, this Yang is more than willing to welcome you.”
An ecstatic Hua Yong said, “We’re more than grateful that you’re willing to accept us so that we’ll have a place to stay. Why would we even mind it?” Following that, he swung his sleeves and cupped his fists with a serious expression, “Sect Master.”
Yang Kai took his hands and said with a smile, “You’re being too formal again, Elder Hua!”
“Elder?” Hua Yong arched his brow.
Yang Kai explained, “Since both of you are in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, you’ll be the Elders after you join Void Land.”
An elated Hua Yong said, “Many thanks, Sect Master. This Hua will definitely do everything he can to contribute to Void Land.”
Certainly, Yang Kai didn’t think this old man was sincere. Hua Yong didn’t even know where Void Land was, so why would he really do everything he could for the Sect? Yang Kai never took his words seriously.
Still, just like that, Void Land had two new Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, which was why Yang Kai was excited. Even though Hua Yong had his own considerations, and he might not even be sincere about joining Void Land, they would be a part of the Sect after they were given the brand of Void Land. If Void Land really fell into danger in the future, the couple would be pretty useful.
Since they were one family now, Hua Yong became increasingly passionate as he invited Yang Kai to take a seat and filled his cup again.
Meanwhile, he attempted to find out more about Void Land. Upon learning that there were two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, more than ten Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and about 300 hundred people in the Fourth-Order and below, Hua Yong was astounded.
A Second Class great force like that could be considered extraordinary by having this kind of heritage. It could be said that Void Land was at the peak among the Second Class great forces. He couldn’t figure out how a great force that was founded just a decade ago grew to be so formidable.
With that said, he was relieved that Void Land was strong. He and his Wife were going to join Void Land after leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so with such a strong Sect as their support, they would be more confident when dealing with any affairs in the outside world.
After they drank for a bit more, Yang Kai retired to his room.
Hua Yong probingly asked whether Yang Kai wanted the ladies who danced earlier to serve him in bed, but the latter rejected it outright. He stopped mentioning it as he saw him off and cupped his fist, “Sect Master, I’ll inform the people from Twin Spirit Island about this tomorrow so they can decide whether they want to leave. When the time comes to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, my Wife and I will follow you. Please take care of us then.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Don’t worry, Elder Hua.”
After Yang Kai was gone, Hua Yong breathed a sigh of relief, then he shuffled towards his bedroom to tell his Wife about what had happened.
As Yang Kai recalled the incident earlier while heading towards the bamboo forest, he couldn’t help smiling.
He was indeed surprised that Hua Yong asked to join Void Land all of a sudden; however, if he were in his shoes, he would’ve made the same decision.
Hua Yong had decided to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven with Yang Kai, but he was worried that he wouldn’t be able to protect his Wife and himself after falling into the source of the Astral Wind. By then, their lives would hinge on Yang Kai. With Yang Kai’s protection, they probably would be safe. Nevertheless, if Yang Kai didn’t protect them, they were bound for death.
Now that they had joined Void Land though, Yang Kai had to ensure their safety since he was now their Sect Master. With this connection between them, the couple could follow Yang Kai with peace of mind; otherwise, they wouldn’t have easily sided with any great force since they were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
However, since Hua Yong had agreed to it, a lot of people would tag along as many of those from Twin Spirit Island would want to leave together. It wasn’t certain whether those from Unrivalled Guild would want to come but Yang Kai wasn’t bothered either way.
Upon returning to the bamboo forest, Yang Kai started getting busy. Half a day later, the Space Array was completed. He gave it a try and confirmed that he could easily reach the exit.
Now that everything was prepared, he just had to wait for the Proprietress to recover before they set off.
Life was peaceful for the following days as Yang Kai refined Open Heaven Pills and resources to strengthen the heritage and World Force of his Small Universe.
Just like what Chef had said, when a cultivator reached the Open Heaven Realm, he had to manage his Small Universe seriously. Accumulation took a painfully long time, so it wasn’t easy to ascend to the next Order.
A few days later, Hua Yong rushed to the bamboo forest and reported, “Sect Master, the three brothers from Unrivalled Guild have come over with a group of people and shouted that they want to see you.”
A glint flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes. As he recalled the three burly men, his face twitched slightly, “Are they here to fight, or do they want to leave with me?”
“They didn’t say anything.” Hua Yong shook his head, “They just wanted to meet you and mentioned that you were the one who told them to come here. They look quite fierce, so I think they’re probably up to no good.”
A headache came over Yang Kai as he said, “Let’s meet them.”
He was the one who told them to come here, so he couldn’t keep hiding from them. At that instant, he regretted informing those three about it. He should’ve let them perish in this place on their own. If they really left, they would surely create trouble in the outside world sooner or later.
After leaving Twin Spirit Island, Yang Kai saw the brothers standing outside the island with a group of Open Heaven Realm Masters behind them. Upon seeing Yang Kai, the brothers immediately glared at him. One of them bellowed, “Yang Kai, all of us are here now. When are we setting off?”
A speechless Yang Kai gazed at them and asked, “Are you all leaving Shadowless Cave Heaven with me?”
“Of course!” Another person yelled impatiently, “Otherwise, why would we have come all the way here?”
The third person demanded, “Cut the crap. Let’s leave now!”
Yang Kai’s face twitched even harder than before as he explained, “There might be some unforeseeable danger. If you’re not careful, you might lose your lives. Will you all please think it through?”
All of a sudden, he didn’t feel like bringing these brothers with him anymore.
“What’s there to think through?” The first brother who spoke yelled, “Since there’s a chance to leave, why wouldn’t we seize it? Do we really have to wait for death here?”
The three of them were simple-minded and straightforward, so it wasn’t surprising that they were so resolute in their actions. Yang Kai had just informed them about it some time ago, but they really called the roll and came over.
It had to be noted that they were not friends to begin with, nor had they come into contact prior to the previous meeting. Most people would have some doubts. Hua Yong had to join Void Land before he had the audacity to leave with Yang Kai; otherwise, he would never be able to set his mind at ease.
More than 100 people from Unrivalled Guild had arrived. These people were standing behind the brothers as they stared at Yang Kai with fervent and fawning gazes.
Certainly, not everyone from Unrivalled Guild had come. Some people were still in doubt, so they had decided to stay. With that said, 100 cultivators was a lot of people.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai said, “We can’t leave now. Please calm down and wait for me here for some time. We’ll only set off when everything is prepared.” Then, he turned to look at Hua Yong, “Please help settle them down.”
This matter was giving Hua Yong a headache, but he still replied, “Yes.”
Then, he welcomed those from Unrivalled Guild into the island.
Although Shi Shan and the others were displeased, Yang Kai had the final say in this matter. Since he wasn’t leaving yet, none of them could set off. After they entered Twin Spirit Island, Hua Yong welcomed them with a banquet. At that moment, noise filled the island.
Prior to this, Hua Yong already had a conversation with his confidants and informed them that he was leaving with Yang Kai. He had even joined Void Land. These people could decide whether they wanted to leave.
However, Hua Yong only had a small number of confidants, so the news wasn’t leaked yet. Since those from Unrivalled Guild had arrived, however, basically everyone was aware of it now.
At that instant, those from Twin Spirit Island were tempted.
As the days went by, Shi Shan and the others would visit Yang Kai from time to time and urge him to depart. A frustrated Yang Kai told Mao Zhe and the others to keep guard outside the bamboo forest so that no one could disturb the Proprietress.
After one month, the barrier outside the bamboo hut dissipated as the Proprietress stepped out.
Yang Kai, Chef, and Accountant, who had been waiting outside, turned to look at her. When they saw that her skin was glowing and her aura was stable, which meant that she had gotten rid of the lingering Monster Qi, they heaved a collective sigh of relief.
In the Shadowless Cave Heaven, the Proprietress and the others had endured the Astral Wind many times before, which inevitably caused some losses to their Small Universes. However, as long as their foundations were not damaged, they could make up for the losses sooner or later, so it was no big deal.
After Yang Kai told the Proprietress about what was going on in Twin Spirit Island, she sported a worried expression, “Can you protect so many people on your own? Based on what you’ve said, there are probably more than 200 people who will be tagging along.”
“There won’t be a problem if the wind in the origin of the Astral Wind isn’t too strong; however, if it’s significantly more violent, it might be hard for me to fend it off entirely.” Yang Kai gave it a thought, “I have the Six Fated Paths Bag that can store some people.”
He had obtained the Six Fated Paths Bag from Xu Huang. As for how the artifact was made, he had no idea. Nevertheless, the space inside the bag was expandable, so it was pretty amazing. More importantly, it could also accommodate Open Heaven Realm Masters.
However, regardless of how incredible the bag was, there must be a limit. Previously, Yang Kai had only kept a small number of Open Heaven Realm Masters inside it, so he had no idea what the limit was.
The Proprietress sighed, “Unfortunately, there’s no High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master with us. The Small Universe of such a person can accommodate a lot of people and help share your burden.”
The Small Universe of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master had fully materialised, so it could accommodate living creatures. Anyone could enter it as long as their Order wasn’t higher than that of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
In other words, any Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could keep people in the Seventh-Order and below inside his or her Small Universe.
When Yang Kai arrived at the Outer Universe in the past, he came across the Fire Spirit Land Protector Venerable Duan Hai from Seven Wonders Land who led him to a portal, behind which was a ‘universe’.
Now, it was apparent to Yang Kai that it wasn’t Duan Hai’s Small Universe. That was because Duan Hai was only in the Fourth Order, so his Small Universe couldn’t accommodate living creatures.
What he saw at that time was probably a Divine Ability cast by Duan Hai or the projection of his Small Universe. However, Yang Kai and the others were too weak in the past, so they were not able to judge. Hence, they thought that it was Duan Hai’s Small Universe.
Although Yang Kai was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, his Small Universe was different from those of other Open Heaven Realm Masters. That was because his Small Universe could accommodate living creatures since he had merged it with his Small Sealed World.
However, a High-Rank cultivator wouldn’t usually keep anyone inside their Small Universe because there was a huge risk associated with doing so. If an ill-intentioned person caused some damage inside their Small Universe, the owner would suffer an immense loss.
One would only let someone enter their Small Universe if they had complete trust in that person.
After a brief discussion, Yang Kai sent a message to Hua Yong, who replied promptly. Since all of those from Twin Spirit Island and Unrivalled Guild were ready, they could set off at any moment.
Following that, Yang Kai told them to gather together in the bamboo forest.
Just a while later, a large group of people marched into the bamboo forest. These 200-plus people were divided into two groups. One of the groups was from Twin Spirit Island and was led by Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan. The other group was from Unrivalled Guild, which was led by the Shi Brothers.
The couple shuffled forward and saluted Yang Kai, then Hua Yong said, “Sect Master, everyone from Twin Spirit Island is ready. The people who are willing to leave are all here.”
Yang Kai swept a glance over the people behind him and nodded.
When Mao Zhe and the others, who were standing behind Yang Kai, heard how Hua Yong addressed him, their expressions changed slightly as they fell into their own thoughts.
The Shi Brothers had grown impatient after waiting these past few days, so at this moment, one of them urged Yang Kai in a loud voice, “When are we setting off? Why are you always dawdling?”
Yang Kai gazed at them with a smile, “We’re ready to go now.”
The brothers were elated as one of them said with a smile, “Good, good! We don’t have to keep waiting anymore.”
As Yang Kai swept a glance over the crowd, he said, “Many of you are from different forces, and there might be some grudges between you; however, since you’ve decided to leave with me, I hope you’ll set those grudges aside and work with one another. If anyone dares to pull any dirty tricks or sow discord on the road, I’ll teach them a lesson regardless of who they are. Even though I’ve found the exit of Shadowless Cave Heaven and I have the confidence to leave this place, we might come across some unforeseeable danger during the process. We might lose our lives at any moment, so if you’re not willing to take the risk, you’d better stay here so that you won’t regret it later.”
Everyone stared at him in silence but no one left.
Just then, Hua Yong cupped his fist and said, “We’ll obey your orders, Sect Master. If anyone dares to jeopardise our plan, this Hua will not let them off!”
Yang Kai nodded gently, “If everyone is prepared, we’ll set off now.”
Then, he turned around and led them to the Space Array he had built before sending a signal to Mao Zhe and the others, “You go over first and get prepared.”
Mao Zhe and the others stepped into the Space Array in silence, whereupon Yang Kai pushed his Space Principles and activated the array. After a light flashed, Mao Zhe and the others were gone.
Upon seeing that Mao Zhe and the others were safely sent over, these people set their minds at ease.
The Space Array that Yang Kai had built was neither big nor small, so six people could be sent over at a time.
It took Yang Kai about an hour before he delivered all 200 or so people over.
After Yang Kai stepped into the array, a light flashed through it as the world around him started spinning. When his vision refocused, he was already standing in front of the wind source. More than 200 people were already there as they looked around. Upon seeing Yang Kai, they immediately shifted their attention to him.
Yang Kai pointed at a particular spot in front of him and said, “The exit is right there. I’ll tear the space apart later and bring all of you out; however, since this place is connected to the outside world, the Astral Wind is just outside of here. After the crack appears, the Astral Wind will also come gusting in.”
Many of them gasped and appeared horrified. Basically everyone in the Shadowless Cave Heaven had experienced the brutality of the Astral Wind before. No one could ward it off.
That was the reason they were terrified the moment they heard that the Astral Wind would come in through the crack. It was only now that they figured out what kind of danger Yang Kai was referring to earlier. If they wanted to leave, they would have to face the Astral Wind.
“I will do my best to protect all of you; however, since there are many of us here, I might not be able to take care of everyone. As such, I’d like the weaker cultivators to enter my Six Fated Paths Bag to lighten the burden.” As Yang Kai spoke, he summoned the Six Fated Paths Bag and briefly talked about its abilities.
At that moment, many people exchanged glances as they fell into a dilemma.
The Six Fated Paths Bag was indeed amazing as it could accommodate Open Heaven Realm Masters; however, once they entered the bag, they would lose control over their own lives. If the bag was destroyed, the people inside it would instantly be killed without a chance to resist.
However, they were not in any position to object now. Yang Kai was only one man, and since so many people were tagging along now, some of them had to enter the bag to lighten the load.
Hua Yong and the Shi Brothers directly told the weaker cultivators to enter the bag. Although they were reluctant, they had no other choice.
With the bag in his hand, Yang Kai stored people inside it one after another, mostly those in the Second Order and the Third Order.
After putting about 100 people inside, Yang Kai finally realised that the bag had reached its limit. If he kept stuffing more people inside it, there was a risk of the bag exploding. That was why he stopped.
Nevertheless, now, he also had a vague judgement of the bag’s limit. The number of people the bag could keep seemed to have something to do with cultivation. If the people being kept inside the bag were strong, the artifact could only accommodate a small number. If they were all Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, the bag could probably only keep 20 or so people inside.
Half of the 200 people were gone, which greatly alleviated Yang Kai’s burden. The rest of the people who were outside were all in the Third-Order Open Heaven Realm and above. If they really came across any danger upon leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven, these people would be able to help.
Since everything was ready, Yang Kai walked up to the spot where he previously tore space apart. Then, he turned his head and nodded to motion for them to be careful.
As Space Principles undulated, Yang Kai performed different hand seals and then shouted, “Open!”
The sound of something cracking was heard, then a Void Crack suddenly appeared and rapidly expanded.
The moment the Void Crack appeared, the Astral Wind started gusting in, which caused the expressions of these people to change drastically.
Yang Kai immediately used his Towering Evergreen, and as an emerald light expanded, the gigantic tree crown seemed to cover the entire sky. Its branches hung low and engulfed the hundred or so people.
Standing within the range of this Wood Element Divine Manifestation, everyone could feel a surge of vitality around them, and their minds were immediately soothed.
All of their anxiety was gone as they looked up and tutted in amazement.
It was the first time Hua Yong saw this Divine Manifestation, and as he listened to the howling wind and looked around, he muttered in disbelief, “The wind really got blocked out!”
Standing under this humongous tree, he realised that he wasn’t harassed by the Astral Wind one bit. It was even safer than when he was on Twin Spirit Island.
He was both shocked and excited, thinking that he had made the right decision to leave with Yang Kai.
Since Yang Kai had such a Divine Manifestation, he could ensure their safety while navigating through the Astral Wind. If Hua Yong had chosen to stay, besides the fact that the Shadowless Cave Heaven might collapse one day, his unborn child would also be unable to cultivate properly, thus making his future bleak. Just like his Wife had said, they would have to personally bury their child one day.
Mao Zhe and the others had experienced this before, so they immediately stood beside Yang Kai the moment he activated Towering Evergreen.
“Let’s go!” Yang Kai shouted, then charged towards the Void Crack. The other cultivators didn’t hesitate to follow him as they made sure they were always within the tree’s protection range.
The Void Crack that Yang Kai had torn apart was huge; after all, more than 100 people had to cross it, so a small crack wouldn’t serve its purpose.
As soon as they left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, they felt that time and space were disturbed.
An even more violent Astral Wind came at them from all directions, which caused the branches of the great tree to sway. Yang Kai’s expression changed as he finally realised why Mao Zhe and the others previously returned so soon after they moved past the crack.
They had indeed fallen into the source of the Astral Wind after leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven. The wind here was even more violent than the one gusting into the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
In such an environment, even Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like Mao Zhe and the others would soon lose their lives as their Small Universes broke apart.
Yang Kai found it hard to sustain his Towering Evergreen as the branches shook wildly and these cultivators were worried that the Divine Ability would be broken. By then, all of them would be exposed to the gale.
Fortunately, even though the tree swayed, the Divine Manifestation remained stable.
Yang Kai turned around and manipulated Space Principles once again to seal the Void Crack.
Some people had decided to stay in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so if he didn’t repair the crack, the Astral Wind would continue blowing indefinitely. By then, the people who stayed would be doomed.
After Yang Kai was finished, he realised that everyone was staring at him.
They had finally left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, but just like what was expected, they had indeed fallen into the source of the Astral Wind. Only by leaving this region would they stand a chance to survive.
No one knew which direction they should head.
Yang Kai released his Divine Sense, but it was immediately shredded by the Astral Wind after it left Towering Evergreen’s range, giving him a headache since he was unable to scan the surroundings.
Gritting his teeth, he simply led these people in a random direction.
It wasn’t like the source of the Astral Wind was boundless, so as long as they kept moving forward in the same direction, they would eventually escape.
The fierce gale caused everyone to be anxious. It felt terrible to have their lives hanging by a thread.
As Yang Kai sustained his Towering Evergreen, his energy left his body like the water discharged from a dam. He felt fortunate that he had put more than 100 people inside the Six Fated Paths Bag; otherwise, he would’ve consumed even more energy.
The branches hanging from the ancient tree shook violently as though they would be gone with the wind at any moment; however, they still steadfastly blocked the Astral Wind out.
After they moved forward for a bit, Yang Kai’s expression changed suddenly.
The Proprietress was just beside him, and upon seeing his expression, she quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
“There’s something over there.” Yang Kai stared intently ahead with his dark gaze as though he was trying to see through the gale; however, the endless wind had even caused space to warp, so he was unable to see anything.
His words made everyone stiff.
Hua Yong asked, “Perhaps only High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters are able to resist this violent wind. What could it be that’s lurking in the wind?”
There was absolutely no living creature in the world that could live in this gale; however, Yang Kai wouldn’t lie to them in this situation. What’s more, he was protecting everyone with his Wood Element Divine Manifestation, so he was more sensitive to the surroundings than all of them.
“I have no idea.” Yang Kai shook his head with a solemn expression, then yelled, “It’s coming!”
Right after he finished speaking, his expression changed drastically as he turned to look in a particular direction. Over there, a hole was torn in the protective shield of his Towering Evergreen. Even though he was trying his best to repair the tear, a visible wisp of green smoke still snuck in through it.
Following that, the green smoke contorted and turned into a translucent Human-shaped creature with four limbs, but its height was only half of the average Human adult.
There were no facial features on its face, which was eerily flat.
“A Wind Spirit!” The Proprietress exclaimed, “The Astral Wind has nurtured a Wind Spirit. Stay on guard, everyone!”
All of them immediately raised their defences.
Before anyone could react, the Wind Spirit directly snuck into the body of the cultivator nearest to it and disappeared.
The cultivator was in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm and soon began screaming as the aura coming from his body fluctuated unstably.
The people around him leaped away in shock.
The Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master yelled in horror, “It’s inside my Small Universe! Save me!”
Hua Yong bellowed, “No one can help you since the Wind Spirit is inside your body, only you can save yourself! Don’t panic! Focus on using your World Force to drive it out.”
Upon hearing that, the man hurriedly did as he was told; however, his cultivation was too weak. It wasn’t certain what the Wind Spirit was doing in his Small Universe, but everyone could feel his aura plunging rapidly. In just over ten breaths of time, his aura dropped from the Fourth Order to the Third Order, then the Second Order and eventually the First Order.
“Help me!” The man wailed as his aura flickered. Right after this final cry, he suddenly grunted and exploded into a blood mist. The people around him were instantly covered in blood.
“His Small Universe collapsed!” Mao Zhe’s pupils contracted.
A Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had lost all his World Force in such a short time, so it was only natural that his Small Universe would be critically destabilised. The moment his Small Universe came apart, he died a horrible death.
No one could resist the Astral Wind as it could sneak into an Open Heaven Realm Master’s Small Universe and wear away their heritage. Now, it seemed that this Wind Spirit was significantly more powerful than the Astral Wind.
After the man was killed, the green Wind Spirit reappeared. It had apparently shot out of the dead person’s Small Universe. Then, the green smoke moved and charged towards another cultivator.
Mao Zhe directly used a Divine Ability which struck the Wind Spirit. He was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so his methods were naturally formidable. However, since he was surrounded by so many people in such close quarters, he was rather restricted in his movements.
Nevertheless, the power of this Divine Ability was not to be underestimated. The immense force caused the Wind Spirit to pause.
As though the Wind Spirit was infuriated, it abandoned its target and dashed towards Mao Zhe instead.
Mao Zhe’s expression changed, but he was unable to dodge the Wind Spirit in such a place, so he had no choice but to continue using his Divine Abilities to force back the creature. At the same time, Geng Qing and Zhou Ya made a move together. Since three Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had joined forces, they were able to hold the Wind Spirit at bay. Despite that, they weren’t able to destroy the Wind Spirit, which was strange.
The Proprietress suddenly yelled, “Don’t use your World Force. This thing can absorb it to strengthen itself!”
Mao Zhe examined the creature with narrowed eyes and realised that the Wind Spirit’s colour had become darker than when it first appeared, and it had also become more agile. The Proprietress was right to say that the Wind Spirit was able to absorb all kinds of World Force to strengthen itself.
The creature had just dived into a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master’s Small Universe, which caused his aura to plunge and his Small Universe to collapse. It seemed that the creature really was becoming stronger after it fed on the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master’s heritage.
However, how was an Open Heaven Realm Master supposed to fight without using their World Force?
An Open Heaven Realm Master was only an Open Heaven Realm Master because they could use World Force.
The foundation of an Open Heaven Realm Master’s power was the World Force in their Small Universe. If they couldn’t use World Force, they were no different from a toothless tiger.
Seeing that the Wind Spirit was charging towards him, Mao Zhe respectively grasped Zhou Ya and Geng Qing with his hands before he fled backwards.
Nevertheless, there was nowhere else they could go as they soon reached the edge of Towering Evergreen’s protection. If they moved any further, they would be exposed to the Astral Wind directly.
At the most critical moment, a whip broke through the air and wrapped itself around the Wind Spirit. Following a thunderous noise, the whip tightened itself, which caused the Wind Spirit to fall apart.
But soon, the Wind Spirit took shape again. However, the strike allowed everyone to see a glimmer of hope.
The Proprietress, who was holding the whip, yelled, “Use your artifacts!”
Although an Open Heaven Realm Master had to activate their World Force to use their artifact, the attack of an artifact itself wasn’t composed purely of World Force. It was also mixed with the artifact’s own power, which could apparently not be absorbed by the Wind Spirit.
The Proprietress was just giving it a try, so it surprised her that she actually found the solution right away.
At that instant, lights of different colours flickered. The Open Heaven Realm Masters summoned their artifacts and attacked the Wind Spirit. The violent fluctuations of energy were chaotic as all sorts of Elements surged out.
The Wind Spirit was extremely agile and it could easily dodge most of the attacks. On the other hand, many of the cultivators were accidentally hurt since they were all crammed together.
With that said, some of the attacks still struck the Wind Spirit. Every strike could make its figure fall apart, but it would soon re-form. However, its colour became increasingly dimmer.
Seeing that, Hua Yong yelled, “Hang in there and don’t panic! As long as we’re united, we don’t have to be afraid of this Wind Spirit!”
He wasn’t boasting wildly. Even though the Wind Spirit born in this place was eerie as it could kill a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in a short time, there were many Open Heaven Realm Masters around, including nine in the Sixth-Order. If they couldn’t even deal with a single Wind Spirit, they should just give up and let it kill them.
The powers of the artifacts continuously blossomed and the Wind Spirit had become so dim that it was almost transparent. Just when it was about to be destroyed, a crack suddenly appeared on its flat face as though it had opened its mouth and it released a fierce howl.
No one knew what this Wind Spirit was doing, but they still put up their guard with solemn expressions.
Although the wind was heard howling, it didn’t appear to be intimidating or lethal at all.
However, Yang Kai’s expression changed drastically as he said, “Stay alert! We might be in trouble!”
“What?” Hua Yong turned his head to ask, then his pupils contracted.
In the meantime, cracks that were caused by a mysterious force started appearing around the protection range of the Towering Evergreen. Puffs of green smoke snuck in through the cracks, then contorted and turned into odd-looking creatures.
Just like the Wind Spirit they had seen previously, these things had limbs but not facial features. Their faces were flat in an eerie way. Some of them looked like tigers, wolves, and some other animals.
The creatures that had barged in were all Wind Spirits. It was just that they were of different forms and there were more than ten of them.
Everyone felt a crawling sensation on their scalp.
Just one Wind Spirit was enough to give them a headache as over 100 Open Heaven Realm Masters were unable to kill it in a short time. Just when they were starting to see a glimmer of hope though, more of these Wind Spirits rushed in.
Apparently, the Wind Spirit was calling out to its companions just now by making that howling sound.
Many appeared to be in despair.
As soon as these Wind Spirits took shape, they started flying around. The cultivators exclaimed and tried to avoid them, but there was nowhere they could go. In just a moment, these Wind Spirits snuck into the bodies of over ten cultivators and disappeared.
These people widened their eyes in horror as they were desperate to fight for a chance to survive. They madly pushed their World Force in an attempt to force these Wind Spirits out of their Small Universes, but their efforts proved futile.
Many of them called out desperately for help.
The nine Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters sported solemn expressions.
None of them could have expected that they would come across this kind of danger after leaving Shadowless Cave Heaven with Yang Kai, including Yang Kai himself. He thought that after leaving Shadowless Cave Heaven, the biggest risk he would face would be a more intense Astral Wind. With his Towering Evergreen though, he was confident he could ensure their safety.
However, it never crossed his mind that Wind Spirits existed in the Astral Wind source. Even his Towering Evergreen was unable to block them out.
Right in front of everyone’s eyes, the auras of these people plunged. Just like the deceased Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from earlier, the heritages of their Small Universes were swallowed by the Wind Spirits and their Orders plummeted. Their Small Universes trembled and then collapsed.
In just over ten breaths of time, explosive sounds started ringing out. These people subsequently exploded into blood mists, leaving no traces behind.
One of these deceased Open Heaven Realm Masters was even in the Fifth Order, which was why Chef and Accountant gulped with pale faces.
Both of them were in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so had any of the Wind Spirits snuck into their bodies, they would’ve ended up like these people.
Then, the Wind Spirits appeared again. It was obvious that their colours had become deeper, which was thanks to the fact that they had just swallowed the heritages of those Open Heaven Realm Masters’ Small Universes.
People who were still alive immediately leaped away with vigilance.
Just one Wind Spirit could make this place descend into chaos, so how were they supposed to deal with a dozen of them?
Many of them regretted not getting into Yang Kai’s Six Fated Paths Bag earlier. When Yang Kai fished out the bag in an attempt to keep some people inside it, many of them were reluctant; after all, once they entered the bag, they would lose control over their own lives. Eventually, it was Hua Yong and the Shi Brothers who dealt with the situation. Now, it seemed that the bag was the safest place to be.
Yang Kai glared at the Wind Spirits as he had the urge to summon his Azure Dragon Spear and kill all of them with it; however, he was now in the Astral Wind source, and he had to sustain the Towering Evergreen while looking for a way out, so he was incapable of helping to deal with these creatures.
Fortunately, when the Wind Spirits struck again, everyone was better prepared. Things were much better now as they could temporarily ward off the Wind Spirits. Nevertheless, as they used their artifacts, the violent forces fluctuated, which made it difficult for Yang Kai to sustain his Towering Evergreen.
However, their defences weren’t impenetrable. Just a moment later, some of the Wind Spirits broke through the bombardment and rushed towards the cultivators before sneaking into their Small Universes. These unfortunate cultivators appeared to have lost all hope.
They had seen how their companions died a horrible death in front of them, so they could imagine what it would be like.
“Proprietress!” Chef’s chubby figure suddenly shook as he turned to look at the Proprietress with a helpless smile.
The Proprietress’ pupils contracted as she exclaimed, “Chef!”
An anxious Accountant gazed at Chef in disbelief.
Just now, a Wind Spirit circled around Chef and snuck into his body from behind when no one was aware of it.
Chef parted his lips in an attempt to say something. Despite having countless things to say, he eventually condensed everything into two sentences, “It was my greatest honour to have met you, Proprietress. Many thanks for taking care of me over the years.”
After he finished speaking, he appeared relieved.
The Proprietress charged towards Chef and pressed her hand against his dantian before madly surging her own World Force power in an attempt to force the Wind Spirit out; however, the Wind Spirit had already snuck into his Small Universe, so she was unable to target it.
Chef shook his head as his aura plunged.
Just then, Yang Kai suddenly extended his hand and yelled, “Come here, Chef!”
Chef turned his head, but before he could react, he felt a force engulfing him. The next moment, the world around him started spinning, and then he arrived at a very strange world.
In this world, the Moon was hanging in the sky as it cast its eerie glow on everything. Besides the refreshing air, this place was filled with dense World Force.
[Where is this place?] Chef was dumbfounded, then he soon realised in shock that a puff of green smoke billowed out of his body and turned into a snake. The Wind Spirit then hissed.
Chef widened his eyes as he couldn’t believe that the Wind Spirit had actually voluntarily left his body.
As the Wind Spirit hissed, Chef could clearly feel that the World Force in this world was being madly devoured by the creature. At the same time, it was also growing quickly.
Under the Towering Evergreen, Yang Kai grunted and staggered with a pale expression.
Since Chef was in trouble, there was no way he would sit back and do nothing. Left with no choice, he decided to put Chef into his Small Universe, thinking that he could deal with the Wind Spirit after that; however, he was stunned to see that the Wind Spirit had left Chef’s body and entered his Small Universe instead.
Yang Kai wasn’t certain about the reason behind it, but he reckoned that his Small Universe was probably more attractive to the Wind Spirit.
The next moment, his speculation was proven right.
He had exposed some of his aura just now when he opened up his Small Universe to keep Chef inside it. The remaining Wind Spirits of different forms halted and turned to face Yang Kai. Even the Wind Spirits that had previously snuck into those cultivators left their bodies now.
Since these Wind Spirits didn’t have facial features, they were supposedly not able to see; however, at this moment, Yang Kai could clearly feel that they were staring at him as though they were drooling over a delicious dish.
These cultivators were both shocked and stunned at the turn of events.
They had no idea what Yang Kai had done so that he could attract the attention of all Wind Spirits.
*Shua shua shua…*
The Wind Spirits turned into green streaks and charged towards Yang Kai in the next instant.
A flustered the Proprietress exclaimed, “Watch out, Yang Kai!” She then rushed over in an attempt to fend off those Wind Spirits for him.
Mao Zhe and the others frowned as they dashed forward. Their names were on the Loyalty List, so if anything happened to Yang Kai, they would be doomed as well.
“Let them come!” Yang Kai bellowed.
The Proprietress stopped in her tracks and stared dazedly at him as though she was asking what he was trying to do.
Unfortunately, Yang Kai didn’t have time to explain anything. Faced with these Wind Spirits, he opened his Small Universe wide. As his aura was exposed, these Wind Spirits became excited and hastened their pace.
These puffs of green smoke then penetrated Yang Kai’s body and disappeared instantly.
Yang Kai’s figure shook, and then he checked on his Small Universe and realised that the dozen or so Wind Spirits of different forms were madly absorbing his heritage to strengthen themselves. Meanwhile, Chef was trembling nearby.
“Proprietress, Mao Zhe, enter my Small Universe and help me deal with them!” As Yang Kai spoke, he extended his hands to them.
The Proprietress lowered her defences and allowed his strength to engulf her. She disappeared the next moment. At the same time, Mao Zhe and the other Mountain Lords also vanished.
When the four of them came to their senses, they realised that they were in a different world.
Looking up, they saw the Wind Spirits wolfing down the World Force around them while Chef stood rooted to the spot.
“What the…” Mao Zhe exclaimed and looked around. He had a speculation, but he found it hard to believe it.
“It’s my Small Universe. Rather than letting these Wind Spirits make a scene outside, I thought it would be better to just trap them here. I’ll cordon off the area around here, so please help me restrain them for now. I’ll handle them when I’m free!” Yang Kai’s voice reverberated from all around.
Not only was Mao Zhe in disbelief, but Geng Qing and Zhou Ya were also astounded.
They couldn’t believe that they were in Yang Kai’s Small Universe!
Common sense dictated that only when an Open Heaven Realm Master reached the High-Rank would their Small Universe be able to fully materialise and accommodate living creatures. Yang Kai was only a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so how did he manage to achieve it?
They couldn’t wrap their heads around it as this went against the knowledge that was deeply imprinted in their minds.
Nevertheless, as Mao Zhe felt the density of the World Force around him, he finally understood why he wasn’t a match for Yang Kai even though both of them were in the Sixth Order.
The heritage in Yang Kai’s Small Universe was clearly richer than his own. As he looked up at the Bright Moon, he realised that the celestial entity seemed to contain a power that could freeze his soul. He was astounded, thinking that it was probably a High-Rank Element Power. Although he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he had only reached the Fifth-Order directly when he achieved an ascension in the past. In other words, his limit would be the Seventh Order in the future, which was why he craved this kind of power.
As soon as Yang Kai finished speaking, they felt a force cordoning off the space around them.
Apparently, Yang Kai had sealed this region so that the Wind Spirits wouldn’t be able to cause too much damage to his Small Universe. However, his effort would be futile if there was no one around to tie down the Wind Spirits as the seal would be broken through sooner or later if they were left alone.
That was the reason Yang Kai decided to put the Proprietress and the others into his Small Universe. He was trying to make use of their powers to stall for time. Presently, he had to bring everyone out of the Astral Wind source as soon as possible, so he didn’t have time to deal with the Wind Spirits for now.
Although it was difficult for four Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to confront more than ten Wind Spirits, it wasn’t Yang Kai’s intention to have them kill the odd-looking creatures. He just wanted them to distract them so that the Wind Spirits wouldn’t run rampant; hence, there shouldn’t be any problem.
Upon learning Yang Kai’s plan, the Proprietress made the first move. The whip in her hand coiled around the Wind Spirits like it was a Dragon before ripping them apart. She was trying to attract their attention so that they wouldn’t be able to concentrate on swallowing the heritage in Yang Kai’s Small Universe.
Seeing that, Mao Zhe and the others quickly made a move as well.
Yang Kai felt that his Small Universe had descended into chaos, which made it hard for him to focus.
There was a bitter smile on his face as he finally realised why people always said even a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master wouldn’t easily let others enter their Small Universe, for that would be a terrible experience. No one would let someone else go into their Small Universe unless they wholeheartedly trusted that person as any slight disturbance would cause damage to their Small Universe.
Under Yang Kai’s Towering Evergreen, these people looked around in horror. Of the more than 100 Open Heaven Realm Masters, 20 or so had lost their lives in a short time. It could be said that they had suffered an immense loss.
Moreover, the eerie Wind Spirits had all dived into Yang Kai’s body, which made them feel worried.
It had to be noted that Yang Kai was the key to their survival. If anything happened to him, all of them would be exposed to the Astral Wind source. With the Towering Evergreen around, they would be safe from the harassment of the Astral Wind; however, without this Wood Element Divine Manifestation, no one had the confidence to survive here for long.
Therefore, all of them turned to look at Yang Kai, who seemed fine even though he sported a solemn expression.
Hua Yong asked with concern, “Sect Master, those Wind Spirits…”
Yang Kai replied in a muffled voice, “They’re inside my Small Universe. Mao Zhe and the others are dealing with them. We have to leave this place quickly!”
Then, he continued leading the crowd forward. They followed him closely, ensuring that they were always within the protection range of the Divine Manifestation.
On the road, they came across several more Wind Spirits that broke through the defence of Towering Evergreen and caused a ruckus.
Yang Kai used the same trick and sent these Wind Spirits inside his Small Universe.
The Proprietress and the others already found it hard to deal with the dozen or so original Wind Spirits, so the situation only exacerbated when more were let in. There were even times when they were almost attacked and invaded by the Wind Spirits.
Left with no choice, Yang Kai sent Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan into his Small Universe so that they could help.
The movements in his Small Universe thus became even more violent. Yang Kai could feel his blood weltering while his aura was extremely unstable. As his head kept buzzing, he had a feeling that he would suffer from cultivation dissonance at any moment.
Time seemed to pass by even more slowly at this moment.
Accountant, who had been standing guard beside Yang Kai, suddenly exclaimed, “You’re hurt!”
He could see that blood was leaking from Yang Kai’s seven orifices, and his eyes were horrifyingly red.
Yang Kai grunted as he couldn’t even spare the focus to respond. He silently charged forward while exerting more force to sustain his Towering Evergreen to fend off the howling Astral Wind.
Each breath that passed felt like an hour, but at a certain point, Yang Kai suddenly felt that the pressure around him was gone and the Towering Evergreen’s protection, which was suppressed by the Astral Wind earlier, abruptly expanded.
An energised Yang Kai shouted, “We’re out of the source!”
Everyone was elated as they looked around; however, as the green branches hung so low, they were still engulfed in an emerald light, making it impossible to see outside clearly. With that said, they were aware that the wind, which had haunted them for a seemingly long time, finally stopped howling.
They had really left the Astral Wind source!
At that instant, all of them started cheering.
To be safe, Yang Kai didn’t immediately retract his Towering Evergreen, sustaining it as he continued charging forward for another incense stick worth of time. Following that, he released his Divine Sense, and upon making sure that they were safe, he withdrew the Wood Element Divine Manifestation.
As the light dissipated, the others released their Divine Senses and realised that they had landed on a shattered Spirit Province, which was about a hundred square kilometres. It was absolutely desolate, while all around was only an endless void.
“Please stand guard for me,” Yang Kai hurriedly said to the Shi Brothers as he sat down cross-legged. Then, he emptied his mind and sunk his consciousness into his Small Universe.
The Shi Brothers still hadn’t figured out what was going on or where they were, but upon hearing Yang Kai’s words, they immediately surrounded him and raised their vigilance.
At this moment, they were not certain whether they had really left the Shadowless Cave Heaven and returned to the 3,000 Worlds, so they reckoned that they had to ensure Yang Kai’s safety.
The battle inside Yang Kai’s Small Universe was fierce. Six Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and about 20 Wind Spirits were locked in combat. As these people flew around, the powers of their artifacts blossomed.
Although Yang Kai had cordoned off this battlefield, the wild energy fluctuations still caused his Small Universe to shake and rumble.
The six of them were elated when they saw Yang Kai’s figure appear.
The Proprietress said, “Yang Kai, it’s too hard to deal with these Wind Spirits. We’re unable to destroy them.”
When the first Wind Spirit appeared, it took all 100 or so Open Heaven Realm Masters attacking it for some time for its colour to simply become dim, to say nothing of the fact that there were so many Wind Spirits now. Furthermore, they were now inside Yang Kai’s Small Universe, so they didn’t dare to release too much of their power. They were now even more restricted in their movements than previously.
“I know. Let me handle the rest. Many thanks for all you’ve done.” As Yang Kai spoke, he extended his finger, whereupon a portal appeared in his Small Universe, beyond which was the aura of the outside world.
Mao Zhe asked with a frown, “Will you be alright on your own?”
Yang Kai replied, “I have no idea, but I have to give it a try. Right now I’m restricted since all of you are here, so please leave this place first.”
After a moment of silence, Mao Zhe sent a signal to Geng Qing and Zhou Ya, then the three of them shot out through the crack together, followed by Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan. A worried Proprietress gazed at Yang Kai and parted her lips.
Before she could speak though, Yang Kai said with a smile, “Don’t worry, Proprietress. Even if I can’t kill them, I’ll still be able to expel them.”
The others were unable to force these Wind Spirits out once they were invaded because their Small Universes were still ethereal. On the other hand, Yang Kai’s Small Universe was corporeal, so if it came down to it, he could simply cut out part of his territory and expel it. Although his foundation would be damaged by doing this, it was better than waiting for death.
“Be careful, and don’t push yourself too hard,” Proprietress stated in a solemn voice, then turned around and left through the portal.
After closing the portal, Yang Kai stared silently at the Wind Spirits and said through clenched teeth, “I bet all of you have been having fun, haven’t you?”
The Wind Spirits apparently couldn’t understand him, and without the restraint of the Proprietress and the others, they immediately started swallowing the heritage of his Small Universe again.
Yang Kai could clearly feel that the power of his Small Universe was rapidly streaming into these Wind Spirits. Although he had cordoned off this area, he was still unable to stop them from absorbing his heritage.
Honestly speaking, Yang Kai still had no idea what these Wind Spirits really were. He speculated that they were born in the Astral Wind source and simply followed their instincts to swallow up World Force. They probably didn’t even have sentience.
Yang Kai couldn’t let these creatures continue wreaking havoc in his Small Universe. The longer they stayed, the greater the loss he would suffer, so with a thought, he yelled, “Water Reflects the Moon!”
The Moon in the sky immediately shone brightly and cast its glow on everything below.
A layer of frost was instantly seen on the figures of these Wind Spirits, as though they were covered in white clothes.
Yang Kai was ecstatic since his Water Element Divine Ability seemed to be working. Just now, he was worried that his Element Powers wouldn’t be useful against these Wind Spirits, but now he could set his mind at ease.
As the frost expanded, Yang Kai could clearly feel that the speed at which the World Force was draining had slowed. The Wind Spirits instinctively felt that something was off. They were originally wolfing down the Small Universe’s heritage, but they were now staring up at the Moon in the sky.
The next instant, their figures shook to break free of the frost, then they pounced at the Moon. The howling of wind was heard coming from their mouths, which threw Yang Kai’s Small Universe into turmoil.
The closer the Wind Spirits got to the Moon, the colder they felt. Showered in the Moonlight, they found themselves becoming increasingly sluggish as the frost on their figures thickened.
Despite that, they still wouldn’t back down, so Yang Kai had to watch as the Wind Spirits crept closer to the Moon.
The Moon in Yang Kai’s Small Universe was the manifestation of his Water Element Divine Ability, which was somewhere between illusory and real. He wasn’t certain what would happen if these Wind Spirits managed to reach it.
He wouldn’t dare to take the risk. Seeing as Water Reflects the Moon was unable to stop these Wind Spirits, he decided to use his first Divine Manifestation and bellowed, “Golden Crow Casts the Sun!”
The Moon suddenly sank beyond the horizon, and as the Golden Crow cawed, a Great Sun leapt into the sky, a three-legged exotic bird flying around it gayly.
The icy cold power was instantly replaced by a scorching heat. The Wind Spirits hadn’t managed to stop their advance when the Golden Crow’s True Fire was spit out from the Sun.
Then, a series of strange sizzling sounds were heard. As these Wind Spirits continued to howl, their figures were completely engulfed in the black Golden Crow’s True Fire.
Golden Crow’s True Fire was said to be able to burn down everything in existence, and it seemed these Wind Spirits weren’t an exception.
Seeing that, Yang Kai was ecstatic.
He could see that the 20 or so Wind Spirits had turned into fireballs, and as the Golden Crow’s True Fire continued to burn, dark smoke started billowing from their flaming figures.
Yang Kai frowned as he instinctively felt that the dark smoke was a terrible thing. This was his Small Universe, so he was able to detect the slightest anomaly, and the dark smoke made him feel like he had eaten some rancid food.
Realising the ferocity of Golden Crow Casts the Sun, the Wind Spirits instinctively tried to flee; however, since they were now covered in Golden Crow’s True Fire, how were they supposed to get rid of it?
Moreover, Yang Kai had cordoned off the space around this area, so regardless of how hard they tried to break through the seal, they were unable to escape the Golden Crow’s True Fire.
Yang Kai pushed his power to strengthen his Golden Crow Casts the Sun.
More dark smoke billowed from these Wind Spirits, and as that happened, they became dimmer and dimmer.
The very first Wind Spirit was previously besieged by over 100 Open Heaven Realm Masters, so it was much weaker from the start. Quickly being burned down by the Golden Crow’s True Fire, it soon fell apart and vanished into thin air.
Yang Kai arched his brow because as the Wind Spirit evaporated, he felt a stream of World Force surging into his Small Universe, which helped make up for some of the damage done to his heritage.
[What’s going on?] Yang Kai wondered but didn’t have time to ponder on this issue as he had to continuously sustain Golden Crow Casts the Sun. At the same time, he exerted more force to fortify the seal so that these Wind Spirits wouldn’t be able to cause further damage to his Small Universe.
Golden Crow Casts the Sun was immensely powerful, and given Yang Kai’s current cultivation, he was even able to cause a certain degree of damage to a High-Rank cultivator using it. Therefore, the average Open Heaven Realm Master wouldn’t be able to persevere for long under the influence of this Divine Manifestation.
With that said, these Wind Spirits were clearly pretty tough. The Great Sun in the sky continued to burn them, and although Yang Kai could feel that they were getting weakened by the moment and believed that they would eventually fall apart like the first Wind Spirit, that would still take some time.
Two days later, Yang Kai, who had been paying close attention to the Wind Spirits, suddenly shifted his attention to one of them. Just then, following a muffled boom, the almost transparent Wind Spirit exploded into nothingness.
Just like what happened previously, right after the Wind Spirit disappeared, a stream of pure World Force flooded into his Small Universe.
*Peng peng peng…*
More Wind Spirits popped as half of them soon disappeared.
More World Force gushed into Yang Kai’s Small Universe like a raging storm, leaving him in a state of disbelief.
One day later, the last Wind Spirit was finally burned to death by the Golden Crow’s True Fire. Yang Kai breathed a sigh of relief when he saw its figure coming apart.
More than 20 Wind Spirits had been destroyed, and after they disappeared, they left behind a lot of World Force. What was more precious was that the World Force was without any impurities. In other words, anyone could absorb it and turn it into their own capital immediately.
Initially, the heritage of Yang Kai’s Small Universe was severely damaged because of those Wind Spirits; however, now, not only had the losses been made up for, but he had also gained some benefits.
Yang Kai didn’t immediately leave his Small Universe. Instead, he emptied his mind and used his Small Universe to refine the World Force left behind by the deceased Wind Spirits in order to strengthen his heritage.
Time went by slowly.
More than ten days later, on the shattered Spirit Province, Hua Yong, who had been paying close attention to Yang Kai, suddenly called out, “Sect Master is waking up!”
Since Yang Kai brought them to this shattered Spirit Province half a month ago, he had been seated there without moving a muscle. All of them could see that he had lured the Wind Spirits into his own Small Universe, but no one knew what happened next. They had experienced the eeriness and power of the Wind Spirits, so it was expected that the Proprietress and the others were worried.
Upon hearing Hua Yong’s words, the Proprietress immediately turned to look at Yang Kai and realised that he was indeed slowly opening his eyes.
Before she could ask anything, Yang Kai suddenly let out a puff of dark smoke through his mouth.
A shocked the Proprietress hurriedly released her Divine Sense, but she couldn’t identify what the dark smoke was. It seemed to carry a hint of the Wind Spirits’ auras, but it didn’t entirely feel like it either.
In reality, this dark smoke was the same dark smoke released by the Wind Spirits when they were burned by the Golden Crow’s True Fire. Yang Kai had no idea what it was, but he instinctively felt that it would do him more harm than good if he kept it in his Small Universe.
Over the past few days, Yang Kai had been trying to refine the World Force left behind by the deceased Wind Spirits and come up with a way to get rid of the dark smoke. Now, his efforts finally yielded some results.
In the end, it was his Small Universe, so he could easily detect any anomalies, allowing him to disperse the dark smoke with only some effort.
“I’m sorry to make you all wait for such a long time,” Yang Kai got to his feet and said.
The Proprietress asked with concern, “How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Yang Kai shook his head.
In fact, not only was he fine, but he had also attained some immense benefits. It wasn’t certain what those Wind Spirits were, but after they were destroyed by the Golden Crow’s True Fire, they significantly bolstered his strength.
Yang Kai could clearly feel that the heritage of his Small Universe had increased significantly, possibly as much as 100 years of dedicated cultivation would bring him.
He was more than satisfied with this pleasant surprise.
The Proprietress was still doubtful, but upon seeing that his skin was glowing and his aura had become more stable than before, she relaxed slightly.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai turned to look in a particular direction and narrowed his eyes, then exclaimed, “What is that?”
He could see that there was a gigantic tornado that appeared to be several tens of thousands of kilometres wide in the distance. As the tornado swirled around, warping the space surrounding it slightly.
The sight was quite terrifying.
The Proprietress walked up to him and looked in the same direction before explaining, “That’s the Astral Wind’s source.”
A shocked Yang Kai couldn’t believe that he had actually left such a place some time ago, much less that those eerie Wind Spirits could actually be born in such a place.
“The wind…” Yang Kai frowned and fell into his thoughts. For some reason, he could feel a strange and mysterious domain within the tornado.
“It’s a Divine Ability,” the Proprietress said.
Yang Kai gazed at her in shock.
The Proprietress went on to say in a bitter voice, “Trust me. Before you woke up, we had been observing it for quite some time and came to the conclusion that it was once some kind of Divine Ability.”
Yang Kai felt his throat turning dry, “A Divine Ability? Does that mean someone cast it?”
Mao Zhe took a step forward and said with a bitter smile, “Perhaps it’s a Divine Ability left behind by a Great Ancient Expert. Although countless years have passed, it’s still as powerful as ever.”
Yang Kai widened his mouth in disbelief, but the truth was right in front of his eyes, so he had to accept it.
He wouldn’t have figured it out if the Proprietress hadn’t pointed it out. Upon hearing her words though, he could indeed see that it was a Divine Ability cast by someone in an unknown time; however, it continued to exist until this day.
The Divine Ability happened to be located just outside of the Shadowless Cave Heaven’s exit; therefore, right after they left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, they fell into the region this Divine Ability covered.
It seemed to be targeted at the Small Universes of Open Heaven Realm Masters. If one wasn’t careful enough, the Astral Wind would sneak into their body and wipe away their heritage.
This Astral Wind wasn’t the same as the one that gusted into the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Instead, it was a tornado that would endlessly devastate a person’s Small Universe.
Yang Kai wouldn’t dare to think about what would happen if a person was struck by such a Divine Ability.
If such a tornado ravaged his Small Universe, he reckoned that he couldn’t persevere for more than ten breaths.
The Divine Ability never subsided, and as time passed, eerie Wind Spirits were born from it.
Judging from what happened after the death of those Wind Spirits, Yang Kai reckoned that the World Force brought away by the Astral Wind didn’t just disappear; instead, it was brought back to the tornado.
Those Wind Spirits were probably hybrids of the World Force and the Divine Ability’s domain. Over the years, countless Open Heaven Realm Masters had accidentally fallen into the tornado and passed away. Their World Forces were all devoured by the Wind Spirits.
The Shadowless Cave Heaven was a Universe Cave Heaven left behind by a deceased Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so it wasn’t supposed to be so desolate. However, due to the Astral Wind’s harassment that took place once a month, the World Force was continuously lost. Furthermore, basically all the Open Heaven Realm Masters were affected by the Astral Wind in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
The World Force was snatched and brought back to this tornado as it became the nutrients for the Wind Spirits.
Therefore, it could be said that every Wind Spirit contained very ample World Force.
Yang Kai had gained tremendous benefits by destroying those Wind Spirits and obtaining their World Force
As he looked silently at the tornado, he couldn’t help but wonder how many more Wind Spirits there were inside it. The ones he had come across were certainly not all of them. If he rushed into the tornado and lured more Wind Spirits into his body, he could save a lot of time on cultivation.
In that case, he would be able to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm sooner.
Although there was only a difference of one Order between the Seventh Order and the Sixth Order, it was like the gap between the Heavens and Earth. The former was in the High-Rank while the latter was in the Mid-Rank, so they were not comparable at all.
Others might be wary of the Astral Wind, but Yang Kai was able to ward it off, and with his previous experiences, he could handle those Wind Spirits with ease.
Nevertheless, he soon gave up on that idea.
This couldn’t be helped as his strength had increased too quickly recently. Back then, he was forced to ascend to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, then one month later, he made it to the Sixth-Order by consuming a World Fruit. If he still rushed into making an attempt to reach the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, it might cause his Small Universe to become unstable.
After all, the Open Heaven Realm was a process where one had to build up and manage their Small Universe gradually. Sometimes advancing too quickly was a bad thing.
He reckoned that when he was ready one day, he could still come back here and lure those Wind Spirits into his Small Universe in an attempt to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. At the thought of this, Yang Kai set his mind at ease.
“Where are we now?” Yang Kai asked.
The Proprietress replied, “We’re in the Shattered Heaven, but I don’t know our exact location.”
Yang Kai nodded gently, thinking that the Shattered Heaven indeed lived up to its bad reputation. Before coming here, he had heard that this place was paved with danger. He had previously seen some ferocious artifacts that had gained sentience, and now there was this Divine Ability that had persisted across countless eons. No one knew how much more danger they would bump into. If they were not careful enough, they would lose their lives here.
Yang Kai fished out a Universe Chart he had bought in the Shattered Heaven’s Star City, but he soon realised that he still couldn’t identify their location.
Left with no choice, he said, “I guess we’re lost for now. We can only play it by ear.”
No one objected to the suggestion. Regardless of where this was, it was better than staying in the Shadowless Cave Heaven. They had never expected that they would be able to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven in their lifetime, after all.
Yang Kai then fished out the Six Fated Paths Bag and released the 100-plus people he had previously kept inside it. After a brief discussion among the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, they headed in a particular direction.
They came across a lot of danger on the road, most of which did not come with a warning. Although the 10 Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had been vigilant, they still suffered damage on several occasions.
More than 200 cultivators had left the Shadowless Cave Heaven with Yang Kai, 20 or so were killed by the Wind Spirits, and half a year later, only roughly 140 people were left. Other than the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who were still fine, basically everyone else had suffered some degree of injury.
This just went to show how dangerous the Shattered Heaven was.
Over the past six months, the group did not just travel in the same direction. Instead, they would change course from time to time.
Unfortunately, after such a long time had passed, they still hadn’t encountered anyone, which made it impossible for them to identify their location.
Another six months later, Yang Kai, who was in the lead, suddenly looked in a particular direction for a moment. Then, he became elated and exclaimed, “There’s movement over there!”
Upon finishing his words, he charged forward.
The people behind him became energised as well and hurriedly followed after him.
A moment later, they saw some flashes of light in front of their eyes and felt some energy fluctuations coming from up ahead. Apparently, some people were fighting.
As they got closer, Yang Kai realised that there were two Open Heaven Realm Masters engaged in a life-and-death battle. It wasn’t certain why they got into a scuffle, but the battle was quite intense.
Both of these two were powerful Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. It wasn’t certain how long the battle had lasted, but their auras were pretty weak and they were practically covered in wounds and blood.
While they were trying to hack each other to death though, the two men sensed something and turned to look at Yang Kai. The next moment, their expressions changed drastically as they separated and drew back.
A short time later, Yang Kai stopped in a spot that wasn’t far away from them.
When the two men saw the group of people behind Yang Kai, they sported solemn expressions. As they exchanged glances, they subconsciously moved closer to one another.
Regardless of the cultivation of these people, they couldn’t possibly go up against so many on their own. Although they were just fighting a life-and-death battle earlier, they were at least familiar with one another. Compared to these strangers, they would rather trust the party they knew.
Noticing their vigilance and hostility, Yang Kai put on a friendly smile and cupped his fist, “Please excuse us. We just happened to pass by this place, and we mean no harm.”
The man on the left shot Yang Kai a glance with distrust, then asked with a frown, “What do you want?”
Yang Kai replied, “We were previously trapped inside a perilous place, and it took us years before we finally managed to escape. Unfortunately, we’ve become lost so we don’t know how to get to the Shattered Heaven’s Star City. Would you be so kind as to point the way for us?”
The two men were astounded as they were wondering why such a large group of people had approached them all of a sudden, but it turned out that these people were just looking for directions.
The man who spoke earlier pointed in a particular direction and said, “If you want to head to the Star City, move in that direction. You’ll reach it in half a month.”
Yang Kai looked in the same direction and nodded gently, “Many thanks. Sorry for disturbing you.”
Following that, he flew off in the direction the man had pointed out, followed by the rest of the group which soon disappeared into the distance.
The two men, who were engaged in an intense battle just a moment ago, traded glances, feeling at a loss.
After this farce, they were no longer determined to kill each other. Furthermore, they were equally matched to begin with, so if they kept on fighting, both parties would end up severely wounded at best.
Now that they had been interrupted, they no longer had the heart to keep fighting. After cursing at one another, they turned into rays of light and charged in different directions.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai and the others were moving in the direction they were pointed at full speed. As expected, the further they went, the more cultivators they came across. These people had obviously just left the Shattered Heaven’s Star City.
Regardless of who they were though, these people would always run away when they saw such a large group of Open Heaven Realm Masters approaching. Countless people were killed or robbed in Shattered Heaven every day. If a person was killed in this place, no one would seek justice for them.
Half a month later, the Shattered Heaven’s Star City came into sight.
The people behind Yang Kai started cheering; the Shi Brothers were especially loud. When these cultivators saw the Star City, their eyes became reddened and moist, as though they had just been reborn.
Previously, they had accidentally fallen into the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and they thought that they would never be able to leave. It never crossed their minds that they would have a chance to return to the 3,000 Worlds one day.
Many of their companions had lost their lives along the way here, so it felt amazing to have come back alive.
Soon, they charged into the Star City. As they watched the cultivators who were moving around, the stalls on the streets, and the disorderly buildings, they felt a sense of cordiality. The sight before their eyes was never seen in the Shadowless Cave Heaven after all.
Even Mao Zhe and the other Mountain Lords were moved.
Then, they checked into an inn and had a bath to wash away the dirt on their bodies.
Following that, Hua Yong took out some money to hold a banquet for the companions who had left the Shadowless Cave Heaven together. At that instant, the inn’s lobby was crammed with people.
Over 140 people were divided among more than ten tables. Yang Kai and the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were seated together while the rest of them crowded around with their friends as they chatted and drank. The place was bustling with noise.
Meanwhile, many Open Heaven Realm Masters, in groups or as individuals, came over and proposed a toast to Yang Kai, thanking him for helping them to escape the Shadowless Cave Heaven and return to the 3,000 Worlds.
An easy-going Yang Kai didn’t turn down anyone and soon became tipsy.
A while later, Hua Yong asked the Shi Brothers, “What are your future plans?”
Presently, Shi Shan was gnawing on the thigh of some kind of roast beast, and his lips were covered in grease, so upon hearing Hua Yong’s question, he took a large swig of alcohol and asked back, “What do you mean?”
Hua Yong said with a helpless smile, “Since you’ve left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, you’ll need to look for a place to stay. It’s not like you’ll just keep wandering around, right?”
The Shi Brothers were astounded upon hearing that as they traded glances for a moment. Then, Shi Shan scratched his head and said, “That’s right. What should we do next?”
Shi Qiu said in a muffled voice, “You’re the Big Brother, so I’ll listen to you.”
On the side, Shi Yue nodded repeatedly.
Shi Shan batted his eyes, then looked smilingly at Hua Yong, “What about you two? What are your plans?”
Hua Yong replied with a smile, “My Wife and I joined Void Land, and thanks to the Sect Master Yang, we’ve been promoted to the position of Elders.” Then, he took a glance at Mao Zhe, “Brother Mao and them should have done the same.”
“You decided to join Void Land?” Shi Shan stared at Mao Zhe in shock.
A silent Mao Zhe sported a wry smile.
As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he wouldn’t have joined Void Land if he wasn’t restricted by the Loyalty List. Even if he willingly decided to join, he was supposed to be an Elder just like Hua Yong, but now, they were just Yang Kai’s subordinates and couldn’t even control whether they lived or died. They were practically servants.
Hua Yong promptly said to the Shi Brothers, “We all owe the Sect Master a life-saving grace. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have a chance to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Since we’ve now gained a second chance at life, we should repay his favour. We all occupied different territories in the Shadowless Cave Heaven; however, since we’ve left, why don’t you also join Void Land? Given our friendship over the years, we can take care of each other in the future. What do you think?”
The Shi Brothers fell silent upon hearing that.
A moment later, Shi Qiu said in a small voice, “Big Brother, why don’t we join Void Land as well?”
Shi Shan furrowed his brow, “If we join Sect Master Yang’s great force, we’ll be under his control. What if he doesn’t allow us to drink wine and eat meat? It certainly doesn’t feel as great as having our own territory.”
Shi Yue dipped his head, “Big Brother is right.”
Shi Shan said, “We can join forces and venture into the outside world. I don’t believe we’ll fare poorly. It’s better than getting bossed around by someone else. When we manage to make a name for ourselves, we can do whatever we want.”
Their voices were neither loud nor small, so the Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene were able to hear them.
Seeing that the brothers were not willing to join Void Land, Hua Yong was ready to keep persuading them when Yang Kai raised his hand to stop him, “Just let the Shi Brothers do whatever they want. This Yang wishes all the best for your future.”
Shi Shan gazed at Yang Kai with a grin, “We’ll venture into the outside world for now. If we really can’t make a name for ourselves, we’ll come join you.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Good. The doors of Void Land are always open for you.”
These Sixth-Order brothers were triplets who had mastered a profound Combination Technique. When they joined forces, they would be far more powerful than an ordinary Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. If they could join Void Land, the great force’s collective power would increase tremendously.
With that said, before Yang Kai even left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he had subdued the three Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain, and then Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan requested to join Void Land. It could be said that he had gained some handsome benefits by acquiring five more Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters for Void Land.
Since the Shi Brothers were not willing to work under him, Yang Kai naturally wouldn’t force them.
Then, Yang Kai looked around and declared openly, “If any one of you is willing to join Void Land, this Yang will welcome you. If you have somewhere else to go, this Yang will wish you all the best. Since we’ve overcome a great life-or-death crisis together and finally left the Shadowless Cave Heaven together, we’re practically friends now. If you’re willing to join Void Land, this Yang will not mistreat you!” Then, he picked up his cup and continued, “This Yang will propose a toast to all of you. Let’s drink to all our futures!”
Following that, these Open Heaven Realm Masters rose from the chairs and picked up their cups, their gazes filled with gratitude and admiration.
When they were done with the wine in their cups, they took a seat again as the lobby once again became bustling.
After finishing up the ample meal, they returned to their own rooms and took some rest.
However, Yang Kai was unable to get any sleep as some people would knock on his door and express their willingness to join Void Land from time to time. These cultivators had been trapped inside the Shadowless Cave Heaven for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Although they had returned to the outside world, most had no place to go.
They were grateful that Yang Kai had brought them out of the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and since he was the Sect Master of Void Land, they were more than happy to side with him.
Just like what Yang Kai had said, they had experienced life-and-death moments together, so they knew they would not be mistreated. Furthermore, the three Mountain Lords of Profound Yang Mountain and the Island Masters of Twin Spirit Island had joined Void Land, so regardless of what Void Land was like in the past, it would have a bright future since so many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters belonged to it now.
Yang Kai didn’t turn anyone down who came into his room as he happily agreed to let them join.
Void Land was unlike other great forces as it was founded not long ago, so they didn’t have enough time to nurture their own young cultivators. What’s more, it was hard for the people from the Shadowless Cave Heaven to join other great forces as their loyalty wasn’t guaranteed.
However, since Void Land was in the midst of rapid development, Yang Kai desperately needed more Masters to help support it. It wouldn’t be too late to think about other issues when everything was settled in Void Land.
Looking at it from another perspective, the cultivators who joined now could grow with Void Land, and as time passed, they would eventually develop a sense of belonging, so their loyalty wouldn’t be an issue in the long run.
Two days later, the Shi Brothers bid Yang Kai farewell. Since they had decided to venture into the outside world, they wouldn’t want to stay here too long. They had loitered in the desolate Shadowless Cave Heaven for far too long, so they yearned to explore the wonders of the outside world.
When Yang Kai saw them off, he realized that the Shi Brothers had many of the people from Unrivalled Guild with them. There were also some people who were originally from Profound Yang Mountain.
The Shi Brothers had been the Chiefs of Unrivalled Guild for many years, so although they were rather muscle-brained, they were indeed powerful and had their own charisma. Since they did have some influence, it was expected that some people were willing to follow them.
As for the people who were originally from Profound Yang Mountain, they were probably wary of Mao Zhe and the other Mountain Lords. After all, following Profound Yang Mountain’s demise, they immediately sided with the other two great forces, which practically meant that they had abandoned their old Leaders. Now that Mao Zhe and the others had joined Void Land, these people didn’t have the nerve to side with Yang Kai, so they had no choice but to leave with the Shi Brothers.
About half of the over 140 people left, so roughly 70 remained.
Yang Kai wasn’t in a rush to leave the Shattered Heaven’s Star City though and instead cultivated in this place for half a month. Although the Shattered Heaven’s Star City was dilapidated, it was also filled with good things. Countless cultivators moved around this place every day and many of them were able to bring back rare resources from the depths of the Shattered Heaven.
Yang Kai initially intended to buy some cultivation resources, but his attempts were ultimately in vain. This couldn’t be helped as the things in this place were quite expensive, almost two times the average price in the outside world.
More importantly, he couldn’t find the things he really needed.
Since he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, the fastest way for him to cultivate was to refine Sixth-Order materials. After his conversation with Chef some time ago, Yang Kai learned that he had to refine full sets of materials to properly increase the heritage of his Small Universe.
He had more than enough materials for the Five Elements, but he lacked Sixth-Order Yin-Yang materials as these things were truly rare.
As for Fifth-Order materials, he didn’t need to buy them. With the Gourd Vine in Void Land, complete sets of Yin, Yang, and Five Element materials were produced every month, so the supply was basically infinite.
Half a month later, a ship departed from the Shattered Heaven’s Star City. The ship was bought by Yang Kai and while its defensive and offensive strength weren’t particularly outstanding, it was pretty spacious as it could comfortably accommodate 200 people, so the 70 or so aboard had more than enough space to move around.
Since the route had been mapped out, someone just needed to drive the ship forward while Yang Kai found a room and cultivated in seclusion.
The view in the void alternated between surreal and desolate as time went by slowly.
One month later, the ship suddenly shook. Hua Yong knocked on the door and said, “Sect Master, we’ve arrived at the first destination according to your plan.”
[We’ve arrived? That was quick.]
Yang Kai opened his eyes and left the room. After nodding at Hua Yong, he walked towards the deck.
He looked into the distance and saw a Spirit Province that was full of World Energy hovering in the void. A thick layer of fog surrounded the Spirit Province and one could faintly see some beautiful buildings and splendid mountains through the mist.
Some figures left the cabin as Mao Zhe and the other Mountain Lords stood behind Yang Kai and looked into the distance.
Mao Zhe narrowed his eyes and asked, “Is this Void Land?”
Although the place looked average, it had the scale and ambience of a Second Class great force. With that said, it wasn’t very impressive.
“It’s not Void Land.” Yang Kai shook his head.
Mao Zhe was confused. What was this place if it wasn’t Void Land? He had just left the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so he was unable to identify the location without a Universe Chart.
As they spoke, the Proprietress led Chef and Accountant to the deck. Hearing the noise, Yang Kai turned around and walked over, “Why are you here, Proprietress?”
The Proprietress shot him a glance and frowned, “What are you trying to do?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “You know full well what I’m trying to do.”
The Proprietress furrowed her brows and parted her lips, “I was just spouting nonsense since I was infuriated at that time. Many years have passed, so let’s just put it behind us.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “Although many years have passed, you’ll be restricted by your oath if it is not resolved, meaning you won’t be able to make it to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm in your lifetime…” He paused for a moment, then asked, “Are you worried that there will be too many casualties?”
She said with a conflicted expression before she sighed, “There must be some innocents. Once a war breaks out, many people will lose their lives.”
After a moment of silence, Yang Kai said, “I’ll try to limit the casualties then.” Seeing that she was about to keep dissuading him, he cut her off by saying, “Your heart demon oath must be resolved. Furthermore, when Heavenly Sword Union made things difficult for me in the past, they also participated. Since they have the guts to invade Void Land, they must be ready to pay the price!”
Seeing that he was determined, the Proprietress let out a sigh and stopped trying to dissuade him.
On the other hand, Chef and Accountant rolled up their sleeves as they realised Yang Kai’s intention.
Hua Yong and the others were puzzled, not knowing what they were talking about.
Mao Zhe secretly spoke to Hua Yong, who replied, “I have no idea either. We’ve come to this place according to the route that Sect Master mapped out. The place in front of us is apparently called Boundless Altar.”
A glint flashed through Mao Zhe’s eyes as he darted his gaze between Yang Kai and Boundless Altar. At the same time, he paid a silent tribute to those from Boundless Altar for a moment.
The people from Boundless Altar must have offended this walking disaster; otherwise, Yang Kai wouldn’t have directly come all the way here after leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Boundless Altar was doomed.
A top Second Class great force was usually managed by one or two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters at most; however, there wasn’t a lack of Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on this ship as there were seven of them in total. No Second Class great force in the world was able to go up against such a lineup.
As they spoke, the ship continued moving towards the Spirit Province.
In just one hour, they arrived at the periphery of the Spirit Province.
As they got closer, they could see the view in the Spirit Province clearer. They saw that many people were moving around in Boundless Altar. Rays of light could be seen flying between the magnificent Spirit Peaks. There were also a lot of exotic beasts that flew through the air.
The ship was neither small nor big, but as it navigated through the void, it was still pretty conspicuous.
The guards around Boundless Altar had noticed the ship some time ago, and seeing that it was directly coming at them, they immediately sent a message to their higher-ups.
Soon, a figure shot out from one of the Spirit Peaks in Boundless Altar. Hovering within the coverage of the Grand Array, he looked intently into the sky.
What came into his sight shocked him, for he could see a lot of people on the ship. Due to the distance and the fact that these people weren’t releasing their auras, he wasn’t able to discern their cultivations; however, he had a feeling that those people were ill-intentioned.
Hence, he bellowed, “This is Boundless Altar! Who goes there?”
His loud voice reverberated across the void.
The ship didn’t seem to have any intention to stop and simply charged towards Boundless Altar.
The person’s expression changed. As a beam of light flashed across his fingers, he sent a message to some people. The next moment, the Grand Array lit up.
With a dispassionate expression, Yang Kai lifted his hand and forcefully brought it down.
Seeing that, Hua Yong and the others immediately made a move as well.
In an instant, a crack appeared in the Grand Array around Boundless Altar and the ship directly flew inside.
On the deck, Yang Kai’s clothes flapped in the wind as he shouted, “Void Land’s Yang Kai has come!”
Yang Kai’s thunderous voice spread across the entire Boundless Altar. In an instant, the World shook as countless eyes looked in the direction where the voice came from.
Most of the cultivators in Boundless Altar were puzzled as they had never heard of Void Land or Yang Kai before. That was because they were weak and they had rarely stepped out of Boundless Altar. Despite that, they could still clearly sense the hostility in the person’s voice, so they leaped into the air and charged in a particular direction.
On the other hand, a small number of people had their expressions change drastically as their gazes were filled with horror.
Although Void Land wasn’t a household name as it wasn’t comparable to the Cave Heavens and Paradises, it was still a rising Star in recent years.
This great force was rising at an unprecedented speed.
The long-lost legendary Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills were found in the Star City of that great force, which drew the attention of other great forces from all over the 3,000 Worlds.
Before that, the Hundred Sects Alliance, led by Heavenly Sword Union, invaded Void Land, but after the battle, the alliance was defeated, and even the Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union, Kong Feng, was executed on the battlefield.
More importantly, Boundless Altar was a part of that alliance, and they had suffered immense losses. Great Elder Ling Chun Qiu and a number of other Open Heaven Realm Masters were killed in Void Land, leaving no corpses behind.
Initially, Boundless Altar and Void Land had no contact with one another; after all, they were separated by several Great Territories, and they had no relationships of any kind. However, since the incident of the Hundred Sects Alliance, grudges had been formed between both parties.
Certainly, those from Boundless Altar were heartbroken at the fact that Ling Chun Qiu and the others were killed. Even though Boundless Altar was considered a Second Class great force, its heritage was weak. A Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was an important pillar in their great force, so Ling Chun Qiu’s death did have some negative impact on Boundless Altar.
Nevertheless, there was nothing they could do about it. The idea of avenging Ling Chun Qiu’s death never crossed their minds as the Hundred Sects Alliance was defeated and nearly wiped out, so how could Boundless Altar achieve anything on its own?
Rather than them looking for revenge, they had to consider themselves lucky if the other party didn’t come seeking trouble.
It could be said that all the great forces that besieged Void Land at that time shared the same sentiment. Recently, they had been hiding inside their great forces and doing their own things as they were afraid that those from Void Land would retaliate against them one day.
Those from Boundless Altar had never expected that Yang Kai would arrive at their great force and directly break their Grand Array!
Boundless Altar was considered a well-established Second Class great force with a few tens of thousands of years of heritage. Supposedly, its Grand Array shouldn’t be so fragile to be broken with only one move. The reason this was happening was that none of them had expected that there was such a reckless person in the world who would directly barge into their Headquarters without even giving a warning.
The Grand Array wasn’t even fully activated when a crack was opened in it, which allowed Void Land’s ship to enter.
Furthermore, five Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had made a move at the same time, so regardless of how sturdy the Grand Array of Boundless Altar was, it could never endure the bombardment from so many powerful Masters. Even if it was fully operational, it would only have been a matter of time before it was destroyed.
Even the Nine Heavenly Layers was broken through once, to say nothing of the fact that the Grand Array in this place was significantly weaker than the Nine Heavenly Layers.
After moving through the crack, the ship silently hovered in the air with Yang Kai standing on the deck and looking down coldly at those below.
The person who came from the Spirit Peak turned pale and stared solemnly at Yang Kai as he asked, “Are you Void Land’s Sect Master Yang?”
Yang Kai looked condescendingly at him, “Who are you?”
The person cupped his fist and replied in a bitter voice, “Altar Master of Boundless Altar, Yuchi Cheng Zhou. Please forgive me for not greeting Your Excellency earlier as I was unaware of your arrival.”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “You’re the Altar Master of Boundless Altar?”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou dipped his head, “Yes.”
Yang Kai sized him up, and judging from the faint fluctuations coming from his body, he should be a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Yang Kai thought that Boundless Altar was pretty weak as the Altar Master was only a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Since the increase in his strength, the height of Yang Kai’s vision had also grown significantly. Before going to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he was still immensely pressured when he was faced with a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. When he was returning to the Star Boundary back then, he was completely powerless to resist someone like Hei He. In the end, he had to use a precious Mid-Rank World Fruit to help Lu Xue ascend from the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm to the Fifth-Order so that she would have the power to fight back against Hei He and eventually subdue him.
Now, he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who had defeated Mao Zhe, a peak Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Numerous Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were also killed by him before; therefore, Yang Kai’s attitude was now different when he was faced with someone like Yuchi Cheng Zhou.
It had only been a short time since he arrived in the 3,000 Worlds, and he hadn’t come into contact with a lot of great forces, so he wasn’t aware that this was actually the norm amongst Second Class great forces.
According to the classification of great forces in the 3,000 Worlds, any place with Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters assuming command could claim to be Second Class. If a Sect had several Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, their heritage could be considered impressive. Some of the Second Class great forces only had Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters leading them. Although they were also Second Class great forces, they didn’t have the scale and power to match. Such great forces were actually found everywhere.
After sweeping a glance over Yuchi Cheng Zhou, Yang Kai asked, “Do you know an old fart named Ling Chun Qiu?”
Upon hearing that, Yuchi Cheng Zhou sported a bitter expression, knowing that his biggest fear had come to haunt him. When he heard Yang Kai mentioning his great force earlier, he knew that he was in trouble. It was apparent that those from Void Land were here to retaliate against them; therefore, at the mention of Ling Chun Qiu, he knew that his speculation was right.
He couldn’t help but secretly curse at Ling Chun Qiu for offending Void Land for no reason. Heavenly Sword Union’s Kong Feng had some ulterior motive for heading to Void Land, so it wasn’t necessary for Ling Chun Qiu to butt into that affair. Boundless Altar had nothing to do with Heavenly Sword Union to begin with, so they didn’t need to join forces with the latter.
Now that Yang Kai had stormed into Boundless Altar, how were they supposed to deal with him?
Yuchi Cheng Zhou said in a helpless voice, “To be honest with you, Sect Master Yang, Ling Chun Qiu is the Great Elder of Boundless Altar. He left with some people a few years ago, and he has gone missing since then. Why did you mention him all of a sudden? Have you come across him somewhere?”
It wasn’t like he could say he had no idea who Ling Chun Qiu was. As the Great Elder, Ling Chun Qiu held an important position in the Sect. It would be insincere if he said he didn’t know him. Now, he could only try to separate Boundless Altar from the feud so that they would be able to avoid calamity.
As for avenging Ling Chun Qiu’s death, he wouldn’t even dare to think about it. He had seen the people on the ship making a move earlier. There were five Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, so they could easily destroy the entire Boundless Altar.
“He went missing?” Yang Kai sneered, “Is that really the case?”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou’s forehead was covered in cold sweat as he nodded, “I wouldn’t dare to lie to you, Sect Master Yang. Please understand.”
As they spoke, the cultivators from Boundless Altar were flying over from different directions. They still had no idea what was going on when they stood behind Yuchi Cheng Zhou. However, upon seeing that the Altar Master was quite anxious, they realised that they were in a perilous situation, so they sported solemn expressions.
Yang Kai stared seriously at Yuchi Cheng Zhou for a moment before he nodded gently, “I’ll take your word for it. Since you don’t know where Ling Chun Qiu is, I’ll tell you now. That old dog brought some people to invade Void Land, and he was killed by me for his transgression.”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou pretended to be shocked as he exclaimed, “Why would he do something so foolish!?”
Yang Kai stared at him and felt disgusted, thinking that the Altar Master could indeed put on a good show.
A frustrated Yuchi Cheng Zhou said, “The Great Elder was old, and he sometimes made rash decisions. A few years ago, he was pretty dejected over something, so he decided to go out and travel. He hasn’t returned since then. We all thought that he was cultivating in seclusion somewhere, but we never expected that he had made such a huge mistake.” Following that, he bowed deeply at Yang Kai, “Please forgive him, Sect Master Yang. He has paid the ultimate price for the mistake since he was killed. I hope you will not try to settle accounts with him now.”
There was a devious smile on Yang Kai’s face as he said, “Why would I settle accounts with a dead person?”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou’s expression changed. Yang Kai’s words suggested that he was going to settle accounts with those who were living instead. Knowing that the crisis was unavoidable, Yuchi Cheng Zhou secretly sighed and cupped his fist, “Regardless of his reasons, Ling Chun Qiu was the Great Elder of Boundless Altar. As he has offended Sect Master Yang and Void Land, we’ll have to bear some responsibility. Since you’ve come all the way here, we’re willing to pay a price in the hope of appeasing your wrath. Please give us a chance to live!”
After he finished speaking, the people behind him appeared vexed. No one would feel pleased when they had to act so subservient in their own Headquarters; however, none of them dared to express their fury. The Altar Master’s obsequious behaviour suggested the other party was too formidable. If they got into a conflict, Boundless Altar would suffer a huge loss.
“It’s surprising to know that you’re such a sensible person, Altar Master Yuchi.” Yang Kai looked meaningfully at him.
He was initially filled with murderous intent as he was ready to help the Proprietress vent her anger here, but was rendered almost speechless by Yuchi Cheng Zhou’s eloquence.
Since the other party was acting so polite, his murderous intent subsided.
With a lowered gaze, Yang Kai fell silent for a moment before declaring, “Since you’re willing to offer some compensation, Altar Master Yuchi, we can certainly talk it out.”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou breathed a sigh of relief, “What demands do you have, Sect Master Yang?”
Yang Kai replied dispassionately, “When the Hundred Sects Alliance invaded Void Land, I declared in front of Ling Chun Qiu and all others present to hear that not only would I kill them, but I would also wipe out the Sects behind them, down to the last chicken and dog.”
He had indeed said such a thing to both Ling Chun Qiu and Qi Jin at that time.
The expressions of Yuchi Cheng Zhou and the cultivators from Boundless Altar changed drastically upon hearing that.
Yang Kai’s cold voice went on to reverberate as he continued, “This King initially intended to honour those words; however, since you’re such a reasonable man, this King will give you two choices. Do you want me to destroy the Sect or kill everyone here?”
Was there a difference between the two options? It seemed that this matter couldn’t be resolved peacefully.
Yuchi Cheng Zhou sported a dark expression as he said in a grim voice, “Sect Master Yang, we’re willing to appease you, so why do you insist on acting ruthlessly?”
Yang Kai snorted, “When the Hundred Sects Alliance invaded Void Land, no one forced you all to join. Since you’ve committed the act, you must pay the price. One’s mistakes must be paid for in kind.”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou said after a sigh, “I’m the Altar Master of Boundless Altar. I’m already embarrassed that I’m not able to make the Sect thrive, but the foundation of several tens of thousands of years cannot be destroyed on my watch. If you’re so relentless, Sect Master Yang, don’t blame us for offending you.”
“You’re courting death,” Yang Kai’s eyes were filled with coldness, “You’re fully aware that all of you can’t go up against this King.”
Hua Yong, who was standing behind him, wore a menacing expression. He had just joined Void Land, so he desperately needed a chance to prove his worth. If a battle broke out, he would be the first to charge forward.
Yuchi Cheng Zhou said in a grim voice, “Everyone dies eventually, the only difference is how soon it happens. Since the Great Elder made a mistake, we can’t blame you for coming over to hold us accountable; however, there are no cowards in Boundless Altar. We shall live and die together with Boundless Altar!”
The cultivators behind him appeared incensed as they shouted, “Live and die together with Boundless Altar!”
Following some whooshing sounds, the auras of these Open Heaven Realm Masters spread around as the World Forces undulated.
A moved Yang Kai swept a glance over these cultivators and secretly sighed. Was this the heritage of a Sect that had been in existence for several tens of thousands of years? Although they were lacking in strength, their sense of belonging and loyalty to their Sect was far greater than those of younger great forces. Even though these people were all aware that they would lose their lives in this battle, they still refused to back down.
Many appeared terrified, but no one was willing to take a step back.
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “Since you’ve made such a decision, this King will stop persuading you. On the road to the Yellow Springs, at least you won’t be lonely.”
He was determined to destroy Boundless Altar as this was related to the Proprietress’ heart demon oath, so there was no turning back. Although he respected their loyalty to their Sect, that wouldn’t stop him from demolishing Boundless Altar.
Anyone who stood in the way of his Martial Dao would be killed. Having made up his mind, Yang Kai raised his hand and was about to order his people to attack when suddenly he turned to stare at the deepest part of Boundless Altar and exclaimed.
Mao Zhe and the others also sensed something as they looked in the same direction.
A powerful aura seemed to have awakened in that place. Although the aura was only faintly exposed, it revealed that the owner was extraordinary.
There was actually a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in Boundless Altar!
The revelation surprised Yang Kai. When he saw that Yuchi Cheng Zhou was only in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he thought that Boundless Altar was pretty weak. It wasn’t until this moment that he realised he had underestimated the heritage of a Sect that had been in existence for over 10,000 years.
It wasn’t that they didn’t have a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; the person just didn’t want to reveal himself. If it weren’t for Yang Kai and his group preparing to make their move, this person wouldn’t have exposed himself at all.
The ample aura suggested that the person’s cultivation was truly incredible.
Upon sensing the aura, Yuchi Cheng Zhou and the others looked in that direction and exclaimed, “Old Ancestor!”
Just then, an old voice was heard coming from that direction. It seemed that he hadn’t spoken for a long time, so his voice sounded hoarse, “Little Friend, will you please listen to this Old Master first?”
Yang Kai gazed in that direction as a glint flashed through his eyes. It was as though he was able to see across space and find out the person’s whereabouts. Then, he said impassively, “Is there any advice you’d like to give me, Old Sir?”
The person replied, “I wouldn’t dare to give you any advice. I just hope that you’ll come here and have a talk with me, Little Friend.”
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai nodded, “En.”
Then, he turned his head and ordered, “All of you, wait for me here.”
A worried Hua Yong said, “Sect Master, do you want me to go with you?”
“There’s no need for that,” Yang Kai waved his hand and took a step forward. After he left the ship, his figure flickered and disappeared.
All of them looked in the direction where the old voice came from. Yuchi Cheng Zhou and the others appeared ardent, as though they were hoping that their Old Ancestor would be able to solve this issue for them.
Mao Zhe, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly said, “This Old Sir from your Sect is about to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, right?”
He too was at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm as he was just one step away from the Seventh-Order; therefore, he was especially sensitive to this person’s aura. However, he had suffered some losses in the Shadowless Cave Heaven some time ago. Although he had returned to the 3,000 Worlds, it would take him a long time before he could restore his lost strength.
Yuchi Cheng Zhou replied, “Old Ancestor has been cultivating in seclusion for 800 years. I have no idea about his current cultivation.”
Mao Zhe sneered, “Do you think your Old Ancestor can make him leave?”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou turned to look at Mao Zhe, who then snorted, “You’re too naive.”
He didn’t explain anything after finishing his words. No one could understand how horrendous Yang Kai was until they fought him head-on. Before coming across Yang Kai, Mao Zhe believed that no one under the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm was a match for him. There might be a small number of people who were as powerful as he was at most; after all, he was already at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, after one encounter with Yang Kai, he realised that there was always someone out there who was stronger.
That guy was no different from a monster as he had condensed numerous High-Rank Elements. Although Yang Kai was just a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Mao Zhe speculated that his power was actually approaching the Seventh-Order.
He wasn’t certain about the power of this Old Ancestor from Boundless Altar, but he was sure that this old man was no match for Yang Kai.
He was at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but he had suffered a loss at Yang Kai’s hands. Now that another person of the same calibre was about to experience the same, Mao Zhe couldn’t help but take pleasure in the other party’s misfortune. If he was the only one who had suffered from this kind of setback, it would be too sad.
No one knew what Yang Kai and Boundless Altar’s Old Ancestor talked about and they couldn’t even detect any energy fluctuations coming from them, but two hours later, a figure shot out from the deepest part of Boundless Altar.
The person was clad in a grey robe that matched his hair and beard. With his Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm aura, it was apparent that he was Boundless Altar’s Old Ancestor.
Yuchi Cheng Zhou and the others flew over as they cupped their fists as they bowed, “Old Ancestor!”
The Old Ancestor took a glance at them and declared, “All of you, order the disciples to pack up now. We will leave within one hour!”
“Old Ancestor!” Yuchi Cheng Zhou’s pupils contracted as he couldn’t believe what he had just heard, but when he caught a glimpse of the blood at the corner of the Old Ancestor’s mouth, he exclaimed, “You’re injured?”
The Old Ancestor wasn’t willing to delve into this topic as he simply waved his hand, “Do it now.”
Certainly, Yuchi Cheng Zhou wouldn’t dare to disobey. After taking a glance at the place where the Old Ancestor cultivated in seclusion, he clenched his teeth and cupped his fist, “Yes.”
Then, the order was passed on to everyone. Soon, the entire Boundless Altar was bustling with noise as the disciples quickly packed up as many things as they could.
One hour later, thousands of Boundless Altar’s members gathered together in the same place. Many of them hadn’t figured out what was going on. They just heard that a person named Yang Kai from a force called Void Land suddenly barged into their home and then they were ordered to leave.
The Old Ancestor swept a glance over Boundless Altar’s foundation that had stood strong for several tens of thousands of years. Although he was reluctant, he still turned his head and cupped his fist at Hua Yong and the others, “Please tell your Sect Master that this Old Master has complied with his demand and hope he gives us a chance to survive.”
Hua Yong nodded his head, “Don’t worry. My Sect Master is a righteous person who won’t kill others unnecessarily.”
It was then that the Old Ancestor nodded and cupped his fist again, “Farewell!”
Then, he turned around and led the thousands of Boundless Altar’s members to leap into the sky, soon disappearing.
The Open Heaven Realm Masters aboard Yang Kai’s ship exchanged puzzled glances.
They initially thought that a battle was inevitable. Many of them had even rolled up their sleeves as they wanted to prove their worth to Yang Kai. It never crossed their minds that the matter would be settled in such a way.
They wondered what Yang Kai had discussed with or done to Boundless Altar’s Old Ancestor that made the latter easily give up his Sect’s foundation.
Although they had no idea what had happened, they were certain that the Old Ancestor had suffered a loss at Yang Kai’s hands.
Outside Boundless Altar, Yuchi Cheng Zhou and the others appeared humiliated as they followed behind their Old Ancestor. Although there were many people, none of them said anything, which made the atmosphere quite gloomy.
All of a sudden, the Old Ancestor, who was leading the way, sprayed out a mouthful of blood which quickly boiled and evaporated in a horrifying display.
“Old Ancestor!” Yuchi Cheng Zhou quickly flew over.
The Old Ancestor waved his hand with a dejected expression, “It’s true that there will always be young and talented people to replace the old. Such power at such a young age. Incredible!”
An embarrassed Yuchi Cheng Zhou said, “Forgive this Junior for being so useless, dragging Old Ancestor into this mess. Our 10,000 years foundation was lost at my hands. Please punish me!”
The Old Ancestor shook his head, “It’s not your fault. Moreover, as long as the people of Boundless Altar still live, our inheritance will never truly be lost. There are countless Spirit Provinces in the 3,000 Worlds, so why should we worry about not rising again?”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou felt crestfallen as the Old Ancestor consoled him.
The Old Ancestor took a deep breath to suppress the weltering vitality in his chest, then asked, “What is the background of Void Land? Why do they hold a grudge against us?”
Yuchi Cheng Zhou then reported to him the incident of the Hundred Sects Alliance invading Void Land.
The Second Elder provided some additional information once the Sect Master was finished, “Old Ancestor, I heard Great Elder mention that he held some grudges against a woman named Lan You Ruo. At that time, he joined forces with the leader of Golden Rainbow Province, Qi Jin, and ambushed that woman. The reason he took part in that alliance was that Void Land has some kind of close relationship with Lan You Ruo. He was trying to lure them out so that he could destroy them once and for all.”
“Golden Rainbow Province?” Old Ancestor arched his brow upon hearing that.
“Yes.” The Second Elder bowed his head.
Yuchi Cheng Zhou said, “It seems that those from Void Land are trying to settle accounts. That’s why they invaded Boundless Altar today. I guess Golden Rainbow Province won’t be able to avoid this calamity either.”
A glint flashed through the Old Ancestor’s eyes as he said, “Get someone to head to Golden Rainbow Province and tell them what happened here today.”
A shocked Yuchi Cheng Zhou said, “Old Ancestor, we’re neither family or friends with Golden Rainbow Province, so why should we inform them about it?” It wasn’t that he wanted to take pleasure in Golden Rainbow Province’s pending misfortune, he just didn’t find it necessary to inform them about it.
“Those from Void Land were determined to destroy Boundless Altar, and this Old Master is too weak to repel them; however, perhaps there are others who can teach them a lesson in our place.”
The fact that Boundless Altar was destroyed was definitely an irresolvable blood feud; however, he was unable to get his revenge since he wasn’t strong enough. He had no choice but to remain silent about it. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t mind seeing those from Void Land suffer some losses or even lose some lives.
Since the Old Ancestor had given the order, they wouldn’t dare to disobey him despite the fact that they were puzzled. The Second Elder offered to do it and left the team before heading towards Golden Rainbow Province.
The other party might not believe them if the messenger wasn’t of some importance and since Great Elder Ling Chun Qiu had lost his life in Void Land, the Second Elder was the best suited to do this job.
After taking a look in the direction of the Sect’s foundation, the Old Ancestor heaved a sigh. If he’d known such a calamity would befall Boundless Altar, he would’ve broken through to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm sooner in order to save their inheritance; however, it was too late now.
Everyone from Boundless Altar was now gone, leaving only the dozens of Open Heaven Realm Masters that came with Yang Kai behind in the spacious Spirit Province.
They hadn’t been able to detect any movements coming from Yang Kai since he went over to meet with Boundless Altar’s Old Ancestor; however, these Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters could sense that his aura was stable, and he didn’t show any signs of injuries, so there was nothing to worry about. They reckoned that they could settle down in Boundless Altar for now since this place was beautiful and full of World Energy. Although all the valuable items were gone, the buildings were naturally immovable, so they found some places to stay as they cultivated and waited patiently.
Two months later, a roar was heard coming from the deepest part of Boundless Altar, one so thunderous that the entire sky shook.
All of them turned to look in that direction.
Mao Zhe narrowed his eyes as he could clearly sense the joy in Yang Kai’s heart through the resounding roar, as though the latter had gained some kind of immense enlightenment. More importantly, Yang Kai’s cultivation seemed to have improved.
That revelation stunned Mao Zhe. As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master himself, he knew that it was extremely difficult to take a step forward in this Order, so how was it possible that Yang Kai had grown significantly in such a short time? Was he really a monster?
Mao Zhe wasn’t aware that when they were passing through the tornado Divine Ability back then, Yang Kai lured the Wind Spirits into his body and killed them, which greatly nourished his Small Universe and saved him over a hundred years of secluded cultivation.
When he met up with Boundless Altar’s Old Ancestor, even though they didn’t engage in a life-and-death battle, they had exchanged some moves. Despite the fact that the Old Ancestor had used all his power, he was still injured by Yang Kai.
If this wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t have ordered the disciples of Boundless Altar to evacuate. The reason the Old Ancestor decided to back down was that he realised he was no match for Yang Kai.
He wasn’t even able to defeat Yang Kai, to say nothing of the fact that the latter had brought more Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters with him. If it came down to a fight, everyone from Boundless Altar would die.
The fact that he was able to leave with his disciples safely was already the best possible outcome.
When they traded moves at that time, Yang Kai suddenly comprehended something, which was why he hurriedly started cultivating in seclusion, and it wasn’t until this moment that he finished.
In fact, Yang Kai’s cultivation hadn’t increased a lot; after all, it had only been a short time since he ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, and coupled with the fact that he had been nourished by the World Forces left behind by the deceased Wind Spirits, his own heritage was already quite rich.
The reason Mao Zhe felt this way was that Yang Kai’s Sixth-Order aura had become increasingly stable.
Upon seeing that Yang Kai had left the place where he cultivated in seclusion, everyone went over and greeted him.
“Sect Master!” Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan cupped their fists.
Yang Kai nodded gently and swept a glance over them before ordering, “Destroy this place.”
Upon receiving the order, all of them began using their Divine Abilities. Several tens of thousands of years of inheritance had been accumulated in this beautiful Spirit Province as over the millennia, countless Open Heaven Realm Masters had passed away in this place. After their deaths, their Small Universes fell apart and their World Forces were partially absorbed by Boundless Altar to strengthen its own heritage. It was a shame to just destroy it like this; however, since Yang Kai had given the order, they had to obey.
It wasn’t difficult to demolish a place no one was defending. Dozens of Open Heaven Realm Masters joined forces and turned Boundless Altar into a shattered Spirit Province in just two hours.
On the deck, Yang Kai stood beside the Proprietress as they watched the sight in silence.
The Proprietress remained silent, and it wasn’t until a long time later that she sighed. She wasn’t a ruthless person. Although she had a fiery temperament, she still couldn’t bear to see a Spirit Province being destroyed just because of her oath from back then.
At that time, she was truly incensed because Bai Qi was disturbed while ascending to the Open Heaven Realm, almost dying as a result. That was the reason she made such a heart demon oath against Ling Chun Qiu and Qi Jin.
Now that she was restricted by the oath, she had to fulfil it if she wanted to make it to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Fortunately, the way Yang Kai settled the issue was as peaceful as possible as he didn’t injure any innocent people in the process, which was acceptable. She could never have expected that the little shophand she forcefully brought back to First Inn in the past would so quickly become such a successful Master. Not only had he saved her from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, but he also owned Void Land and commanded many powerful cultivators.
It only took Yang Kai a couple of decades to achieve things that would normally take others thousands or even tens of thousands of years to do.
Hua Yong returned with the other cultivators as he cupped his fist and reported, “Sect Master, Boundless Altar is gone for good.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Let’s go.”
Since Boundless Altar was destroyed, his next destination would be Golden Rainbow Province.
As the ship accelerated, it turned into a ray of red light and shot towards the nearest Territory Gate.
The Proprietress suddenly said, “The Old Ancestor from Boundless Altar could have ascended to the Seventh Order before now.”
Yang Kai was spacing out when he heard that, then he frowned and nodded, “En, I agree.”
If she hadn’t pointed it out, he wouldn’t have pondered on this issue. It was apparent to him that the Old Ancestor was at the very peak of the Sixth Order and was about to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Although Boundless Altar was just a Second Class great force, they should have enough resources to support the Old Ancestor’s ascension given their years of accumulation; however, the fact was that the old man had been stuck at the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm all this time.
“Perhaps he wasn’t confident enough? Or, perhaps he lost the drive to continue striving forward due to his old age, so he wouldn’t dare to give it a try?” Yang Kai pondered. The Old Ancestor was indeed quite aged, and his vitality was clearly declining. He was no longer in the prime years to attempt an ascension to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
The ascension from the Sixth Order to the Seventh Order was equivalent to the process of rebirth. Once the person succeeded, their strength would increase tremendously; however, one mistake would cost them their life. No one would easily attempt a breakthrough if they weren’t confident enough.
“That might be so…” the Proprietress said impassively, “But another reason might be that he wasn’t willing to reach the Seventh Order.”
A curious Yang Kai asked, “What do you mean? Don’t cultivators always aspire to achieve greater heights? Since he is able to do so, why isn’t he willing to take that step forward?”
To the side, Mao Zhe’s expression changed as he gazed at the Proprietress and asked in horror, “Could the rumours be true?”
“What rumours?” Yang Kai asked inquisitively.
Mao Zhe furrowed his brow, “Sir, have you ever thought about why there isn’t even a single High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master in all the Second Class great forces? According to the classifications of great forces in the 3,000 Worlds, a great force with even one Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master would be considered Second Class, and a great force with High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters would theoretically be First Class. Since this is how the great forces are classified, many Second Class great forces should eventually become First Class given enough time. That’s because, after millennia of accumulation, some people must be able to make it to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.”
Yang Kai’s expression changed as he nodded, “You have a point.”
Although the Second Class great forces were not comparable to the Cave Heavens and Paradises in terms of their heritages, at least some of them had to have been able to nurture disciples who directly broke through to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
For example, Zhou Yi, whose body was taken over by Black Crow Divine Monarch when Yang Kai came across him in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, came from a Second Class great force, Great Thousand Blood Land. After Black Crow Divine Monarch took over his body, he used it as a base and ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
In other words, Zhou Yi was supposedly able to make it to the Fifth Order himself. Given enough aptitude and opportunities, he should have been able to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm someday.
Once he did, Great Thousand Blood Land would become a First Class great force. As time passed, it might even become a part of the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Over the years, Zhou Yi was certainly not the only one who was nurtured in Great Thousand Blood Land. Over their entire history, Great Thousand Blood Land must have raised tens of thousands of disciples, of which at least a handful should have similar aptitude to Zhou Yi. However, in the end, Great Thousand Blood Land remained a Second Class great force as they didn’t have a single High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
The other top Second Class great forces should be in similar situations.
Where were the Core Disciples that had directly made it to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm over the years then? It was impossible that no one had managed to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Questions naturally arose when they looked at the issue from this perspective.
The Proprietress took a glance at Mao Zhe and asked, “What kind of rumours did you hear?”
With a dark expression, Mao Zhe replied, “In order to sustain their statuses in the 3,000 Worlds, those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would make a move once anyone outside their own ranks tried to reach the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. They would either nip the crisis in the bud or force that new High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master to join their great forces so that they can strictly supervise them.”
The expressions of Hua Yong and the others changed drastically when they heard that and Hua Yong anxiously asked, “Are you serious?”
He and his Wife were both in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so it was just a matter of time before they tried to reach the Seventh-Order. If Mao Zhe’s words were true, they would have to think twice about reaching the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Otherwise, those Cave Heavens and Paradises might target them when they achieved an ascension.
Mao Zhe shook his head, “It’s just a rumour I heard. I have no idea whether it’s true.”
If the rumours were true, it would explain why there wasn’t even a single High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master in all the Second Class great forces in the entire 3,000 Worlds. It wasn’t that no one was capable of ascending to the Seventh Order, but rather that once they broke through, they would be brought back to the Cave Heavens and Paradises to be put under strict supervision.
The Old Ancestor from Boundless Altar certainly had the resources to reach the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, but he still wasn’t willing to do so. Perhaps that was what he was worried about as well.
Yang Kai’s face fell as Mao Zhe’s words reminded him of his own experience.
He was targeted back then because he was trying to directly ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. In the end, he was forced to become a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. It was only then that Ti Zheng and the others let him off.
The Cave Heavens and Paradises would never allow him to directly ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm as they suppressed him at all costs; however, the idea that they would also stifle the cultivators who made it to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm through years of accumulation was absolutely intolerable.
“Rumours are a terrifying thing indeed.” The Proprietress shook her head with a helpless smile, “I’ve heard such rumours as well, and many people believe them to be true.”
“They’re not?” Mao Zhe frowned.
“Of course not.” The Proprietress shook her head, “Although the Cave Heavens and Paradises could be overbearing sometimes, they can’t control everything and everyone in this world. They would appear far too petty if they would even butt into such affairs. How could such short-sighted and narrow-minded people ever become truly powerful and respected?”
As a shopkeeper of First Inn, the Proprietress had a lot of connections, and she was adept at gathering information; moreover, First Inn was the property of an Elder from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven named Si Tu Kong, so it was related to the aforementioned Cave Heaven.
Therefore, she definitely knew better than most people about this kind of information. Since she had said it wasn’t the case, it must be the truth.
“Although the rumours are false, the reason those Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Second Class great forces are not willing to ascend to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm does have something to do with the Cave Heavens and Paradises. As for the exact reason…” The Proprietress shook her head and fell silent, apparently unwilling to disclose anything more.
Mao Zhe and the others exchanged glances as they felt like they were on tenterhooks; however, since the Proprietress wasn’t willing to explain anything, they were not in any place to force her.
In any case, the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene were worried about ascending to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm in the future. The Proprietress’ words suggested that it might not be a good thing to reach the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
“The heritages of those Second Class great forces are not as simple as they seem either as their inheritances stretch back for many millennia. If they’re faced with a crisis that would destroy their Sects, they might just display a power that is unimaginable under normal circumstances.” The Proprietress turned to look at Yang Kai, “Although Golden Rainbow Province isn’t famous now, they have existed for far longer than Boundless Altar. Several tens of thousands of years ago, Golden Rainbow Province had a heritage that was approaching that of the 72 Paradises; however, they slowly declined for some reason.”
Yang Kai was astounded, “I can’t believe Golden Rainbow Province was so powerful in the past.”
If they were approaching the level of the 72 Paradises in the past, they should have been able to raise multiple High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. When a person reached the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm, they could easily live for several tens of thousands of years. It wasn’t certain what happened to Golden Rainbow Province that led to their downfall, but now, even the former Lord of Golden Rainbow Province, Qi Jin, was only in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
With that said, what happened in Boundless Altar should serve as a warning to Yang Kai. His encounter in Boundless Altar made him realise that these long-time great forces might have some hidden powers, so he should never let his guard down; otherwise, he was bound to suffer a setback.
The Proprietress said with a smile, “These great forces must have some capital in order to gain a footing in the 3,000 Worlds. Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar are the epitomes of such great forces. You must not be so reckless when you go about your business in the outside world. Don’t oppress any Second Class great force as you please, for some of them might be concealing High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.”
A shocked Yang Kai asked, “If a Second Class great force has a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, wouldn’t that make it First Class?”
The Proprietress shook her head, “It doesn’t work that way. When people mention First Class great forces, they’re talking about the Cave Heavens and Paradises. Those that are under Cave Heavens and Paradises cannot be considered First Class.”
A solemn Yang Kai said, “Got it.” He looked in Golden Rainbow Province’s direction and wondered how much heritage they had.
The ship continued moving forward.
Yang Kai had been to Golden Rainbow Territory once before, when Bai Qi was about to ascend to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. The Proprietress brought him and Bai Qi to this Great Territory and it was in this place that they were besieged by Qi Jin, Ling Chun Qiu, and the others. Bai Qi was disturbed during his breakthrough and almost lost his life as a result.
The reason the Proprietress brought Yang Kai to that place was to let him observe the process of ascending to the Open Heaven Realm so that he could gain some experience from it.
At that time, he had only condensed his Wood and Fire Element Powers, but now he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Master. Things had changed greatly even though not long had passed.
Faced with the siege of those Open Heaven Realm Masters, Yang Kai, an Emperor Realm cultivator back then, was unable to do anything. In the end, he had to use one of Mie Meng’s golden feathers to kill a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, thus alleviating some of the Proprietress’ burden.
Now that he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master though, a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was no different from an ant in his eyes.
Although Golden Rainbow Province sounded like a Third Class great force, it was Second Class in reality. It was just that they had been in existence for a long time, so they didn’t want to bother changing their name.
Golden Rainbow Province was undoubtedly the ruler of Golden Rainbow Territory.
Just like the status of Void Land in Void Territory, Golden Rainbow Province was in charge of more than ten Third Class great forces and dozens of Universe Worlds of different sizes in this Great Territory.
An expansive Spirit Province was hovering in the void, and its natural landscape was as beautiful as a painting.
There were some light barriers around the Spirit Province that reflected the view around the void, and in front of every light barrier stood a Golden Rainbow Province disciple that was staring out intently, as though they were waiting for something.
All of a sudden, a ship appeared right in front of a certain light barrier as the vessel charged towards Golden Rainbow Province. The disciple responsible for guarding the light barrier straightened up and performed different hand seals as the reflection of the light barrier magnified before his eyes. Soon, the figures on the deck clearly came into his sight.
After making out the appearance of a particular man, the disciple yelled, “He really came!”
Just then, Yang Kai, who was standing on the deck, turned to look in a direction and snorted before pushing out his palm.
The power of the palm seemed able to move both time and space in silence.
The light barrier in front of Golden Rainbow Province that reflected the ship broke apart in an instant. The Open Heaven Realm Master, who was guarding the light barrier, was sent flying away as though he had been struck by lightning. He sprayed out a mouthful of blood, then got to his feet with difficulty. His expression had been transformed by horror.
Void Spying Secret Technique was a method used by those from Golden Rainbow Province to monitor their surroundings. It was supposed to be silent, and impossible to detect. However, the other party had noticed his observation and even harmed him by pushing out his palm from afar. It had to be noted that it would still take the ship two or more hours before it reached Golden Rainbow Province. The person on the ship was clearly extraordinarily powerful since he was able to send the force of his palm across such a vast distance.
Given the disciple’s cultivation, he was probably as fragile as an ant in front of that person. Not daring to be negligent, he immediately sent a message to the higher-ups.
On the deck, Yang Kai lowered his gaze and fell into his thoughts, “They seem to be monitoring the surroundings from every angle in Golden Rainbow Province. Are they guarding against someone?” He had a feeling that something was off, but he wasn’t able to put his finger on it.
On a certain Spirit Peak in Golden Rainbow Province, the new Leader Chang Qi Shui abruptly opened his eyes as a glint flashed through his gaze, then he said, “That person is here. The very survival of Golden Rainbow Province hinges on all of us. Fellow Brothers, I hope you’ll be united with me to fend off our enemies.”
The previous Leader of Golden Rainbow Province was Qi Jin; however, just like Ling Chun Qiu, he was killed in Void Land. Since he was dead, those from Golden Rainbow Province had to elect a new Leader.
Just like Qi Jin, Chang Qi Shui was also a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, one of the remaining three in Golden Rainbow Province.
As Chang Qi Shui spoke, two grunts of agreement came from the void.
“Left and Right Protectors, come with me to greet our guests!” Chang Qi Shui rose from where he was sitting and then two rays of light shot from two different peaks and stood behind him. They were the two Protectors of Golden Rainbow Province who were both Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
All three Fifth-Order Masters of Golden Rainbow Province were present, which went to show how highly they regarded these ‘visitors’.
With that said, it wasn’t like they could take the visitors lightly. About one month ago, Boundless Altar’s Second Elder unexpectedly came to visit them. Thinking that the other party might have some serious matters to discuss, Chang Qi Shui personally greeted him.
Then, he heard a piece of terrible news from the Second Elder. Boundless Altar was destroyed, and its thousands of disciples were now homeless. What was worse, Golden Rainbow Province was probably next.
Chang Qi Shui was flabbergasted, but upon some probing, he learned that it was the doing of Void Land’s Yang Kai. The previous Leader Qi Jin had followed the Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union, Kong Feng, to invade Void Land. Everyone in Golden Rainbow Province was aware of that fact. In the end, Qi Jin was killed in battle, along with all the disciples and Elders who went with him.
There were not a lot of Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Golden Rainbow Province to begin with, and Qi Jin was the strongest among them, but he was killed mercilessly. It could be said that the battle had caused immense losses to Golden Rainbow Province.
Recently, they had been staying in Golden Rainbow Territory. In fact, they had thought about avenging the former Leader’s death. Regardless of what the grudges were between Qi Jin and Void Land or who was in the wrong, those from Golden Rainbow Province couldn’t pretend that nothing had happened since their Leader was killed.
However, they could only remain silent since they were not powerful enough to seek revenge.
It never crossed their minds that those from Void Land would be so relentless as to launch an attack on Boundless Altar and force all of its members to flee.
According to Boundless Altar’s Second Elder, Yang Kai had only brought with him about 70 people, despite that, they were all in the Open Heaven Realm, and there were six or seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Such a lineup was truly terrifying.
Upon hearing the Second Elder’s words, Chang Qi Shui felt his heart sinking as a coldness came over his entire figure.
There were only three Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Golden Rainbow Province, but they were now faced with seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters? How were they supposed to survive? The two parties weren’t even on the same level. When their enemies knocked on their door, Golden Rainbow Province would be destroyed with ease.
After the Second Elder from Boundless Altar revealed the information to them, he left in a hurry.
On the other hand, Chang Qi Shui and the other Elders of Golden Rainbow Province felt like they were on pins and needles. If the Second Elder’s words were true, Yang Kai would never let Golden Rainbow Province off. It was just a matter of time before he arrived at their Sect.
None of them could come up with any solution as in the face of absolute power, all plots were meaningless.
In the end, they decided to report the matter to their Old Ancestor, who had been cultivating in seclusion for a long time, so that she could make a decision.
The Old Ancestor was a supreme being in Golden Rainbow Province; however, since she had been cultivating in seclusion for nearly 3,000 years, other than a small number of Elders, most weren’t even aware she existed.
Chang Qi Shui had met the Old Ancestor once when he was an Emperor Realm Junior in the past, and had never seen her since. He wasn’t even sure whether the Old Ancestor was still alive or not.
Nevertheless, before the Old Ancestor entered seclusion back then, she was already a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. 3,000 years had passed, so she was probably very close to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Given her cultivation, she might be able to force those from Void Land back.
Chang Qi Shui paid a visit to the Old Ancestor, who was in a Restricted Area of Golden Rainbow Province; however, he wasn’t able to meet her and could only speak to her from a distance.
Upon hearing his report, the Old Ancestor told him to leave. Before that, she assured Chang Qi Shui that their Sect would be fine. She would make sure that their enemies wouldn’t leave alive should they have the guts to appear.
Chang Qi Shui set his mind at ease upon getting such assurances as he speculated that the Old Ancestor must have ascended to the Seventh Order. If not, the Old Ancestor wouldn’t have said such a thing. It had to be noted that many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Void Land were coming, so unless there was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master around, it would be impossible for them to repel the enemy.
On a magnificent Spirit Peak stood Chang Qi Shui as he looked into the distance. Soon, a ship from the void came into his sight as the vessel charged towards him.
“They’re here!” He bellowed and raised his hand, “Start the array!”
Upon receiving the order, the cultivators of Golden Rainbow Province, who were well prepared, activated the Grand Array as layers of light barriers lit up around the Spirit Province. In the blink of an eye, eight barriers had been formed.
Golden Rainbow Province had been in existence longer than Boundless Altar, and at the peak of their power, they were approaching the strength of the 72 Paradises. Although many of the top cultivators were gone since their downfall, they still had a significant inheritance built up over the aeons.
Their strength was manifested in the Grand Array that had just been activated.
The layers of light barriers appeared extremely sturdy as they surrounded Golden Rainbow Province. It was as though they were able to withstand the most violent storms in the world.
The strength of a great force’s heritage was evident in two aspects. One of them was the power of their Grand Array. The more ample their heritage was, the more powerful the Grand Array would be. Secondly, it was the support their disciples would get when ascending to the Open Heaven Realm.
The Open Heaven Realm Masters of every great force, if possible, would return to their Sect before their predestined time of death. After they died, their Small Universes would collapse, and their World Force would partially assimilate into the Sect, which was how their heritage was strengthened.
The Small Universe of a cultivator was full of the traces of their Grand Dao, the essence of their entire Martial Dao.
This kind of Dao Essence would also permeate the place alongside their World Force and remain in the Sect.
If any disciples in the future comprehended the same kind of Grand Dao as their ancestors, they would be able to obtain part of this inheritance and enhance their chances of ascending to the Open Heaven Realm.
For these two reasons, any great force in the world was extremely concerned about the accumulation of heritage in their own Headquarters.
The heritage of Golden Rainbow Province was truly extraordinary as it had been gathered and built up over tens of thousands of years. Although the Grand Array wasn’t as abstruse as Void Land’s Nine Heavenly Layers, in terms of pure defensive strength it was equal to, if not better than, the latter.
After all, it had only been a short time since Void Land was founded. The predecessor, Seven Wonders Land, was also a Second Class great force, but it was at best average among Second Class forces. Even though its heritage had been accumulated over many years, it wasn’t comparable to that of Golden Rainbow Province.
When the heritage of Void Land became ampler after thousands to tens of thousands of years, the power of Nine Heavenly Layers would be significantly strengthened.
Therefore, despite knowing that about seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and dozens of Masters below the Sixth-Order from Void Land had arrived, Chang Qi Shui still had the confidence to fend them off. Besides the promise from the Old Ancestor, he still had the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province.
They might not have as many Open Heaven Realm Masters as those from Void Land, but they had the power to fight since the Grand Array was in place.
On the ship’s deck, Yang Kai gazed silently at the Spirit Province, which was protected by a glistening Grand Array, and snorted, “So they’ve been waiting for us.”
Earlier, he felt that something was off when he noticed that those from Golden Rainbow Province were monitoring their surroundings as he wondered who the people were that they were wary of. It wasn’t until this moment that he found out those from Golden Rainbow Province were guarding against him and his companions.
How did those from Golden Rainbow Province find out that Yang Kai was coming, thus allowing them to get prepared in advance?
The only explanation was that someone from Boundless Altar had come over to warn them.
Yang Kai snorted, [Do they think they’ll be safe by hiding behind their Grand Array? Naïve!]
Void Land’s Nine Heavenly Layers weren’t able to persevere for long when they were besieged previously, let alone the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province. At that time, the Hundred Sects Alliance seemed to have many people on their side, but there were only a small number of top Masters among them. The Open Heaven Realm Masters behind Yang Kai were much stronger on average than those from the alliance.
In just a moment, the ship reached a spot that wasn’t far away from the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province. Atop the deck, Yang Kai looked through the Grand Array and saw that the natural landscape in the Spirit Province was as beautiful as a painting. They did have an extraordinary heritage.
On the highest Spirit Peak stood three figures as they looked silently in Yang Kai’s direction. The person at the front was a muscular and decent-looking man. As their eyes met, this man yelled, “Who are you?”
“Void Land’s Yang Kai!” Yang Kai replied and shot him a glance, “Who are you?”
“Golden Rainbow Province’s Chang Qi Shui!” The man at the front replied before asking, “Why have you come all the way here to Golden Rainbow Province, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai looked down at him and said, “The previous Leader of Golden Rainbow Province, Qi Jin, invaded Void Land for no reason. This King is here to seek justice from your noble Sect.”
Chang Qi Shui frowned, “What kind of justice are you seeking, Brother Yang?”
Yang Kai grinned at him, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Since you all tried to exterminate my Sect before, I am here to return the favour in kind!”
Chang Qi Shui’s face fell as he bellowed, “Stop boasting shamelessly, Brother Yang! Do you think we are pushovers? Although we may be weak now, it doesn’t mean you can oppress us as you please. Qi Jin offended you, and he only has himself to blame that he was killed in Void Land. When we learned of this matter, we allowed the matter to drop and have no intention of avenging him. However, if anyone dares to invade our Sect, all of us from Golden Rainbow Province will fight with you until our death!”
Yang Kai gazed dispassionately at him and said, “The reason this King has come all the way here is to destroy your Sect, but I’m not interested in unnecessary killing. However, if you dare to resist, many innocents won’t be able to see the sunrise tomorrow, so please think twice.”
Chang Qi Shui roared, “None of the disciples from Golden Rainbow Province is a coward! If you’re really concerned about the potential loss of innocent lives, leave now, and the grudges between us will be considered settled. However, if you remain obstinate, you are the ones who will end up in a horrible state.”
Yang Kai bared his fangs, “It seems that you’re determined to struggle until death. Do you really think your Grand Array can stop this King?”
“Well, you’ll have to try to find out.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I’ll grant your wish, then. I hope you’ll remain obstinate until the very end. Don’t wail in pain while you die later.”
Then, Yang Kai raised his hand and swung it down as he coldly ordered, “Kill!”
The cultivators on the deck had been waiting for this moment. Previously, they were prepared to prove their worth in Boundless Altar. Since they had decided to join Void Land, they had to prove to Yang Kai that they were valuable to the Sect. Unfortunately, there wasn’t any conflict in Boundless Altar as Yang Kai managed to settle the issue without taking any lives. As a result, none of them had a chance to showcase their capabilities.
Certainly, they hoped to see those from Golden Rainbow Province remain stubborn.
Following Yang Kai’s order, the dozens of Open Heaven Realm Masters on the ship turned into rays of light and took a plunge. The next moment, countless Divine Abilities struck the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province, causing the light barriers to flicker as ripples spread across its surface. The sight was truly horrifying.
On the Spirit Peak, Chang Qi Shui turned pale as he could feel the energy fluctuations coming from his enemies.
The Second Elder from Boundless Altar was right to say that there were seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land, which made Chang Qi Shui feel jealous. Golden Rainbow Province only had one Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; the Old Ancestor who had been cultivating in seclusion for 3,000 years. On the other hand, those from Void Land could easily deploy seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Both parties were not equally matched at all.
Fortunately, they had the Grand Array in place. If these attacks actually struck the Spirit Province, none of them could have warded off their enemies. Many of them would have been injured or killed for even trying to resist.
Loud booms were continuously heard as the violent attacks landed on the Grand Array, which caused the entire Golden Rainbow Province to tremble. The disciples turned ashen as they looked up at the sky in horror.
The disciples who were in charge of the Grand Array were madly pouring their strength into it to keep it operating. All of them knew that once the Grand Array was broken through, they would be killed ruthlessly. Only by keeping the Grand Array running could they hope to fend off the enemies.
However, regardless of how sturdy the defence was, it couldn’t possibly endure a constant bombardment of attacks.
Back then, after Grandmaster Wu Liang was done arranging the Nine Heavenly Layers, he passed the Array Jade to Yang Kai and told him that the array was solid enough to endure the attacks of ten Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters for several days.
The Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters he was talking about should be in the Sixth Order, just below the Seventh Order.
In fact, when the Hundred Sects Alliance invaded Void Land, the Nine Heavenly Layers actually didn’t last for long. It wasn’t that Grandmaster Wu Liang’s calculations were wrong. Instead, it was because they didn’t have enough energy supply. On another note, Yang Kai had the intention of luring the enemies into the Sect, so he intentionally opened up the Grand Array.
If even the Nine Heavenly Layers wasn’t invincible, there was no way the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province could last for a long time either.
In just a quarter hour, the first of the eight light barriers broke apart, which caused a commotion in Golden Rainbow Province as the disciples became apprehensive.
The myriad of Divine Abilities continued to blossom as the Open Heaven Realm Masters on Yang Kai’s side had no reservation when it came to casting their attacks.
Chang Qi Shui was anxious as he kept looking in the direction where the Old Ancestor cultivated. At this rate, it would only take half a day before the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province was destroyed. If the Old Ancestor still hadn’t appeared by then, they wouldn’t be able to stave off these ferocious people on their own, which would be as good as giving up and dying.
However, despite the fact that the Grand Array was under attack, no movements could be felt coming from the Old Ancestor’s place.
Chang Qi Shui was unable to figure out the Old Ancestor’s intention, nor did he have any idea about what she was waiting for. He felt like he was standing on pins and needles. There was nothing else he could do other than urge the disciples to keep the Grand Array running.
Another quarter hour later, the second layer of light barriers came apart, followed by the third and the fourth layers of light barriers.
Seeing that there was only one barrier left, Chang Qi Shui decided to stop defending passively and ordered, “Change the Array!”
Upon receiving the order, the disciples, who were in charge of the Grand Array, activated their powers to make a shift happen in the array.
In an instant, the wind gusted and the water rose. The entire Golden Rainbow Province was suddenly shrouded in a thick layer of mist, allowing no one to see through it.
A glint flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes as he snorted, “How dare you show off this kind of paltry trick in front of this King? Come with me!”
After he finished speaking, Yang Kai led the way and charged forward, followed by dozens of people who soon disappeared into the mist.
They were unable to see clearly in the mist, and even their Divine Senses were greatly restricted. Also, there seemed to be a great danger lurking in the mist, waiting to burst out.
Rumbling sounds were suddenly heard as a world-shaking force undulated. The force far surpassed the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm and reached the Sixth-Order in scale.
Other than the Old Ancestor who had been in seclusion for a long time, Golden Rainbow Province didn’t have Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. The reason they were able to unleash such an attack was that they had made use of the Grand Array.
Exclamations were heard as some of the cultivators from Void Land, who were inside the mist, were struck. Some of the Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were instantly killed due to negligence.
As the Grand Array’s power blossomed, Yang Kai sported a solemn expression and released his Divine Sense. The next instant, his expression changed drastically as he yelled, “There are some weird creatures in the mist. Be careful!”
He could detect that there were a lot of tiny insects hiding in the mist that were not visible to the eye. While they were unsuspecting, these insects snuck into their bodies through the pores and began draining their Blood Essence.
As Yang Kai spoke, he surged his Golden Crow’s True Fire. In an instant, a layer of black flame started burning around his figure as though he had turned into a fireball, illuminating a radius of 1,000 metres around himself.
Crackling sounds were continuously heard as the Golden Crow’s True Fire burned the tiny insects in the mist.
Yang Kai flew forward, and wherever he went, the insects were instantly killed. However, due to the fact that his Divine Sense had been restricted, he was unable to find out the enemies’ whereabouts. At the same time, he had to be careful not to accidentally hurt his companions, so his movements were rather restricted.
It wasn’t until this moment that he had a taste of what the Hundred Sects Alliance went through when they barged into the Bewildering Array of Nine Heavenly Layers, and it was certainly awful.
Although the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province wasn’t as abstruse as the Nine Heavenly Layers, there were indeed some similarities.
A Second Class great force like Golden Rainbow Province was able to ward off Yang Kai’s powerful subordinates using their accumulated heritage. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, basically every great force had their own Grand Array.
Now, Yang Kai realized if he rashly decided to invade a Sect’s Headquarters, he might still suffer a setback even though there was a huge gap in power between both parties.
The reason he was able to easily take down Boundless Altar some time ago was that they were unprepared for what was about to befall them. Before they could even activate their Grand Array, Yang Kai had broken through it and barged into the Sect. If Boundless Altar had prepared in advance and activated their Grand Array, there would have been an intense battle.
Rumbling sounds were continuously heard as more people shrieked, and it wasn’t certain whether it was the enemies or Yang Kai’s subordinates who were screaming.
Yang Kai was incensed as he had come with a large group of Open Heaven Realm Masters in an imposing manner. If he wasn’t even able to take down Golden Rainbow Province, he would become a laughingstock in the future. As he shook his figure, the Golden Crow was heard cawing.
A Great Sun leapt into the sky from behind him with a three-legged exotic bird seeming flying around within it.
In an instant, a dazzling Sun hung above the sky of Golden Rainbow Province. Regardless of how thick the mist was, it was unable to block out the Sunlight.
Under the scorching Sunlight, the mist instantly evaporated, and the tiny insects hidden within were all killed.
Golden Crow Casts the Sun was a Divine Manifestation that Yang Kai had comprehended that was extremely powerful. In order not to accidentally hurt his companions, he was unable to fully activate its power; therefore, he had been careful when using it.
Despite that, after the mist dissipated, many of his subordinates were seen with reddened faces, and their skin that was exposed to the air was covered in blisters. The weaker cultivators were more severely affected while cultivators in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm and above were less impacted.
With the mist gone, they were able to see their enemies clearly.
Certainly, Mao Zhe and the others, who were quite frustrated already, wouldn’t miss this opportunity and instantly charged towards the exposed Array Nodes.
Soon, people were heard shrieking as the disciples of Golden Rainbow Province, who were in charge of the Array Nodes, were completely powerless to stop Mao Zhe and the others and were directly killed.
In just over ten breaths of time, the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province was completely destroyed.
On the main Spirit Peak, Chang Qi Shui shuddered in fear as though he had been struck by lightning. He watched as the disciples were slaughtered, but there was nothing he could do to help them. He let out a sigh, thinking that Golden Rainbow Province would be destroyed on this day if the Old Ancestor still didn’t appear.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai had retracted Golden Crow Casts the Sun as he stared coldly at Chang Qi Shui, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Without moving his figure, he raised his hand and pushed out his palm towards Chang Qi Shui.
He had given the other party a chance. If those from Golden Rainbow Province gave up on resisting like those from Boundless Altar had done, he wouldn’t have decided to kill them ruthlessly. Since they were still so obstinate though, they only had themselves to blame.
Faced with the pressure from a Sixth-Order’s Open Heaven Realm Master, Chang Qi Shui was forced to lower his figure as he felt the aura of death engulfing him.
Just then, Yang Kai suddenly narrowed his eyes and balled up his fist instead as he summoned his Azure Dragon Spear and then thrust it out.
Before the spear even reached Chang Qi Shui, a slender hand abruptly appeared in front of him like a phantom. The fingers curled up, then nonchalantly flicked at the spear three times.
An immense force burst forth and Yang Kai felt as though a mountain had crashed into his spear. He almost lost grip of his weapon as his figure shook and moved backwards. His face had also turned pale.
At the same time, Mao Zhe and the others noticed this and looked over in the direction where the slender hand appeared.
There a woman with a delicate brow and long hair that hung over her shoulders appeared. Her purple dress with a belt around the waist fluttered in the wind. She looked like she was about twenty-eight years old, which was the prime age for a woman. Her peaks were tall and her waist was slender.
If they came across such a woman somewhere else, they would have thought that she was a young woman who had just come of age.
However, presently, this woman was exuding an aura that no one could ignore. That was the aura of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master!
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, “A Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?”
Other than a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, no one else could so easily ward off his attack, and the woman’s aura proved his point. There was no doubt that she was a newly advanced Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Yang Kai had previously gone through such a stage. After he ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he was unable to curb his aura since his cultivation hadn’t stabilized yet.
This young woman was in exactly the same situation.
Mao Zhe and the others sported solemn expressions as they exchanged glances in disbelief.
It was inconceivable that Golden Rainbow Province had a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with them. They wouldn’t have believed it if they hadn’t seen it with their own eyes. At that instant, they felt their hearts sinking. Although she was clearly a newly promoted Seventh-Order Master, she was still a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
High-Rank and Mid-Rank were two completely different realms. It could be said that the gap between them was like the difference between the Heavens and Earth.
On the other hand, Chang Qi Shui had just escaped from death’s door as he fell into a dazed state for a moment. Then, he snapped out of his trance and widened his eyes before falling on one knee. With an excited expression, he said, “37th Sect Master of Golden Rainbow Province, Chang Qi Shui, greets Martial Ancestor Li!”
The person before his eyes was Old Ancestor Li Luo Shui, who started cultivating in seclusion 3,000 years ago.
The disciples of Golden Rainbow Province were dumbfounded. They initially had no idea who this young woman was, but upon hearing the Sect Master’s words, they were shocked to learn that she was their Old Ancestor.
It never crossed their mind that Golden Rainbow Province had such a powerful Master. At that instant, they were all energised as they fell on their knees and shouted, “Greetings, Martial Ancestor!”
Many men secretly examined the woman and thought that not only was the Old Ancestor alluring, but she also had an intoxicating figure. They couldn’t help but admire her, thinking that they could die with no regrets should such a woman actually become interested in them.
Without even turning her head, Li Luo Shui darted her gaze around and scanned the surroundings, then sighed, “I can’t believe Golden Rainbow Province has declined so much.”
An embarrassed Chang Qi Shui apologised, “I’m sorry for disappointing you, Martial Ancestor. I’m truly useless.”
Li Luo Shui scoffed, “All of you are indeed useless. Not only have you squandered away the heritage of our ancestors, but you also can’t even repel the enemies at our gates. Disgraceful!”
Chang Qi Shui was covered in cold sweat as he almost fell on all fours. Although the Old Ancestor looked like a sweet young girl, she clearly had no qualms about fiercely reprimanding them.
“I suppose I can’t blame it all on you though. Get up,” Li Luo Shui replied.
“Yes,” Chang Qi Shui answered before slowly getting to his feet. As he hid behind Li Luo Shui, he looked in Yang Kai’s direction as a sense of resentment flashed through his eyes, then he reported, “Martial Ancestor, it’s these people who are trying to destroy our Sect.”
Li Luo Shui shot a dispassionate glance at Yang Kai, then said, “Seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and fifteen Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters… It’s no wonder that you can’t stave them off.”
Yang Kai stared at the young woman and asked, “What’s your name?”
Li Luo Shui replied impassively, “What point is there announcing this Queen’s name to a dead man?”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was amused, “You’re pretty arrogant, aren’t you. Do you think you can definitely defeat us just because you’re a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?”
Li Luo Shui replied, “Isn’t that the case? You won’t understand the difference between the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm and the Sixth-Order until you experience it yourself.”
Yang Kai asked, “Judging from your aura, you’ve just ascended to the Seventh Order. I wonder how much strength you can actually use?”
Li Luo Shui let out a breath as her chest heaved, “All of you are bound for death since you’ve forced me to ascend to the Seventh Order. If you don’t want to suffer, kill yourselves now. When this Queen makes a move, I’ll make you beg for death.”
“Shameless boasting!” Yang Kai yelled and pointed his spear forward, “I have never killed a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master before. I guess I’ll give it a try today!”
Li Luo Shui shot him a cold glance, “It’s the first time I’ve come across someone as reckless as you are.”
“Enough nonsense! Taste my spear!” Yang Kai bellowed and thrust out his weapon. He had no reservations as he infused all his strength into the spear. A thunderous Dragon Roar reverberated across the sky. A dazzling light glistened from the tip of the Azure Dragon Spear, and as the Dragon Pressure erupted, a Great Dragon seemed to have come to life as it bared its fangs and brandished its claws.
At that instant, the entire world seemed to have paled as the spear became the only thing that shone brightly.
The light of the spear expanded. Faced with the attack, Li Luo Shui bellowed, “Impudence!”
She raised her hand and pushed out her palm at Yang Kai. A Seventh-Order Open Heaven force fluctuated around her slender hand as it filled Yang Kai’s vision. The world seemed to have disappeared as all he could see was her palm.
He stiffened and squirmed as he instinctively felt a great sense of danger.
It was the first time he directly battled against a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. Although he had witnessed battles between High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters several times before, he never actively participated in any of them. Be it the war when the Hundred Sects Alliance besieged Void Land or Zhu Jiu Yin’s battle against four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he was only a spectator.
Although Yang Kai was able to feel the formidableness of High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at those times, it was too far beyond him to truly understand.
It wasn’t until this moment that he realised the huge gap between the Mid-Rank and High-Rank Open Heaven Realms.
Faced with this palm, Yang Kai felt as though he had turned into an ant, and that there was no way he could dodge. With a great roar, he thrust out his spear even harder, causing it to give off a terrifying radiance.
Violent explosions were heard as a horrifying force spread out.
A pale Yang Kai was sent flying away while Li Luo Shui remained on the spot, her figure only shaking slightly.
When she looked down at her hand, she saw a tinge of redness in the centre of her palm. Although the wound soon healed, she couldn’t believe that the other party was able to harm her during the exchange of moves just now.
This was inconceivable to her.
She had ascended to her current realm from the peak of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so she was fully aware of just how much strength a Sixth-Order Master should be able to exert. Initially, she thought that she could easily kill this arrogant boy, but the situation turned out far different from what she had imagined.
Just like Yang Kai had said, she was a newly promoted Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so the power she could use was limited. On the other hand, the enemy was quite intimidating as they had seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and fifteen Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Facing such a force, she might not be able to save Golden Rainbow Province. She initially intended to kill one of the enemy’s Sixth-Order Masters first to deter and intimidate the others, but it turned out that not only could the other party escape from her strike, but he even had the power to counterattack.
The young man’s capabilities were beyond her wildest imagination, and at that moment, she sported a solemn expression.
On the other hand, after Yang Kai was forced backwards for some distance, he managed to stabilize himself. He didn’t even bother to wipe away the Golden Blood at the corner of his mouth as he looked down condescendingly at Li Luo Shui and sneered, “Is this all you, a Seventh-Order Master, has to show?”
Back then, when the Hundred Sects Alliance invaded Void Land, other than using the Nine Heavenly Layers to kill Kong Feng, Yang Kai could only stand back and watch. When Zhu Jiu Yin battled against four Masters outside of the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he could only watch the intense battle from the sidelines. However, at this moment, he finally had the right to fight a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. This right meant a lot to him, as it signified a huge leap forward in his Martial Dao. He no longer felt as powerless as he was in the past.
At this moment, Yang Kai felt fortunate that he didn’t insist on directly ascending to the High-Rank, which was practically impossible. Only the strength within one’s own grasp could be considered real.
After spitting out a mouthful of blood, Yang Kai pointed his spear at Li Luo Shui and roared coldly, “Kill!”
As Space Principles undulated, he instantly appeared in front of her and forcefully thrust out his spear.
At the same time, Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, Zhou Ya, Hua Yong, Shu Mu Dan, and the Proprietress all made a move as they sent out their own Divine Abilities at Li Luo Shui.
Seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters surrounded Li Luo Shui like moths to a flame, not only recklessly charging her, but also ensuring that she wouldn’t be able to escape.
In an instant, the entire Golden Rainbow Province shook and the world itself paled. Horrifying forces reverberated across the sky, causing the ground to crack and Spirit Peaks to crumble.
Chang Qi Shui and the others had already fled since they were unable to interfere in this kind of fight. Turning their heads, they saw that the Old Ancestor was surrounded by many figures as the lights of Divine Abilities dazzled their eyes. The energy fluctuations caused Chang Qi Shui, a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, to tremble.
He secretly prayed that their Martial Ancestor would be able to kill all the enemies; otherwise, Golden Rainbow Province would be doomed on this day.
Just then, he heard someone yelling at him, “Go to Hell!”
Turning his head, he saw a fatty who looked like a Chef coming at him with a kitchen knife in his hand. The man was clad in an apron with a giant ‘Slaughter’ character emblazoned on him.
The fatty was accompanied by a man with drooping eyes who was holding a golden abacus. While he was flying over, he fiddled with the beads which soon shot forward. Every bead seemed to contain a terrifying force behind it.
A flustered Chang Qi Shui immediately met the enemy head on with the Left and Right Protectors.
However, there was a huge gap in power between both parties. Golden Rainbow Province only had three Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on their side while the enemy had fifteen Open Heaven Realm Masters in the same Order as them. These Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters wouldn’t dare to take part in the battle against Li Luo Shui, so they decided to pinch the soft persimmons instead.
Ma Tian Yuan, Chef, and Accountant engaged the three Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Golden Rainbow Province while the rest plunged into the Sect and launched a bloody massacre. Soon, the ground was covered in corpses and blood formed rivers across the land. Although Chang Qi Shui was incensed, there was nothing he could do to help them.
Horrifying forces spread around and caused the Spirit Peaks to explode as the Seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters engaged in an intense battle against the Seventh-Order Master.
From time to time, someone would grunt in pain before they were sent flying away, spraying out a mouthful of blood in mid-air.
Li Luo Shui was a new Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master whose realm was still not stable, but despite that, the seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters could only force a draw in the battle against her while Yang Kai alone had to bear half of the pressure.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but think that the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm was indeed a completely different realm from the Mid-Rank. Li Luo Shui was already so powerful even though she had only just achieved an ascension. When she managed to stabilise her realm and accumulated some heritage, how much more power would she be able to exert?
How formidable must Zhu Jiu Yin be since she was able to deal with four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters on her own outside of the Shadowless Cave Heaven back then?
It had to be noted that the four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from that time were unlike Li Luo Shui. All of them ascended to the Seventh Order a long time ago, so they were certainly much stronger than Li Luo Shui currently was.
Since a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was already so strong, what about the Eighth-Order or a Ninth-Order?
When Li Luo Shui saw that many of the disciples from Golden Rainbow Province were either killed or critically injured, and that the Sect had descended into chaos, her alluring face contorted into a hideous expression. Her moves became increasingly powerful, as though she was adapting to her current realm.
However, even though she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, she found it extremely difficult to kill any of her opponents. The leading young man was a Master of the Dao of Space, and his strength far surpassed the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. He had practically borne half of her attacks. If it weren’t for this young man, Li Luo Shui had the confidence to kill the rest in short order.
After just half an hour of combat, Yang Kai and everyone on his side was injured, but Li Luo Shui wasn’t in any better condition. She no longer looked like a sweet young woman as presently, her hair was a mess and she was covered in sweat.
Just then, someone was heard screaming. Chang Qi Shui and the others were pushed over the edge by Chef, Accountant, and Ma Tian Yuan and had no choice but to cry out, “Martial Ancestor, save us!”
Right after Chang Qi Shui shouted, Chef slashed across his neck with his knife and sent his head flying away. Blood started spurting out of his neck like a fountain.
Realising that they were unable to turn things around, the Left and Right Protectors tried to flee, but they didn’t have a chance to do so. Accountant shot the beads from his abacus at them from all directions and formed countless holes in their figures. Ma Tian Yuan promptly made a move and beheaded the two of them.
The three Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Golden Rainbow Province were all killed while the other Open Heaven Realm Masters had basically been wiped out beforehand. Countless others below the Open Heaven Realm were either dead or dying.
The entire Golden Rainbow Province was no different from a living Hell and the Spirit Province where the Sect was located was beginning to crumble and crack.
Li Luo Shui shouted through clenched teeth, “All of you must die today!”
All of a sudden, her curvy figure shook as an invisible force spread out with her as the centre. Yang Kai and the others, who had surrounded her, were sent flying away as they were caught off guard.
Yang Kai’s pupils contracted when he saw what was happening as he felt his chest tightening.
That was because Li Luo Shui’s black hair and clothes flapped in the air even though there wasn’t a trail of wind, as though an invisible force was infusing into her petite figure from all directions. At the same time, her aura seemed to be rising rapidly.
Yang Kai was flabbergasted as he had no idea what was going on.
It was difficult to deal with this woman to begin with as seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were unable to take her down; however, it now seemed that her strength was rapidly increasing all of a sudden.
Right then, the Proprietress exclaimed, “Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law!”
“What in the world is that?” Yang Kai asked in shock. The Proprietress’ words suggested that she realised what Li Luo Shui was doing.
There was no time for any explanation so the Proprietress simply sent him a wisp of her Divine Sense that contained all the information he needed to know.
Soon, Yang Kai learned what this Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law was. Strictly speaking, it was a Forbidden Technique.
An Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master named Azure Void Divine Monarch had created this technique many years ago. Using his own body as a Refining Furnace, he drew the heritage of his Sect’s Headquarters into his body and forcefully increased his strength with this Forbidden Technique.
The Headquarters of every great force contained a heritage that had been accumulated over thousands, if not tens of thousands of years. This heritage was the inheritance left behind in the Headquarters by the Open Heaven Realm Masters who passed away over the millennia for its future disciples.
However, this kind of heritage could also be absorbed and refined.
It was a painfully long process for an Open Heaven Realm Master to increase their strength through the refinement of Open Heaven Pills, cultivation resources, or the World Force of a Universe World.
Regardless of what method they used, the goal was to strengthen the World Force of their Small Universe, thus allowing them to wield greater force.
The heritage within the Headquarters of a great force could be absorbed and refined in a similar manner.
Nevertheless, no one would do that, usually. Firstly, it would weaken the Sect’s heritage, thus causing some instability to their own great force. Secondly, it was basically impossible for this heritage to match with their Small Universe. Absorbing this heritage forcefully was basically like drinking poison to slake one’s thirst.
In the entire 3,000 Worlds, practically every Headquarters of every great force contained a complicated heritage.
That was because the Open Heaven Realm Masters who passed away over the years allowed their World Force to assimilate into their own Sects. The Grand Dao that every Open Heaven Realm Master comprehended was different, so the traces of those Grand Daos were distinct as well. As such, the heritage of a great force was usually not only immense but also complex.
If an Open Heaven Realm Master rashly absorbed and refined the heritage, it would do more harm than good.
However, back then, an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master named Azure Void Divine Monarch developed this technique to forcefully draw the heritage into his body in order to significantly increase his strength for a short time.
Nevertheless, there was a huge downside to this technique. Although the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law could help an Open Heaven Realm Master obtain an incredible amount of power in a short time, they had to purge this heritage soon after; otherwise, it would affect their foundation and the purity of their Small Universe.
If one didn’t purge this added heritage, the impurities in their Small Universe would cause their cultivation to plunge. In the worst case, their Small Universe would destabilise and crumble, costing one their life.
That was the reason the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law was a Forbidden Technique. This technique was widely known among Open Heaven Realm Masters; however, no one was willing to use this Forbidden Technique unless their Sect’s survival was at stake. That was because it was akin to gambling their lives away.
It was apparent that Golden Rainbow Province was at a life-or-death moment. Li Luo Shui was resolute as she decided to damage her own foundation just to use the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law to repel the invaders.
Li Luo Shui, who was already a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, was seen with her aura rising rapidly. It could also clearly be felt that a mysterious force was penetrating her petite figure from all parts of Golden Rainbow Province. With the infusion of this force, she seemed to have merged with Golden Rainbow Province.
Her aura was so imposing that no one would dare to directly gaze at her.
In short order, Li Luo Shui’s aura completely changed, as though she had transformed into an entirely different person. As she opened her eyes, a glint flashed through her gaze. She stared coldly at Yang Kai and the others before saying through clenched teeth, “All of you must die today for daring to invade my Golden Rainbow Province!”
As she performed different hand seals, she sent out Divine Abilities right at the seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Yang Kai lifted his spear to parry the attacks, but his figure shook as he felt a tremendous force coming right at him. As though an entire world had crashed into him, the bones in his arms were instantly dislocated. He was sent flying away while the vitality in his chest weltered. At the same time, he sprayed out a mouthful of Golden Blood in mid-air.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters became injured and spat blood.
Li Luo Shui, having used the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law, seemed able to exert a force that was two times greater than what she could previously. The power of her Divine Abilities had also been greatly augmented. Faced with her attacks, the seven felt as though they were unable to counterattack, and all they could do was wait for death.
Mao Zhe’s gaze was transformed by horror and he had the intention to flee. Faced with such a formidable enemy, he would be doomed if he stayed; however, when he turned his head, he saw Yang Kai charging forward again.
He secretly cursed at the man before he too dashed forward alongside Geng Qing and Zhou Ya.
They had left their names on the Loyalty List, so Yang Kai had total control over their lives. Regardless of how reluctant they were, they had to fight alongside him, for if anything happened to Yang Kai, the three of them would suffer as well.
On the other hand, Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan were more reserved. Firstly, they were not restricted by the Loyalty List. Secondly, Shu Mu Dan was pregnant, so she couldn’t take part in an intense battle lest her child is affected. The couple only helped their companions out by casting their Divine Abilities at Li Luo Shui from afar.
The Proprietress was naturally giving it her best as she and Yang Kai wove back and forth to get closer to Li Luo Shui.
The force around Li Luo Shui surged as she remained on the same spot. Faced with the bombardment of attacks, she could easily ward them off by simply raising her hands. She no longer looked as flustered as before. The Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law had pushed her power to an unimaginable level in a short time, allowing her to not only fend off the incoming attacks, but also counterattack at the same time, drawing grunts of pain from Yang Kai and the others.
As time passed, Yang Kai and the others became covered in blood, looking completely battered.
Judging from the current situation, these seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were obviously no match for Li Luo Shui and it was just a matter of time before they were defeated and killed by her.
However, Li Luo Shui no longer appeared calm as her expression grew anxious. This couldn’t be helped though as she was running out of time.
The Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law had allowed her power to increase significantly in a short time, but she could not ignore the downsides of this technique. This infusion of power was no different from poison to any Open Heaven Realm Master. The longer this kind of state persisted, the more unstable her Small Universe would become, and the more difficult it would be to expel all the impurities in the future and stabilize her cultivation.
Therefore, she had to kill all her enemies and end the battle in the shortest time possible. The longer this dragged on, the worse her situation would become. When her Small Universe became unstable, she would lose the power to fight completely and suddenly be at the mercy of Yang Kai and the others.
She repeatedly attempted to kill one of them to achieve a breakthrough, but she was always stopped by Yang Kai. The young man was an expert in the Dao of Space whose skills were also phenomenal. The way he flitted about like a fly annoyed her to no end.
By now, she clearly realised that the young man was the strongest among these Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, but he was also the most difficult to deal with. If it weren’t for him, she would’ve killed everyone else a long time ago without having to resort to such drastic measures.
She felt resentful as she targeted most of her attacks at Yang Kai, who had no choice but to try his best to defend himself and dodge, causing deep wounds to appear on his figure.
There was no such thing as impenetrable defence in the world though. There came a moment when Li Luo Shui’s eyes lit up as she saw an opening Yang Kai exposed and pushed out her palm as she bellowed, “Die!”
Yang Kai had just stabilised his figure when he was faced with this attack. It seemed that there was no way he could dodge so he had to fight.
Realizing this, Yang Kai’s figure stood firm and raised his spear to intercept the palm. At the same time, he roared, “Golden Crow Casts the Sun!”
A Great Sun suddenly leaped into the sky from behind him. It was so dazzling that the entire Golden Rainbow Province was painted gold. There seemed to be a three-legged exotic bird playing around in the Great Sun, cawing loudly for all to hear.
A black flame burned at the tip of Azure Dragon Spear, as though it was able to extinguish everything in the world.
Upon sensing the Great Sun’s power, Li Luo Shui narrowed her eyes and exclaimed, “A Divine Manifestation!?”
She felt her chest tightening. If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn’t have believed that a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was able to use a Divine Manifestation. Even though she was a Seventh-Order Master now, she was still far from comprehending her own Divine Manifestation. How was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master able to use one then?
Regardless, the sight before her eyes forced her to acknowledge reality.
Faced with this spear, Li Luo Shui halted her movement for a moment before she channelled even more force into her strike.
If she missed this chance, it would probably take a long time before Yang Kai made such a mistake again, and time was the one thing she didn’t have, so she decided that even if she was injured in return, she had to kill this little bastard with this one strike.
As long as she could kill him, the rest wouldn’t be a threat to her.
Following a loud boom, Li Luo Shui was sent flying away while Yang Kai was also forced backwards.
Using his Divine Manifestation Golden Crow Casts the Sun, Yang Kai, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, traded moves with Li Luo Shui, who had used the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law, with difficulty.
Before Li Luo Shui could stabilize herself, the Proprietress and the others had already pounced on her. She hurriedly dodged their attacks as she looked in Yang Kai’s direction with glee, thinking that the brat’s corpse must have exploded into nothingness upon impact.
The next moment though, she widened her eyes in disbelief.
That was because, unlike her imagination, the boy wasn’t vaporized like she expected. Although he was covered in blood and shrouded in a layer of blood mist, he was still alive.
What’s more, the Great Sun hanging in the sky was as dazzling as ever.
[Why is this Brat so resilient!?] Li Luo Shui’s eyes shrank.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai was still reeling from the shock. If it weren’t for his Half-Dragon body, he would’ve been killed just now. The Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law was truly horrifying as it could allow a person’s power to increase tremendously in such a short time.
Presently, the Small Universe in his body was in turmoil as he had apparently been impacted by Li Luo Shui’s attack.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and opened his bloodshot eyes before looking in Li Luo Shui’s direction. The next instant, he performed a hand seal and yelled with a hideous expression, “Water Reflects the Moon!”
A cold-looking full Moon suddenly appeared alongside the Great Sun. The Moon cast its glow on the ground and brought with it endless coldness.
It was a miraculous sight to behold as the Sun and the Moon hung in the sky at the same time. The sensations of cold and hot mingled, which made it impossible for them to identify whether it was day or night.
Mao Zhe felt his chest tightening as his heart clenched in fear. He had previously seen the sight of the Sun and the Moon appearing together on Profound Yang Mountain the day his Sect was destroyed.
He couldn’t believe that he was seeing the same sight again. Then, he quickly sent a message to Geng Qing and Zhou Ya before they leaped away at the speed of lightning.
While his allies were hurriedly retreating, Yang Kai’s voice reverberated across the world, “Sun and Moon Divine Wheel!”
The Sun and the Moon began to rotate in an endless cycle above his head, kicking up a storm that shook the world itself.
Space and Time Principles blended into a single entity and formed into a mysterious Space-Time Strength.
While the Sun and the Moon spun about, time warped wildly and it felt as though only a breath had passed but at the same time it was like millions of years had gone by.
Besides time, space had also become strange. Those who seemed close by suddenly appeared in the distance, though they still looked as though they were standing right in front of their eyes. Everyone’s senses became incredibly distorted.
The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel spiralled across the sky of Golden Rainbow Province as it slammed towards Li Luo Shui.
She sported a solemn expression and roared. Not daring to have any reservations, she gathered all her strength while performing a set of profound hand seals with her slender hands. Countless powerful Divine Abilities were cast at Sun and Moon Divine Wheel in an attempt to block its advance.
Everyone seemed to be seeing hallucinations as the sight before their eyes shattered while the rumbling sounds were so thunderous that it pained their eardrums.
The violent movements subsided as everyone’s warped perception slowly returned to normal.
All of them were horrified when they looked up as Golden Rainbow Province had literally exploded. The Spirit Province had shattered into countless pieces which now drifted about randomly in the void, together with broken corpses which were scattered about here and there.
Golden Rainbow Province was thoroughly destroyed!
Without the protection of the Grand Array, the Spirit Province with several tens of thousands of years of inheritance was unable to withstand the fierce battle. Innumerable disciples from Golden Rainbow Province were either killed or injured. Only a small number of people survived the brutality of the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel’s impact, not because they were stronger than the rest, but simply because they were luckier.
On one of the broken pieces stood Li Luo Shui as she fell into a dazed state. At this moment, this Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was battered, and her hair was a mess.
Although she had successfully parried the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, she wasn’t unharmed. She found it extremely difficult to deal with the eerie Space-Time Strength that was now corroding her physique and Small Universe.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was panting heavily. He felt as though all his energy had been sucked out of him, and his Small Universe had never been emptier. Although the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel was powerful, he hadn’t fully mastered this new Space-Time Strength which was why he wasn’t able to control how much force he wanted to exert. The consumption of energy just to use the Divine Ability was terrifying.
However, even though he had used his most powerful Divine Ability, he was still unable to kill Li Luo Shui, which went to show that the gap between the Sixth-Order and Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm was indeed too wide to close.
Still, holding his spear in one hand, he pointed at Li Luo Shui and drew a deep breath. As his chest bulged, he bellowed, “Come!”
Her hair flapped in the air as she looked in Yang Kai’s direction with a gaze filled with murderous intent. Before she could even make a move though, her expression changed. Following that, her aura became extremely unstable as her face alternated between pale and livid.
Li Luo Shui sprayed out a mouthful of blood, and as if struck by lightning, she staggered backwards as a chaotic World Force started exuding from her petite figure.
With a vicious-looking gaze, she shot a glare at Yang Kai as though she was trying to imprint the man’s face in the deepest part of her mind before she snarled through blood-soaked clenched teeth, “This Queen will never forget what you’ve done to her today, and swears she will seek revenge!”
Right after she finished speaking, more blood streamed out of her mouth. Then, she moved and dashed into the distance.
“Where do you think you’re going!?” Yang Kai bellowed and attempted to chase after her. He certainly knew that he had to kill this enemy to avoid future calamity. Li Luo Shui was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so if she wasn’t killed today, she would become a huge threat in the future.
However, after taking a few steps forward, he staggered and almost lost his balance. He felt a burning sensation in his chest which made it hard for him to breathe. His Small Universe was in turmoil, making it impossible for him to focus.
Stabbing his spear into the ground, Yang Kai looked up, but quickly realised that Li Luo Shui was nowhere to be found. Unresigned, he pounded his fist on the ground.
The Proprietress dashed towards him and supported his weight before asking worriedly, “How are you?”
Yang Kai’s aura was extremely unstable. Unable to speak, he just shook his head to indicate that he was fine. Then, he quickly sat down with his legs crossed and emptied his mind in an attempt to stabilise his Small Universe.
Mao Zhe and the others took a glance at him before letting out a breath of relief.
The battle today had been extremely dangerous. They had never expected that they would have to directly face a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master and even engage in a life-and-death battle with her one day.
More amazingly, all of the participants had survived even though they were severely injured.
With that said, all this was thanks to Yang Kai. If he hadn’t borne most of the attacks from Li Luo Shui, a number of them would have been critically injured or even died.
The outcome was acceptable. It had to be noted that the person they faced wasn’t an ordinary Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who had used the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law inside her Sect’s Headquarters. It was more difficult to deal with such a person than an average Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as the power she was able to unleash was simply horrifying.
In the end, Li Luo Shui fled from the scene. It wasn’t because she was wary of Yang Kai’s strength, but rather because something had gone wrong with her Small Universe.
The Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law had a very serious backlash. Although she was able to increase her power significantly for a short time following the infusion of an immense force, she would also be left with an unimaginable potential danger as this was a heterogeneous force.
While they were in an intense battle, the mixed World Force continuously assaulted her Small Universe, which eventually made her lose the power to fight. If she forcefully kept exerting her strength, her Small Universe would completely destabilize. By then, without the need for anyone else to make a move, she would lose her life following the explosion of her Small Universe.
At the thought of this, Mao Zhe felt extremely fortunate.
If Li Luo Shui hadn’t suffered from the backlash of the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law at that moment, all of them at the scene would have been killed except for Yang Kai, who might have been able to escape since he was a Master of the Dao of Space.
Li Luo Shui probably wouldn’t be able to get her revenge anytime soon either since she had to deal with the backlash of the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law. Unless she could completely get rid of the impurities left in her Small Universe due to using this Forbidden Technique, she wouldn’t appear again.
Such a process might take her a few years, several dozen years, or even a few hundred years to complete depending on the extent of the damage.
These seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters sat down in different places and focused on recuperation. Yang Kai was the most severely wounded in the battle, and after he used his Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, he was on his last legs as his Small Universe descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, Chef and Accountant led the others to clean up the battlefield.
The Spirit Province where Golden Rainbow Province was located was shattered, and all enemy Open Heaven Realm Masters were killed. As for the remaining disciples, they were either dead or injured, with the survivors having no idea where they should go.
Chef and the others didn’t make things difficult for them as these people were merely disciples with weak cultivations, so there wasn’t a need to kill them. They simply allowed these people to flee.
Time went by pretty quickly as Yang Kai remained seated for an entire year.
It took him half a year before he managed to stabilize his Small Universe this time. It was only now that he realised just how critical the Small Universe was to an Open Heaven Realm Master. The Small Universe was the source of power and the foundation of an Open Heaven Realm Master. Everything about the Small Universe was closely related to the cultivator’s Grand Dao.
It took him another half a year to recover to his peak.
One year after Yang Kai sat down to recuperate, he finally opened his eyes.
He remained seated on one of the broken pieces of Spirit Province and looked around to see the Proprietress and the others were seated nearby, cultivating in silence.
Noticing some movement, the Proprietress opened her eyes and took a glance over at him. As their eyes met, she put on a faint smile, “You’re finally awake.”
Yang Kai nodded and got to his feet. After looking around, he realised that the people who had left the Shadowless Cave Heaven with him were still around, and the ship was anchored a short distance away.
Mao Zhe and the others opened their eyes as well. Their injuries were less severe than Yang Kai’s, so it only took them a few months to fully recover, then they just waited for Yang Kai to awaken.
Yang Kai briefly asked about the battle that took place a year ago and learned that some of the Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters on his side were killed by the Grand Array of Golden Rainbow Province when they were stuck in the mist.
Life could be fragile at times, and there was nothing he could do except pay a silent tribute to them.
Although some of the Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were killed, Yang Kai had gained tremendous benefits after the battle.
While Yang Kai was recuperating back then, Chef and the others were responsible for cleaning up the battlefield. The entire Golden Rainbow Province was destroyed in the struggle, but besides Li Luo Shui, the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, and some other weaker Open Heaven Realm Masters who had fled early on, the rest were all killed.
Only the inheritance of Golden Rainbow Province that had been accumulated over a long time was left behind.
It could be said that they had obtained the entire inheritance of Golden Rainbow Province.
Although Golden Rainbow Province was just a Second Class great force, they were pretty wealthy as they had been in existence for a long time. Chef and the others collected all the items and sorted them out before putting them into different Space Rings, which were then given to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn’t intend to keep all these items for himself of course, so after the ship departed from the Spirit Province, he distributed rewards to everyone based on the contributions they had made. Naturally, all these Open Heaven Realm Masters were elated.
They were used to a life of destitution in the Shadowless Cave Heaven where they had to be extremely frugal with each and every Open Heaven Pill, not to mention cultivation resources of different Orders. Everything was scarce in the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Now, all of them became rich after just one battle, which was why they were ecstatic.
Their admiration and respect for Yang Kai had grown significantly since he was generous enough to distribute such rewards to them.
The ship moved forward in silence as it passed through different Territory Gates.
Yang Kai didn’t step out of his room as he focused on cultivating in retreat. One day though, upon receiving a message from the Proprietress, he dashed towards the deck.
On the deck, the Proprietress was leaning against the railing while Chef and Accountant were standing behind her in a respectful manner.
Sensing Yang Kai’s arrival, she turned her head and flashed a smile at him.
“Are you leaving, Proprietress?” Yang Kai was reluctant to part ways with her, but she had just sent him a message to tell him that she was going to depart.
The Proprietress replied, “I’m heading to Thousand Birds Star City. I have to put an end to some issues.”
“Do you need my help?” Yang Kai asked. Although he had no idea what she was going to do, he reckoned that he could lend her a hand as he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The Proprietress shook her head, “I’m not going to fight with anyone. What’s the point of you tagging along? Just go back to Void Land.”
Yang Kai asked, “This place is not far away from Void Land. Why don’t you pay a visit there? Old Bai must be waiting for you there.”
“There’s no need for that. I believe we’ll meet again soon. As for Old Bai… just tell him to stay there when you see him.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai started chuckling, “Old Bai and I will be waiting for you in Void Land, then.”
The Proprietress raised her hand and poked the young man’s forehead, “You’re now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Will you stop laughing like a fool?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Kai quickly straightened his face.
“Good, we shall part ways here. Thousand Birds Star City and Void Land are in different directions.” Following that, she nonchalantly waved her hand, “See you soon!”
Then, she took a step forward and leaped into the void. Chef and Accountant grinned at Yang Kai before leaving with her.
Standing on the deck, Yang Kai watched as the three of them disappeared into the distance, then he let out a breath. When he headed to the Shadowless Cave Heaven back then, he had never expected that he would return as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Although he was rushed to achieve an ascension, he didn’t regret his decision. As a man, he was faced with all sorts of choices in life. He didn’t strive to make his life perfect, he simply strove to never have any regrets.
Although Li Luo Shui had fled, the battle wasn’t unfruitful. At the very least, through the battle with her, Yang Kai had identified his current limits.
He was still significantly weaker than a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, even a newly promoted one. When he was faced with Li Luo Shui, he had to join forces with all the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in order to be able to simply match her. Every move she made contained a terrifying power, and each strike that landed on him caused his vitality to welter and Soul to tremble.
Furthermore, after Li Luo Shui used the Azure Void Universe Augmentation Grand Law, her strength increased tremendously, to the point that she was completely capable of killing all of them off if she was given enough time.
However, she was forced to flee in the end due to the backlash of that Forbidden Technique; otherwise, all of them would have died on that day.
At the thought of this, Yang Kai couldn’t help but be gripped by a lingering fear. If things were just like what the Proprietress had said, even Second Class great forces like Golden Rainbow Province, which had declined over many years, might have some unimaginable hidden hands.
It was true for both Boundless Altar and Golden Rainbow Province, so what about the other great forces? Although it was impossible to find out, these great forces certainly had some top cultivators who had been cultivating in seclusion for a long time.
Yang Kai realized that he had to be more careful in the future when it came to matters like these lest he suffered a setback instead.
…..
On the highest Spirit Peak in Void Land, several dozen disciples were seated with their legs crossed inside a palace. There was a galaxy mirror in front of every one of them, and through the reflection on the mirrors they could see the view around Void Land.
The Void Spying Technique wasn’t an abstruse Secret Technique, so it was a good method to monitor the surroundings of a great force.
Previously, those from Golden Rainbow Province had used this technique to detect Yang Kai’s approach, which was why they could get prepared in advance.
The development of Void Land had now stabilised following a rapid expansion phase. After the incident where the Hundred Sects Alliance invaded Void Land, Bian Yu Qing decided to build this Heavens Observatory in order to monitor the surroundings of the Sect so that they could detect any approaching enemies in advance.
There were always several dozen disciples in the Heavens Observatory at any given time to watch the movements around Void Territory and detect any potential threats. If there was any emergency, they could immediately contact the Elder Hall which would then take appropriate action.
Presently, besides several dozen disciples, Yue He, a Sixth-Order cultivator, was also in the Heavens Observatory.
Back then, Yang Kai was forced to ascend to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm in the Shattered Heaven, then he dove into the Shadowless Cave Heaven on his own. Following the closure of the Shadowless Cave Heaven’s entrance, Yue He and Bai Qi were unable to go in regardless of how hard they tried.
Left with no choice, they could only return to Void Land.
Since her return, Yue He had been staying in the Heavens Observatory. She didn’t want to leave so that she would find out about Yang Kai’s return as soon as it happened.
All this while, she had been apprehensive; after all, the Shadowless Cave Heaven was an infamous Universe Cave Heaven as no one had managed to leave that place prior to Yang Kai’s entry. Although Yang Kai was a Master of the Dao of Space, no one could say for certain if he would be able to escape from that place.
However, she stopped feeling anxious half a year ago because a piece of news reached Void Land which made her believe that Yang Kai had returned safely.
Other than Yue He, Bai Qi had also been staying in the Heavens Observatory.
Suddenly, one of the disciples who was responsible for watching a particular direction suddenly rubbed his eyes and looked intently at the galaxy mirror for a moment before he exclaimed, “A ship is coming!”
Yue He and Bai Qi instantly appeared behind the disciple as they looked at the galaxy mirror. Through the reflection, they could indeed see a ship moving towards Void Land.
Void Land wasn’t far away from the Star City. Usually, outsiders would directly head to the Star City and only their own people would head towards the Headquarters.
Recently, no one from Void Land had left, so it was highly probable that Yang Kai was aboard this approaching ship.
Yue He performed a hand seal and shot a ray of light into the galaxy mirror. Soon, the image magnified and allowed them to see the deck clearly.
A familiar figure on the deck came into her sight as she exclaimed and covered her lips with her hands.
An excited Bai Qi called out, “He’s really back!”
Following that, Yue He dashed out of the palace, followed by Bai Qi. Soon, two beams of light shot into the sky as a gap appeared in the Grand Array.
The opening of the Grand Array shocked Bian Yu Qing, who was handling her official duties. She immediately left her palace and looked up, only to see Yue He and Bai Qi flying towards the sky. Realising something, she quickly contacted those from the Heavens Observatory.
Soon, she was told that the Sect Master had returned!
She let out a long breath as her chest heaved. The worries in her mind could finally be set down. Void Land was founded by Yang Kai, and the backgrounds of the members were pretty simple. They mainly came from two places. First of all, there were about 600,000 disciples who came from the Star Boundary.
Although there were a lot of them, all of them were weak as there wasn’t even one Open Heaven Realm Master among their ranks yet.
Second, there were a few thousand people from Abundance City from the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. Although the number of people on their side paled compared to those from the Star Boundary, almost all the Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land were from Abundance City.
Regardless of which place they were from, Yang Kai was essential to the Sect. If anything happened to him, Bian Yu Qing wouldn’t know how Void Land could continue on.
Fortunately, the Sect Master had returned safely.
After giving it a thought, she decided to send a message to everyone. Soon, both Void Land and the Star City became bustling.
On the deck, Mao Zhe gazed at the magnificent Spirit Province ahead and asked with surprise, “Is this Void Land?”
“Indeed.” Yang Kai nodded his head, “This is Void Land. Does it meet your expectations, Head Mountain Lord?”
Mao Zhe replied impassively, “Since I’ve submitted to you, please don’t mention that Head Mountain Lord title again. The three of us ask for nothing else other than to be treated fairly.”
“Good.” Yang Kai put on a faint smile. Mao Zhe and the others were forced to submit to him, and it was apparent that they were unresigned. Certainly, Yang Kai was aware of that.
Regardless, as long as the Loyalty List was in his hands, Mao Zhe and the others wouldn’t be able to cause any trouble; therefore, he didn’t have to be wary of them. They were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters after all, so they could play vital roles at critical moments.
Moreover, Yang Kai had always been an easy-going and fair-minded man. Chen Tian Fei was the first one to leave his name on the Loyalty List, and he was never mistreated. On top of that, he was also given the important duty of taking care of the Gourd Vine.
Yang Kai believed that Mao Zhe and the others would change their impression of him as time passed.
“This Spirit Province has an extraordinary heritage, and its scenery is splendid. Void Land is indeed amazing, Sect Master.” Hua Yong was ecstatic. Before coming to this place, he was worried that the heritage of Void Land might be weak; however, now, he realised that this place was truly exceptional. He and his Wife had made the right decision to join Void Land. This place was already wonderful to begin with, and with so many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters joining, its future would be bright.
Shu Mu Dan said in a small voice, “This Grand Array seems to be a little special as well.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “This Grand Array is called the Nine Heavenly Layers. Not only is it powerful, but it also has many different and unpredictable functions. In the past, a Hundred Sects Alliance led by Heavenly Sword Union invaded us, but they were all trapped in this Grand Array and most of them were either killed or critically wounded.”
“Nine Heavenly Layers…” Mao Zhe muttered under his breath. He wasn’t an expert in the Array Dao, but just like Shu Mu Dan, he could see that this Grand Array was extraordinary, though he couldn’t figure out its true power just from observing it. Upon hearing Yang Kai’s words, he couldn’t help but start having some expectations towards the Nine Heavenly Layers.
Since the Grand Array was able to fend off the Hundred Sects Alliance, it was surely quite powerful.
“What is that? It seems so lively,” Shu Mu Dao turned to look in a different direction with a curious gaze.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “That is Void Star City.”
“It’s a Star City?” Everyone aboard the ship was shocked as they gazed at the Star City. They could see that the place was crammed with people, and countless flight-type artifacts could be seen leaving and entering through the Void Dock.
The sight before their eyes suggested that it was a flourishing Star City. Furthermore, the place was much larger than an average Star City, clearly marking it as First Class.
They found it inconceivable that there was a First Class Star City belonging to Void Land.
They exchanged glances in disbelief as they couldn’t figure out why the Star City of Void Land was so attractive to foreign cultivators and merchants. It had to be noted that every First Class Star City had their own unique characteristics and products that could attract merchants from all over the 3,000 Worlds.
Void Land must possess an incredible heritage to control such a grand Star City. If they were not powerful enough, this kind of profit-making place would’ve been snatched from them long ago.
With such a Star City as their support, those from Void Land wouldn’t ever have to worry about resources.
A glint flashed through Mao Zhe’s eyes as he realised that he had always underestimated Void Land. He initially thought that Void Land was just an average Second Class great force, but the sight before his eyes proved him wrong.
Void Land was clearly a peak-level Second Class great force!
As they were speaking, the fog around Void Land suddenly roiled as though a gigantic creature was about to emerge.
The people on the ship became flustered as they secretly circulated their powers to prepare themselves.
When they looked up, they saw a gargantuan head appearing from the fog, its eyes as big as stars and its mouth full of enormous fangs, looking like they were capable of swallowing the entire void in one fell swoop.
The gigantic head appeared to be moving slowly, but it soon arrived in front of the ship. Compared to the head, the tiny ship looked like a blade of grass before a towering tree.
Mao Zhe and the others stiffened in horror as though they had been struck by lightning. They did not doubt that if the mouth parted, they would be immediately swallowed.
“Oh, it’s Yang Boy.” The mouth parted and spoke in the common Human language.
On the deck, Yang Kai saluted him and replied, “Many thanks for your concern, Senior.”
“Oh? You ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm?” The voice sounded again.
Yang Kai replied, “I was left with no other choice in that situation.”
“Good, it’s good that you’ve achieved an ascension so that others will stop bothering you. En, enough chatting for now. Come visit me when you’re free. The two little ones miss you too.”
Yang Kai replied respectfully, “I’ll pay you a visit when I’m done with everything.”
The head then retracted as the fog swelled up and covered up any traces of it. Mao Zhe and the others felt as though they had just escaped from death’s door and their backs were all drenched in cold sweat.
“H-Husband, what was that?” Shu Mu Dan was pale as she leaned close to Hua Yong, as though she was trying to seek a sense of security.
Hua Yong gulped and said hesitantly, “Perhaps it was a turtle’s head?”
Shu Mu Dan was torn between laughter and tears, “Is there such a huge turtle in the world?” How gargantuan must his body be since his head was already so big?
“Bi Xi!” Mao Zhe said in a bitter voice as he looked at Yang Kai, “The Divine Dragon has nine sons, and Bi Xi bears a heavy load. I can’t believe that Bi Xi belongs to Void Land.”
Upon hearing that, all of them were flabbergasted.
Yang Kai said with a smile, “You’re indeed a knowledgeable man, Brother Mao. However, Senior Bi Xi doesn’t belong to Void Land per se. Instead, he’s carrying Void Land on his back. He had been asleep for countless years, and as time passed, a Spirit Province formed on his back, which was occupied by the predecessor of Void Land. Fortunately, Senior is a kind and benevolent man who doesn’t have the heart to kill, so he has allowed us to remain.”
The corners of Mao Zhe’s brow twitched while Hua Yong gulped and asked in a raucous voice, “Senior Bi Xi carries Void Land on his back?”
This piece of news was shocking to him. Divine Spirits were famous and powerful creatures. Every mature Divine Spirit was as formidable as a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. For an ancient Divine Spirit like Bi Xi, he was probably stronger than the average Eight-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Since Void Land rested on his back, there was no way Bi Xi would sit back and do nothing should an existential crisis come to the Spirit Province. In other words, the presence of such a Divine Spirit was the greatest protection Void Land could have.
What puzzled Hua Yong was why Bi Xi was so cordial to Yang Kai. For such a formidable presence like him, he probably had no regard for anyone in the entire 3,000 Worlds.
On the other hand, a glint flashed through Mao Zhe’s eyes as he fell into his thoughts. Previously, Yang Kai had used his Dragon Transformation to destroy Profound Yang Mountain, which made Mao Zhe believe that he was a member of the Dragon Clan.
Now, it was obvious to him that Bi Xi’s attitude might have something to do with this. After all, Bi Xi had a Dragon Clan bloodline.
Void Land was a magnificent place with an extraordinary heritage, and it was close to a flourishing Star City, which ensured that they would never run out of resources. It was also protected by Bi Xi. It was probably the only Second Class great force in the entire 3,000 Worlds to have all these advantages.
Before coming to Void Land, all of them were wondering about what kind of place Void Land was and whether it could accommodate powerful people like them. If the heritage of Void Land was too shallow, it would only hinder the development of their potential as Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
However, upon their arrival, they realised that Void Land’s heritage was truly spectacular. They no longer dared to underestimate this place and instead felt honoured because they were now part of Void Land, at least in name.
The next moment, a gap appeared in the fog as two figures shot out through it and landed on the deck.
A pleasantly surprised Yue He stared fixedly at Yang Kai as she tried her hardest to suppress her excitement and elegantly saluted the man, “Young Master!”
“Enough of that.” Yang Kai went over to hold her up and patted the back of her hand, “You must have been worried.”
Yue He shook her head, “I’m glad that you’ve returned safely.”
Behind her, Bai Qi looked around, but as the people he was yearning to see were nowhere to be found, he felt his heart sinking and asked anxiously, “Where are Proprietress and the others?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Don’t worry, Proprietress and the others have returned as well. We parted ways halfway through because she had to head to Thousand Birds Star City.”
“Thousand Birds Star City…” Bai Qi’s expression turned milder when he heard that. He no longer felt apprehensive upon learning that the Proprietress and the others had returned safely. They were not around merely because they had parted ways with Yang Kai on the road here. Then, he quickly said, “I’ll go there now.”
“Proprietress told me to tell you to wait for her here. I’m guessing she’ll be coming over soon,” Yang Kai shouted at his back.
“I can’t wait that long!” Without turning his head, Bai Qi turned into a beam of light and shot into the distance. He could never set his mind at ease before seeing with his own eyes that the Proprietress was safe.
Seeing that Bai Qi was determined to leave, a helpless Yang Kai decided not to stop him and just watched him go.
On the deck, Mao Zhe and the others curiously examined Yue He. They had heard the woman call Yang Kai ‘Young Master’ just now but they were unable to discern her cultivation since her aura was fully withdrawn. However, they had a feeling that she was in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm at the very least. Perhaps she was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master just like them.
It was inconceivable that a woman with such cultivation would call Yang Kai ‘Young Master’. They couldn’t help but grow curious about Yang Kai’s background and suspected that he might have a powerful backer.
“Let’s go in for now,” Yang Kai ordered, then the ship continued moving towards Void Land.
The Grand Array had been opened as the disciples were fully aware of what was going on. No one would dare to stop the Sect Master from returning.
Before the ship even landed, Yang Kai, who was on the deck, saw a lot of people gathering together below. The person at the front was none other than the Second Manager of Void Land, Bian Yu Qing.
Soon, the ship landed and Yang Kai led the others to leap off the vessel.
The people who had gathered and had been waiting for quite some time, bowed in unison and shouted, “Welcome back, Sect Master!”
“Get up!” Yang Kai lifted his hand, “We’re all one family here, so there’s no need for such formalities.”
He swept a glance over them and realised that all the cultivators in the Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm and above from Void Land had gathered behind Bian Yu Qing. Even Mo Mei, who was stationed in the Star City, had returned.
All of them straightened up while Bian Yu Qing kept a faint smile on her face. Just when she was about to say something, a phantom-like figure abruptly appeared in front of Yang Kai. With her hands on her enchanting hips, she stared calmly at the man.
A shocked Yang Kai almost pushed out his fist, but upon realising who the person was, he took a few steps back with a helpless smile, “Senior Zhu!”
The person was none other than Zhu Jiu Yin.
Seeing that she was still in Void Land, Yang Kai was elated. Supposedly, the agreement between them had become invalid since she had escorted him all the way to the Shattered Heaven right before he entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven. In other words, she was no longer Yang Kai’s Protector and was now free to go wherever she wanted.
Some time ago, Yang Kai was still worried that this woman had really left.
It wouldn’t have mattered if she were to leave alone, but the problem was that Shan Qing Luo was cultivating under her now. If Zhu Jiu Yin really left, she would probably take Shan Qing Luo with her. By then, Shan Qing Luo wouldn’t be able to disobey her.
Seeing that she had stayed in Void Land, Yang Kai set his mind at ease. After giving it a thought though, he realised that even though she was a powerful Divine Spirit, she didn’t have anywhere else to go other than Void Land in the entire 3,000 Worlds; after all, she came from Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, and there was nowhere in the outside world that she was familiar with. Rather than wandering around aimlessly, she was better off just staying here.
Zhu Jiu Yin snorted, “It’s said that good people don’t live long while a scourge lasts a thousand years. I told you all that this brat wouldn’t die, but you wouldn’t believe me. Isn’t he back now?”
Bian Yu Qing replied with a fawning smile, “Yes, yes, yes. You’re absolutely right, Senior. We’ve been worried for no reason.”
“Hmph!” Zhu Jiu Yin snorted and shot a disdainful glance at Yang Kai. Then, after sweeping a casual glance over the people behind him, she vanished into thin air.
Yang Kai sported a helpless smile and bowed, “Good to see you too, Senior.”
Mao Zhe and the others were all stiff as boards as they were soaked in cold sweat once again.
They were unable to detect any signs before Zhu Jiu Yin’s appearance, and although the woman never released her aura, just a glance from her seemed capable of killing any one of them if she wanted. It was as though they had lost control over their own lives when she stood before them and they did not doubt that if she wanted one of them dead, they would be.
After a gulp, Mao Zhe asked in a hoarse voice, “Sir, who was that?”
Yang Kai placed his palm beside his mouth and said in a small voice, “She’s a Heavenly Moon Demon Spider, Zhu Jiu Yin. That woman is pretty foul-tempered, so you should watch your words when you see her in the future.”
Audible gasps were instantly heard as they gazed at Yang Kai in disbelief, as though they were trying to figure out if he was joking with them. It was horrifying enough that Bi Xi was in Void Land, and now a Heavenly Moon Demon Spider was also around.
Although Bi Xi was undoubtedly more famous, he was known to be mild-tempered and amiable; therefore, when they saw Bi Xi earlier, other than being a little shocked, they weren’t too frightened. However, unlike Bi Xi, the Heavenly Moon Demon Spider was known to be a ferocious Divine Spirit that had no qualms about slaughtering people.
All of them felt like crying. When they thought about having to live alongside such a fierce Divine Spirit, they felt a crawling sensation on their scalps. The consequences would be dreadful if they accidentally offended her in the future.
“Ho? You dare badmouth this Queen behind her back, you smelly brat?! Don’t even dream about seeing Luo’er for the next ten years!” A voice boomed beside Yang Kai’s ears and shocked Mao Zhe and the others.
Yang Kai instantly sported a dejected expression, “It’s a misunderstanding, Senior! Please be magnanimous and forgive me!”
Naturally, Zhu Jiu Yin flat-out ignored him.
Mao Zhe and the others looked sympathetically at him. Although they had no idea who this ‘Luo’er’ was, she should be someone important to him.
A crestfallen Yang Kai sighed, “I shouldn’t have opened my mouth. I was too foolish!”
Bian Yu Qing suppressed her laughter as she tried to change the subject, “Who are these people behind you, Sect Master?”
Yang Kai took a deep breath to cast away his dejectedness, then introduced them to her, “They have left the Shadowless Cave Heaven with me. Since they’re willing to join Void Land, we’re one family now.”
The eyes of Bian Yu Qing and the others lit up when they heard that. Bian Yu Qing was still too weak, so she was unable to determine these people’s exact strength; however, Mo Mei and the others could sense that the people behind Yang Kai were all strong.
Yang Kai briefly introduced them to each other. On Void Land’s side, there was Bian Yu Qing, Mo Mei, Yue He, Lu Xue, Pang Duo, Gong Yang Xi, Jin Yuan Lang, Mu Qian Xuan, and the other high-ranking members.
On the Shadowless Cave Heaven’s side, there was Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, Zhou Ya, Hua Yong, and Shu Mu Dan.
They saluted one another, and although they wouldn’t immediately become friendly with each other, it was only a matter of time before they became familiar. For now, they just needed to introduce themselves.
Upon learning that the Emperor Realm cultivator before their eyes was the person who was in charge of managing all the affairs in Void Land, Mao Zhe and the others were astonished. This would never happen in other great forces. Usually, a person would only be given an important duty only if they were strong enough. Emperor Realm cultivators were the strongest in Universe Worlds, but they were nobodies in the 3,000 Worlds.
In the Outer Universe, only when a person ascended to the Open Heaven Realm would they gain a footing, but even that depended on their Order.
However, since the Second Manager was highly regarded by Yang Kai, she must be a trustworthy person, so they naturally wouldn’t dare to be impolite to her.
After telling Bian Yu Qing to help those from the Shadowless Cave Heaven to settle down, Yang Kai was ready to get some rest.
Although he had escaped from the Shadowless Cave Heaven unscathed, there had been quite a number of challenges along the way. He had gained some benefits from there, but he hadn’t had time to digest them. Now that he had returned to Void Land, he decided to cultivate in seclusion to fortify the things he had grasped.
Before he could leave though, Bian Yu Qing reported, “There’s one matter that awaits your decision, Sect Master.”
Yang Kai gazed at her and asked, “What matter?”
He usually wouldn’t manage the affairs in Void Land and just left everything up to Bian Yu Qing’s judgement. She would only report the matter to him if there was something she couldn’t decide on herself.
Bian Yu Qing continued, “Many representatives from various great forces are now staying in the Star City, waiting for you to meet with them.”
“What great forces?” Yang Kai frowned.
Bian Yu Qing then listed about forty great forces.
Upon hearing these names, Yang Kai was puzzled and asked, “Do we have any cooperation with those great forces? Why do they want to meet me?”
Bian Yu Qing replied with a smile, “Just so you know, Sect Master, those great forces were the ones that joined forces with Heavenly Sword Union to invade us in the past.”
Yang Kai became startled for a moment, but upon understanding what was going on, he sneered, “They’re pretty good at gathering information.”
Those great forces had joined Kong Feng’s Heavenly Sword Union to invade Void Land previously.
Regardless of whether they did so voluntarily or were forced, the grudges between them and Void Land had been formed.
The alliance suffered immense losses in that battle and the two Divine Spirits of Void Land subsequently revealed themselves, sending shockwaves out across the 3,000 Worlds. After that battle, only a small number of people managed to flee while most of the invaders were killed in Void Land.
Upon experiencing the power and heritage of Void Land, those great forces were horrified, and since even Heavenly Sword Union suffered an immense loss, the others naturally wouldn’t dare to think about getting revenge.
After all, they were the invaders while those from Void Land were forced to defend themselves against them.
It wouldn’t have mattered if that was all that had happened, however. They could just not come to Void Land again. The 3,000 Worlds were expansive, so they could just set the issue aside and ignore it.
However, after Yang Kai returned from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he brought a group of people to destroy Boundless Altar, forcing its thousands of disciples to abandon their foundation and become homeless. Then, he demolished Golden Rainbow Province and wiped out almost all of its members.
Now, Golden Rainbow Province ceased to exist in the 3,000 Worlds.
Those great forces, which were once part of the alliance, were now quite alarmed.
Both Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were great forces that had invaded Void Land, but they were now destroyed by Yang Kai. It was apparent that he was trying to settle accounts with them, and his methods shocked these people to their core.
Among the 100 great forces, Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were some of the strongest in the alliance, with barely any of the others being comparable to them. There were a small number of great forces that were more powerful, but only by a slim margin.
Since Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were not even able to ward off those from Void Land, how were the other great forces supposed to do that? If they couldn’t appease Void Land as soon as possible, the same fate would most likely befall them.
Therefore, half a year ago, after the news of the demise of Golden Rainbow Province spread, many great forces sent representatives to Void Land with valuable gifts in the hope that the other party would forgive them.
It was because of their arrival that those from Void Land learned that Yang Kai had left the Shadowless Cave Heaven and had made some shocking moves.
These great forces were not aware that the reason Yang Kai targeted Boundless Altar and Golden Rainbow Province was that the Proprietress had made a heart demon oath in the past. They believed it was because of the fact that the alliance had invaded Void Land, which was why they were apprehensive.
While waiting in the Star City, they felt like they were sitting on pins and needles all the time and they practically visited the Governor’s Mansion every two to three days, which frustrated Mo Mei to no end.
“Are you going to meet them, Sect Master?” Bian Yu Qing asked cautiously.
“No, I’m not going to meet them.” Yang Kai waved his hand. He had just returned from outside, so he wasn’t in the mood to handle this issue, “Just let them stew for now.”
“Yes,” Bian Yu Qing replied. Although she was sympathetic towards those great forces, they only had themselves to blame. After seeing Yang Kai off, she turned around and helped Mao Zhe and the others settle in. Upon some probing, she found out that among the people that had come here with the Sect Master, there were five Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. At that instant, she was both shocked and pleasantly surprised.
When Yang Kai introduced them just now, he had only mentioned their names without talking about their cultivation.
It wasn’t until this moment that Bian Yu Qing realised these people were truly powerful.
It had to be noted that there were only two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land now. By joining Void Land, these five people would greatly boost their overall strength.
She couldn’t help but admire the Sect Master’s capabilities. After a trip to the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, be brought back a group of people from Abundance City. Now, upon his return from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he came home with Mao Zhe and the other top Masters.
There was no doubt that the heritage of Void Land was on the rise.
Even though there were a lot of people in Void Land, the Sect was pretty expansive. Since Mao Zhe and the others were powerful, they naturally had to be treated with respect. Everything was settled after they chose Spirit Peaks they liked to live on. As for their duties in the Sect, Yang Kai would have to make the decision. It was not up to Bian Yu Qing to make a decision on his behalf. As the Second Manager, she was fully aware of her boundaries.
The news that the Sect Master of Void Land had returned instantly spread out, which caused a commotion in the Star City. The representatives of the great forces, who had come to this place with gifts, visited the Governor’s Mansion even more frequently. Unfortunately, Mo Mei refused to meet them, which made them anxious as they wondered about the attitude of Void Land towards them.
With Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar as examples, they felt anxious to appease Void Land as soon as possible so their Sects wouldn’t be destroyed.
Time went by slowly as Yang Kai remained seated with his legs crossed in his room. While refining various resources to strengthen the heritage in his Small Universe, he reviewed all the battles he fought since his ascension to the Open Heaven Realm in his mind.
After he ascended to the Fifth Order, he entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven and immediately engaged in an intense battle with Ma Tian Yuan. Then, he barged into Profound Yang Mountain and attacked the Second Mountain Lord Yun Fei Bai. As a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he had the guts to battle against a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master head-on. This was rarely seen in the entire 3,000 Worlds, and it was also a precious experience for Yang Kai.
Then, he broke through to the Sixth Order and fought with the three Mountain Lords just outside Twin Spirit Island.
Next, he intercepted the Mountain Lords outside Profound Yang Mountain and comprehended the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, which used an entirely new Space-Time Strength. He then went on to destroy Profound Yang Mountain.
Upon leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven, Yang Kai got into trouble in the giant tornado while dealing with the Wind Spirits. Following that, he barged into Golden Rainbow Province and fought against Li Luo Shui, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, with the help of several Sixth-Order allies.
The epic battles went through his mind as though they had just happened the day before. Yang Kai tried to grasp the experiences he had obtained while reflecting on his failures in order to strengthen himself.
This trip had been truly eventful. Not only had he gone from the Emperor Realm to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but the refinement of the World Forces within the Wind Spirits had also saved him at least a hundred years of cultivation, which greatly helped stabilise his Sixth-Order strength.
The experience of dealing with a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was valuable as well. The battle allowed Yang Kai to clearly identify his own limits. If he came across a formidable enemy in the future, he would have a better judgement of the gap in strength between them.
Three months later, Yang Kai finally left his room. Compared to three months ago, his aura was now much more reserved. Unlike in the past, no one would be able to tell his true strength by just looking at his aura.
Then, he sent a message to Bian Yu Qing to assign some work to her before leaving his palace.
When Yang Kai calmly arrived at the Main Conference Hall of Earth Spirit Land in Void Land, which was already filled with people. These people were all in the Fourth Order and above who were the most important members of Void Land.
Upon seeing Yang Kai, they rose from the chairs and cupped their fists, “Greetings, Sect Master!”
Yang Kai raised his hand and brought it down to motion for them to be at ease. Then, he moved and instantly appeared in front of the head seat. After adjusting his clothes, he sat down in a dignified manner.
He swept a glance over the crowd and soon his gaze fell upon Mao Zhe and the others from the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Smiling, he asked, “Have you all gotten used to living in Void Land?”
Mao Zhe replied, “Everything in Void Land is wonderful. Many thanks for your concern, Sir.” They had slowly learned about the various heritage of Void Land in the past months, so they thought that it wasn’t a bad idea to have joined. The abundant resources here would be beneficial to their Martial Dao.
Furthermore, since two Divine Spirits lived in Void Land, this place certainly could accommodate Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like them.
A grateful Hua Yong continued, “We had stayed in the Shadowless Cave Heaven for thousands of years, and were extremely lucky to finally leave that place. Second Manager also takes good care of us. We feel fortunate that we were able to join Void Land.”
Compared to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, the environment in Void Land was essentially paradise.
Yang Kai nodded gently, “I’m glad that you’ve gotten used to living here.”
Then, he gazed at Bian Yu Qing, “Second Manager, can you tell me everything that has happened in the Sect while I wasn’t around?”
“Everything has been proceeding smoothly, Sir.” Bian Yu Qing was fully prepared. Upon hearing Yang Kai’s question, she immediately reported to him about the important issues that had occurred over the past two years in detail. During that period of time, Void Land didn’t go through any drastic changes. The only thing that was different was that there were more Open Heaven Realm Masters now.
Many of those from Abundance City were already on the brink of achieving an ascension to begin with; however, due to the various restrictions in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, they were unable to do so.
Upon leaving the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, Mo Mei and the others were the first batch of people who made it to the Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, more cultivators from Abundance City awaited an ascension.
Over the past two years, about 300 people had attempted to break through. Most of them had succeeded, but a small number of people lost their lives due to their failure to make it to the Open Heaven Realm.
A cultivator had to refine Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements, then split Heaven and Earth apart within their body to form a Small Universe in order to break through to the Open Heaven Realm.
The process could be said to be extremely dangerous, and regardless of how well prepared one was, one might still lose their life in the attempt.
That was what happened to some of the cultivators from Abundance City.
The people from Abundance City had been stuck in the Emperor Realm for centuries, if not millennia, giving them a long time to solidify their foundations and accumulate strength. The Orders of the materials they had refined were definitely within their limits as they wouldn’t refine materials that they wouldn’t be able to bear.
However, some of them still lost their lives while attempting to achieve ascension.
The first batch of people from Abundance City, about 300 of them, all successfully broke through because they each had the assistance of a Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill. However, over the past two years since Yang Kai left, more and more people from Abundance City had attempted to reach the Open Heaven Realm. Although Yang Kai had left behind some Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills before heading to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, the supply wasn’t sufficient to satisfy the demand. That was the reason some of them ended up falling.
With that said, the percentage of those from Abundance City who lost their lives due to their attempts to achieve an ascension was comparatively lower than average; after all, due to the limitations of the environment they used to live in, they had more time for accumulation and preparation.
Now, excluding the people brought back by Yang Kai this time, there were about 500 Open Heaven Realm Masters in Void Land. If Mao Zhe and the others were included, the number would be about 600.
That was a terrifying figure.
In terms of the quantity and quality of the Open Heaven Realm Masters, Void Land had surpassed 99% of all Second Class great forces, though it still wasn’t comparable to the Cave Heavens and Paradises. After all, it had only been a short time since Void Land was founded. More time was needed for its heritage to be accumulated.
After Bian Yu Qing was done with her report, she took her seat, then Mo Mei rose from the chair and briefly talked about the current situation in the Star City.
It could be said that the Star City was thriving. That was because they would put one Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill up for auction every three months, so the city could attract more and more cultivators from the 3,000 Worlds.
Even the Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would appear in the auction house when the time was right.
With more traffic came more commerce, causing many resources to flow into the Star City each day, allowing it to grow and develop further. It was a virtuous cycle.
The shops in the Star City were all rented out by now, and their businesses were booming. Even the private cave mansions had all been snatched up by the cultivators who now lived or worked in the Star City.
Void Land now earned about 100 million Open Heaven Pills every month from the Star City, and the amount was still increasing even now.
Mao Zhe and the other newcomers were dumbfounded upon hearing that.
There was no doubt that the Star City could be considered First Class since it could help Void Land earn 100 million Open Heaven Pills per month. The Star City alone could provide all the resources that those from Void Land would need.
It had to be noted that one could buy a lot of things with a hundred million Open Heaven Pills. Although it wasn’t enough to buy a Seventh-Order material, they could get their hands on several Sixth-Order materials if they were lucky.
As time passed, Void Land’s wealth would continue to increase. The Star City could be said to be Void Land’s cornucopia.
With the rise in fame, more cultivators could be seen entering and leaving the Star City. This didn’t pose a problem initially as those from the Governor’s Mansion were still able to keep on top of everything.
The merchants who did business in the Star City had to pay rent and taxes. Void Land, as the overseer of the Star City, was responsible for making sure that the city and the people were safe. They had to ensure that no fights would take place, and when they did, they had to immediately settle the problems.
Only by doing so could they give the cultivators a sense of security and showcase the heritage and competency of Void Land.
However, following two years of rapid development, the Governor’s Mansion was finding it increasingly hard to manage the city.
This couldn’t be helped, as the rise in popularity and development of the Star City meant that more and more powerful cultivators would come to visit. The person who could directly sense the changes was Jin Yuan Lang, who was responsible for guarding the Void Dock.
Since the re-opening of the Void Land Star City, Jin Yuan Lang had been appointed by Yang Kai to guard the Void Dock and inspect the people who entered and left the city.
Since he was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he could usually handle most situations that arose; however, Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were now more commonly seen in the city. As a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it was difficult for him to deter Sixth-Order Masters if they chose to be unruly.
If two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters got into a scuffle in the Star City, Mo Mei, who was responsible for managing the city, wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.
Once such a scenario happened, not only would the city suffer losses, but it would also have a huge impact on Void Land’s reputation. This was the issue that had to be settled immediately.
Fortunately, Yang Kai had brought back some powerful Open Heaven Realm Masters, including several in the Sixth Order.
Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan had already requested to join Void Land back on Twin Spirit Island, and Yang Kai had appointed them to be the Elders right away. Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, and Zhou Ya were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as well, so they couldn’t be undervalued. Following Yang Kai’s order, the three of them also joined the Elder Hall.
Mao Zhe and the others gladly accepted the appointment. They were restricted by the Loyalty List, so their lives were under Yang Kai’s control. Strictly speaking, they were just Yang Kai’s servants; however, during the time they were together, he had never mistreated them, nor had he exposed the nature of their relationship to anyone, which saved them from any embarrassment.
Although they had never said it out loud, they were grateful towards Yang Kai for his discretion. Even if he really wanted to make things difficult for them, they would have no choice but to bear it.
Now that they were asked to join the Elder Hall, they were certainly pleased. By becoming the Elders in Void Land, they would be on an equal footing with the others apart from Yang Kai and the two Divine Spirits.
More orders were swiftly given, with Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan being assigned to secure the Void Dock. Jin Yuan Lang was still responsible for managing the dock’s day-to-day business, and unless he was faced with cultivators that were too difficult to deal with, the couple usually wouldn’t have to show up.
Mao Zhe and the other former Mountain Lords would take turns staying in the Governor’s Mansion to assist Mo Mei in managing the Star City.
The other Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Shadowless Cave Heaven were also assigned various jobs in different departments.
All of them received the orders one by one.
“Sect Master, the people who have come to apologise are still waiting. How do you want to deal with them?” Bian Yu Qing asked.
Those people only knew that the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai, had returned. If they found out that more top Masters had joined Void Land as well, they would be terrified.
Yang Kai would’ve forgotten about the matter if Bian Yu Qing hadn’t mentioned it, as he had no reason to remember those nobodies.
As a glint flashed through his eyes as he asked, “Has anyone from Heavenly Sword Union arrived?”
Bian Yu Qing was startled for a moment, then shook her head, “I don’t believe so.”
Yang Kai snorted. The Hundred Sects Alliance that invaded Void Land was nearly wiped out by him in the end. Other than Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar, which he would never let off, Yang Kai didn’t really care about the other great forces, nor did he have the intention to retaliate against them. It would be time-wasting if he really did that, so he reckoned it would be better to just spend his time on cultivation.
Furthermore, those great forces were mostly Third Class, and didn’t even have a single Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master overseeing them. It would do more damage to Void Land’s reputation and face if they were to oppress such weaklings now.
With that said, Yang Kai would never forgive Heavenly Sword Union, which was the mastermind behind the incident.
Besides the fact that Heavenly Sword Union led the alliance, they had once again ambushed him while he was heading to the Shattered Heaven to look for the Proprietress after he left Void Territory.
Since those from Heavenly Sword Union had repeatedly provoked Yang Kai, he couldn’t be blamed for seeking revenge against them.
“Make them cough up everything they can before kicking them out, and let them know if they dare to appear in Void Land again, I won’t be so forgiving!” Yang Kai directly decided the fate of those great forces.
Bian Yu Qing nodded in agreement. It was apparent that Yang Kai wasn’t in the mood to meet those people, so he let her settle the matter.
Now, Yang Kai was now a powerful Master, and the leader of a peak Second Class great force, so it wasn’t like just anyone could meet him. It was expected that those great forces would accept the outcome, and they would also have to thank Yang Kai for not destroying them.
“Also, there was a Senior from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven who requested to meet you a few days ago; however, since Sect Master was cultivating in seclusion, I turned her down so that you wouldn’t be disturbed.”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened when he heard that and asked, “Was it Qu Hua Shang?”
Presently, there were two establishments directly owned by Cave Heavens in Void Star City. One of them was the Asura Arena, which was set up by Asura Heaven. This facility was also one of the trademarks of Asura Heaven. The business of the Asura Arena was booming because many young cultivators liked to engage in all-out fights to both train and make a name for themselves.
In fact, the Asura Arena was established following a discussion between Yang Kai and a representative from Asura Heaven. Void Land held a large stake in the Asura Arena, which generated an equivalent revenue share from this profitable business.
Meanwhile, a Dao Temple belonging to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was also established. Qu Hua Shang used to be stationed there in the past as its supervisor.
Yang Kai met that seductress in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary; then, they went through many life-and-death moments there and in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, eventually growing quite close.
After that, she tagged along when Yang Kai headed to the Shattered Heaven. Although she didn’t manage to help much, Yang Kai was still grateful for the solidarity she had shown.
This was no small matter; after all, Qu Hua Shang’s identity was a little special as she was a Core Disciple from one of the 36 Cave Heavens, so everything she did represented Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. As such, she wasn’t able to do whatever she pleased most of the time. However, she still steadfastly followed Yang Kai to oppose Ti Zheng and the others who had laid a trap for Yang Kai.
There were two reasons why Asura Heaven had set up an Asura Arena in every major Star City. First of all, it was to train the disciples of their own Sect, and secondly, it was to amass wealth. The disciples of Asura Heaven had to go through life-and-death battles in order to grow rapidly. Nevertheless, in the 3,000 Worlds, there were rarely any places that would allow them to engage in such fierce battles. Therefore, the Asura Arenas were their best option. Moreover, these Asura Arenas were like a treasure trove for them. The Asura Arenas from different Star Cities each generated massive amounts of revenue for Asura Heaven every year.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had also set up a Dao Temple in every major Star City; however, they didn’t intend to amass wealth or train their disciples in these places. Instead, the existence of these Dao Temples was to attract more talented people.
The disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were all beautiful women or handsome men, and their core Secret Arts revolved around forming intimate relationships with the opposite sex. In those Dao Temples, their disciples could engage in discourse with talented young people from different parts of the 3,000 Worlds and even find suitable life partners, which would then strengthen the Sect’s power.
The Dao Temple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in Void Star City was built under the supervision of Qu Hua Shang; therefore, when Yang Kai heard Bian Yu Qing mention a Senior from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, the first person that came into his mind was that seductress.
However, Bian Yu Qing shook her head and replied, “It’s not Senior Sister Qu. The Master of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Dao Temple is now a different person.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai couldn’t help but feel disappointed. If Qu Hua Shang was still in the Star City, he would’ve personally thanked her for what she had done for him.
Bian Yu Qing asked, “Are you going to meet her, Sect Master?”
Yang Kai came to his senses and nodded, “Of course, I have to meet her. Please tell her to come in.” If it was someone else, he would’ve decided whether he wanted to meet her depending on his mood; however, since she was from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, he naturally couldn’t turn her down. He could also ask this person about how Qu Hua Shang was doing.
Upon receiving the order, Bian Yu Qing immediately sent out a message.
Since the meeting was over, everyone in the Main Hall rose from their seats and left while Yang Kai remained sitting on his own.
An incense stick later, Bian Yu Qing led someone to enter the hall from outside.
Yang Kai looked up and saw that the person behind Bian Yu Qing was an alluring woman with an enchanting figure. Her innocent-looking face and clear eyes gave off an ethereal feeling, as though she was unstained by the mortal world.
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened. He had met many beautiful women before, but he had never seen one such as this lady. His first impression of the woman was that she was clean. It wasn’t the cleanliness of her clothes but an indescribable feeling, as though the existence of everything in the world was a blasphemy to her existence. Anyone who saw her would have the urge to protect and care for her.
At the same time, his chest tightened as he had a feeling that this woman was more complicated than she seemed.
Since the guest had arrived, Yang Kai had to rise from his chair to greet her.
Bian Yu Qing saluted him, “She’s here, Sect Master.”
Yang Kai nodded gently, upon which Bian Yu Qing withdrew.
The woman across from him elegantly greeted him, then said softly, “Greetings, Sect Master Yang. This Mistress is Su Ying Xue.” Her pleasant voice tickled his senses.
Yang Kai lifted his hand, “There’s no need to be too formal with me, Senior Sister Su. Please have a seat.”
Su Ying Xue thanked him with a lowered gaze. Her cheeks were painted with a tinge of redness, and her skin seemed extremely delicate.
Yang Kai was unable to sense this woman’s cultivation, but that wasn’t too surprising seeing how she had no need to release her aura here. Nevertheless, he had a feeling that this woman wasn’t any weaker than he was, so she was probably a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master as well.
After the two of them were seated, a servant came over and served them tea.
Following a bit of small talk, Yang Kai asked, “Senior Sister Su, what’s the nature of your relationship with Senior Sister Qu?”
Su Ying Xue replied with a smile, “Qu’er is considered my Junior Sister on paper.”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “On paper? What is she to you in reality?”
Su Ying Xue said with a light smile, “I was the one who raised Qu’er.”
Yang Kai was shocked, thinking that the woman before his eyes was like a Sister as well as a Mother to Qu Hua Shang. After giving it a thought, he realised that it wasn’t so surprising. It had clearly been a long time since Su Ying Xue broke through to the Open Heaven Realm, and although Qu Hua Shang was now a Sixth-Order Master as well, she had only recently become one. When it came to their age, Qu Hua Shang was probably much younger than Su Ying Xue, so it wasn’t surprising that she was raised by her.
This was pretty common in the 3,000 Worlds. Although many fellow Brothers and Sisters in the same Sect were on the same level of seniority, there could be huge gaps in their actual ages. Therefore, some of the Senior Brothers and Sisters were like foster parents to their Juniors.
“Qu’er always talked about and praised you. Now, I can confirm that you’re indeed both handsome and talented.” Su Ying Xue lifted her alluring eyes and batted her lashes shyly.
A reserved Yang Kai replied, “Many thanks for your compliment, Senior Sister Su. May I know where Senior Sister Qu is now?”
Su Ying Xue sighed and replied, “After making such a huge mistake, she returned to the Sect to apologize to the Sect Master. She’s confined now, and she won’t be able to leave seclusion for the next 100 years.”
“100 years!” Yang Kai’s face fell, “Is her punishment related to me?”
Su Ying Xue gazed into his eyes and said, “You seem quite concerned about Qu’er, Sect Master Yang.”
Yang Kai replied, “I owe Senior Sister Qu a great favour. Since she’s in trouble, I naturally can’t turn a blind eye to it.”
“How are you going to interfere, then?” Su Ying Xue looked curiously at him.
Yang Kai became startled, [She’s right. How am I supposed to interfere? She’s confined in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and she’s Su Ying Xue’s Junior Sister. This is their internal affair. What right do I have to butt into their business as an outsider?]
Su Ying Xue went on to say, “Since time immemorial, the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises have always been close allies, and internal disputes that go against our collective interests are strictly forbidden. Since she has made a mistake, she naturally has to be punished.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai finally figured out what had happened. As expected, Qu Hua Shang’s confinement was a result of her helping him. She fought with those from Myriad Demons Heaven and the other great forces outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven, which had tarnished Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s reputation.
That was the reason she was given such a harsh punishment.
As a Core Disciple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Qu Hua Shang was fully aware of these rules and also that once she made a move, she would invite trouble to herself, but she did it anyway.
Yang Kai had never expected that Qu Hua Shang’s help would land her in such trouble. If he knew it in advance, he wouldn’t have let her tag along. Now that she had to be confined for 100 years, he certainly felt guilty.
“It’s just 100 years, so there’s nothing to worry about. Qu’er is now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so 100 years will pass by in a blink of an eye for her,” Su Ying Xue said gently.
Yang Kai frowned and stared intently at her in silence.
100 years of confinement was indeed not a long time for a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; furthermore, Qu Hua Shang had just ascended to the Sixth-Order, so she needed time to consolidate her cultivation. The confinement might not actually be a bad thing to her as, after she was set free, she would’ve completely solidified her new cultivation.
With that said, it was still a punishment, and Yang Kai was the reason behind it, which was why he felt responsible.
However, Su Ying Xue didn’t seem to take the matter seriously.
“Sect Master Yang,” she called out gently.
Yang Kai came to his senses and gazed at her, “What’s wrong, Senior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue replied, “To be frank with you, other than meeting you, this Mistress is also here to seek your help.”
Yang Kai extended his hand, “Please speak freely, Senior Sister. I’ll not turn you down as long as I am able to assist.”
Before Su Ying Xue spoke again, she appeared bashful as her cheeks became a shade redder. She lowered her head as her hair hung loose over her chest. Her posture, coupled with her innocent demeanour, could make any man lust after her and have the urge to embrace and become intimate.
Yang Kai couldn’t move his eyes away from her as he thought that the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were all truly attractive. Unlike how flirtatious and enchanting Qu Hua Shang was, Su Ying Xue’s innocence and charm were rarely found in the world.
“Sect Master Yang, since you’re close to Qu’er, I suppose you’re familiar with some of our Sect’s traditions,” Su Ying Xue said gently. Her face was all red by the time she finished speaking.
Yang Kai had no idea about the reason behind her bashfulness as he asked curiously, “What traditions are you speaking of?”
Su Ying Xue appeared to be embarrassed as she fell silent for a moment, then replied, “When the female disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven reach a certain age and cultivation, we have to look for a suitable partner. That is the reason our Dao Temples were built across the 3,000 Worlds. The disciples who are stationed at these Dao Temples can engage in discourse with talented people from all over to increase their knowledge and cultivation, but it is also a way to seek out appropriate partners.”
“I’m aware of that.” Yang Kai nodded as an idea flashed through his mind, “Do you have your eyes on someone, Senior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue nodded her head.
Yang Kai said with a smile, “Congratulations are in order, then. I wonder who the young man is that is lucky enough to gain your favour. If you need my help to pass on your word, just tell me right away. I’ll invite the man over. If he doesn’t want to come, I’ll tie him up and bring him here.”
“There’s no need for any invitation.” Su Ying Xue shook her head.
A puzzled Yang Kai asked, “Why is that?”
Su Ying Xue appeared anxious as she subconsciously played with her hair with her slender finger. Her face had become redder as she said hesitantly, “That is…. because the man is right before my eyes!”
The smile on Yang Kai’s face froze, and then his lips pressed into a line as he examined her seriously.
A moment later, he said with a faint smile, “That joke isn’t funny, Senior Sister Su.”
Su Ying Xue looked down at her feet and spoke in a voice that was as soft as a whisper, “I’m not making a joke, Sect Master Yang. You’re now the Lord of Void Land as well as a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. You are completely qualified to be my partner.”
Yang Kai gazed at her with narrowed eyes, “Since you’re so close to Qu Hua Shang, you should have heard something about me from her.”
Su Ying Xue nodded, “En. Qu’er told me that she repeatedly wanted you to be her partner, but you had turned her down.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I value my friendship with Senior Sister Qu, so I’m not willing to tie her down with false hope. That was the reason I didn’t agree to her request; however, Senior Sister Su, this is the first time we have met, so how could you say such a thing to embarrass both of us?”
Su Ying Xue looked up at him with a pair of alluring eyes, which looked like two clear springs, and said in an enchanting manner, “Are you not willing to be my partner, Sect Master Yang?”
“What do you think?” Yang Kai questioned her instead.
Su Ying Xue pressed her lips together, then asked, “What if I say that if you agree to it, both Qu’er and I will become your partners?”
A startled Yang Kai asked, “Is this your idea, or Senior Sister Qu’s?”
Since Qu Hua Shang was in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Su Ying Xue was probably in the same Order. Both of them were strikingly beautiful and any man would have to consider himself extremely lucky to obtain the favour of just one of them, not to mention both. Rarely would any man in the world be capable of resisting such a temptation.
Su Ying Xue replied, “I had a discussion with Qu’er before I came to Void Star City. She said that the Lord of Void Land Yang Kai was a righteous man she could entrust her life to. However, since she didn’t manage to gain your favour, she told me to come here and give it a try. Therefore, even though this Mistress is not familiar with you as it’s the first time we have met, I believe Qu’er’s words. Of course, she will agree to the decision I’ve made. As long as you agree, Qu’er and I will become your partners.”
Yang Kai couldn’t believe that Su Ying Xue wanted to be his partner just because of what Qu Hua Shang had said, so he said after a sigh, “I suppose you do have trust in her, Senior Sister Su.”
“Qu’er… has a keen eye for people. Although I’m older than her, I’m not comparable to her in this regard.” Su Ying Xue lifted her head as she summoned her courage to look at the man, “Are you really going to turn me down, Sect Master Yang?”
Her bashful expression could arouse any man’s pity.
Yang Kai took a deep breath and replied with a straight face, “It’s this Yang’s luck to gain the favour of the two of you, but I already have a few Wives, so I don’t intend to marry more women. Although I thank you for your intentions, I cannot accept them. There are many great men out there, and I’m just one of the countless men in the world. I’m sure the two of you will find your loved ones sooner or later.”
Su Ying Xue stared fixedly at him with her dark gaze, as though she was able to look deeply into his mind and soul to uncover his thoughts.
A moment later, she suddenly started convulsing with laughter, which was in stark contrast to her innocent demeanour earlier. She now looked so charming that it was hard for any man in the world to resist her attractiveness.
“Senior Sister Su?” Yang Kai scowled as he couldn’t adapt to this sudden transformation. He was secretly shocked that the woman’s demeanour could change in such a drastic manner.
“The Lord of Void Land… I suppose Qu’er hasn’t fallen in love with the wrong guy.” Su Ying Xue covered her lips and looked smilingly at him.
“What do you mean, Senior Sister Su?”
Su Ying Xue replied with a faint smile, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven is one of the 36 Cave Heavens. Regardless of how immoral we’re thought to be, no two female disciples would ever serve the same Husband. Outsiders always say that we’re lascivious people, but they have no idea how loyal we are to our partners.”
Yang Kai’s face fell, “So, what were you trying to achieve?”
He had a feeling that he had been made a fool of. If he really agreed to it on an impulse just now, he would’ve been humiliated.
However, why was this woman trying to trick him? There were no grudges between them to speak of. Although Qu Hua Shang had to be confined for 100 years because she helped him, that wasn’t enough of a reason for this farce.
“Qu’er has made a mistake, and she is being punished with 100 years of imprisonment, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter, however, is that in half a year, there will be a Dao Theory Assembly in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven where many talented young men will come together. The winner will be able to marry Qu’er after she is discharged from confinement.”
Yang Kai initially felt vexed because he had been tricked, but all his fury vanished into thin air when he heard these words. Then, he asked in shock, “Dao Theory Assembly? The winner will be able to marry Senior Sister Qu? Was that her idea?”
Su Ying Xue snorted, “Since Qu’er has fallen in love with you, why would she come up with such an absurd idea? It was a decision by the Sect Master, and she can’t disobey.”
Yang Kai sported a dark expression, “Since she is reluctant, why would those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven hold such a Dao Theory Assembly?”
Su Ying Xue glared at him, “Since she has crossed the line, we have to make it up to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises, and this Dao Theory Assembly is the result. Do you think she can refuse? Who do you think has caused all this?”
Yang Kai became startled upon hearing that.
“We’ve been sending out invitations since a year ago; however, due to the fact that the 3,000 Worlds is expansive, we and the others who will participate need time to prepare. The Dao Theory Assembly will take place half a year from now, and regardless of who the winner is, Qu’er must marry him no matter what!”
Yang Kai frowned, “I thought Core Disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would never marry outsiders.”
It was difficult to raise a disciple like Qu Hua Shang. If she was married to an outsider, another Sect would reap all the benefits. Hence, for a Core Disciple like Qu Hua Shang, the man had to get married into her Sect, not the other way round.
Su Ying Xue replied, “She’s not going to leave the Sect. The man will have to get married into our great force.”
Upon hearing her clarification, Yang Kai said, “I see.”
Su Ying Xue stared at him and said, “If you didn’t pass my test, I wouldn’t have informed you about it. Since you’re a righteous man, however, I suppose Qu’er’s eyes haven’t failed her, so you have the right to know about it.”
Yang Kai rose from the chair and cupped his fist with a solemn expression, “Many thanks for informing me about this matter, Senior Sister.”
After staring fixedly at him for a moment, Su Ying Xue also got up, “That’s all I have to say. Farewell!”
“I’ll see you off,” Yang Kai hurriedly followed her.
Su Ying Xue didn’t turn him down as she continued moving forward. It wasn’t until Yang Kai left Void Land with her and saw her heading towards the Star City that he returned.
It surprised him that those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly to look for a Husband for Qu Hua Shang; however, Su Ying Xue had said that the assembly was being held to make it up to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises. After all, Qu Hua Shang had violated their rules, so her confinement was probably not enough to appease the various Cave Heavens and Paradises.
It wouldn’t have mattered if Yang Kai wasn’t aware of it, but now that he had found out about it, he naturally couldn’t turn a blind eye.
Nevertheless, he was in a dilemma as he wasn’t sure what to do. If he took part in the Dao Theory Assembly, he definitely had to become the winner, which would then mean that he would have to marry Qu Hua Shang.
Qu Hua Shang’s appearance and aptitude undoubtedly stood at the apex of the 3,000 Worlds, and hardly any women could surpass her. Certainly, no man could resist such a talented beauty.
If Yang Kai had still been single, he would’ve leapt at the opportunity to marry her.
However, he already had several Wives, so he wasn’t willing to become emotionally entangled with Qu Hua Shang. Moreover, she was a Core Disciple of her great force, so those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven wouldn’t allow her to live with Yang Kai without him joining their force.
With that said, he wouldn’t be able to set his mind at ease if he didn’t at least see her. At that moment, he was unable to make a decision.
A moment later, he sent a message to Mo Mei to tell her to ask around in the Star City in order to find out whether things were just like what Su Ying Xue had said.
If those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven were really going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly, there was no way no one was aware of it. The fame of the 36 Cave Heavens dictated that every move they made would cause a stir in the 3,000 Worlds.
Half a day later, Mo Mei replied to him from the Governor’s Mansion and informed him that there was really such an event on the horizon.
Just like what Su Ying Xue had said, those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had been sending out invitations since a year ago as they were going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly in order to look for a partner for Qu Hua Shang. Any cultivator in the 3,000 Worlds could take part in it regardless of their cultivation or age as long as they were below the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm.
As a result, countless cultivators from different Great Territories started heading to Yin-Yang Territory. Those who were powerful hoped to become the winner and marry a beautiful lady while those who were weak were going to watch a good show and gain some life experience. After all, it wasn’t every day that one could freely enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Yang Kai clenched the jade slip, which contained the message, with a frown.
The Dao Theory Assembly would be held in half a year, but he still couldn’t decide whether he should go or not.
Then, he fished out his Universe Chart and realised that it would take him half a month to travel from Void Land to Yin-Yang Territory, which wasn’t too long a distance. If he decided to go, he would have a few months to prepare.
After pondering on it for a moment, he finally made a decision. He had to go to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Qu Hua Shang was being punished because of him, so there was no way he could just sit back and do nothing.
By then, he could look for Qu Hua Shang and find out about her stance before coming up with any solution.
…..
The Star City was the major income source for Void Land, and the popularity of the Star City hinged on its auction house. A Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill would be put up for auction once every three months, which was why countless cultivators from different great forces were attracted to this place.
There were not many Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills left as they couldn’t even satisfy the needs of their own disciples, which caused some of them to lose their lives while trying to make it to the Open Heaven Realm.
Therefore, Yang Kai would have to refine more since he was going to leave again.
He still had a lot of the main ingredient required to make these pills, which was World Source Liquid. He just needed some supplementary ingredients and, since the Star City was now flourishing, he could easily get his hands on them.
Therefore, after he gave an order, some people from the Star City immediately started preparing the materials he needed before delivering them to him. It was then he started refining Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills.
Three months later, all the adjuvants were used up as he was surrounded by many bottles, which were all filled with Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills.
Countless cultivators were eager to snatch up the one available Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill whenever it came up for auction, but such pills were now everywhere in Yang Kai’s room. It would be interesting to know what others thought if they found out about this.
With that said, even though there were a lot of Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills here, there would come a time when they were used up. To Yang Kai and Void Land, every Open Heaven Realm Master was a precious treasure, so every disciple who was going to attempt an ascension had to be given a Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill so that no tragedy would happen again.
In other great forces, only the best disciples that the Sects had high hopes for could get their hands on a Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pill. But in Void Land, anyone who had the right to ascend to the Open Heaven Realm could get such a pill from Bian Yu Qing. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only Void Land provided such a benefit.
After getting some rest, Yang Kai told Bian Yu Qing to come over and store these pills.
At the same time, she informed him about a piece of good news, “Madam Lan has arrived.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was elated, “She’s here? When did she arrive?”
Bian Yu Qing replied with a smile, “A few days after you started refining pills. She’s been here for about two months now.”
Yang Kai quickly asked her about the Proprietress’ location, and then headed over to meet her.
After leaving Golden Rainbow Province back then, the Proprietress said that she was going to Thousand Birds Star City to put an end to some issues. Yang Kai didn’t ask her what she was going to do, but she had said that she would pay a visit to Void Land soon.
It never crossed his mind that she would come here so quickly.
A moment later, he met the Proprietress on a certain Spirit Peak. Yue He was also around as she was having a chat with her.
Bai Qi, Chef, and Accountant, as well as some of the shop hands from First Inn, had also come. Yang Kai could also see that Luo Hai Yi was here.
An idea flashed through his mind as the speculation he had made him feel excited.
Upon detecting the man’s presence, the Proprietress shot him a glance with a smile, “Smelly brat, you’re finally here.”
“Proprietress!” Yang Kai walked over and saluted her, “Are you all ready to relocate to Void Star City?”
The Proprietress asked with a smile, “What do you mean, relocate?”
“Then…” Yang Kai was puzzled.
Bai Qi said with a smile, “Proprietress has left First Inn, so she’s a free person now.”
Yang Kai became startled upon hearing that. Initially, when he saw that the Proprietress had brought all her usual shop hands with her, he thought that she was going to open a First Inn branch in Void Star City, so it came as a great surprise to hear she had actually left First Inn.
“We’d like to join Void Land. Will you welcome us?” The Proprietress looked smilingly at Yang Kai.
Of course, Yang Kai hurriedly nodded, “Of course I welcome you all. Why wouldn’t I? You can even be the Lord of Void Land if you want, Proprietress.”
“No thanks.” The Proprietress rolled her eyes, “I’ve finally relieved myself of old burdens, so why would I take on even heavier responsibilities? Don’t even think about it.”
Yang Kai grinned, “What kind of position do you want, then? Just name it.”
The Proprietress shook her head, “I’m not going to take up any official position right now. Just prepare a serene place for me as I’m going to enter seclusion soon.”
Yang Kai turned solemn, “Are you going to attempt to break through to the Seventh Order?”
Since Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar were destroyed, her heart demon oath had been resolved as well; hence, there were no more obstacles in her way to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. However, she had lost some of her heritage in the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so if she wanted to make it to the Seventh Order, she would have to spend some time recovering from those losses.
The Proprietress nodded with a serious expression, “I’ve been stuck in the Sixth Order for a long time now. It’s about time to ascend to the Seventh Order.”
A worried Yang Kai asked, “Do you have the confidence to achieve it?”
Ascending to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm was no laughing matter. Although there was only a difference of one Order between the Sixth Order and the Seventh Order, she was trying to cross the gulf between the Mid-Rank and High-Rank. This was a process of sublimation in the Open Heaven Realm and the risk an Open Heaven Realm Master had to bear when attempting this was as great as when he or she was first attempting to reach the Open Heaven Realm from the Emperor Realm.
The consequences were deadly if they failed.
Many Open Heaven Realm Masters had lost their lives during this ascension over the years. For cultivators in this realm, every ascension was a perilous trial. Once they succeeded, they would transform into even more powerful beings; however, once they failed, death was all but certain.
“I do have some confidence, but when it comes to a matter like this… It is ultimately up to the Heavens to decide my fate.” The Proprietress replied calmly.
Yang Kai nodded, “Since you’ve made a decision, I’ll say no more. If you need any resources, just tell us right away. Yue He will prepare everything for you.”
The Proprietress replied with a smile, “I have all the resources I require prepared already. I’ve been a shopkeeper of First Inn for centuries, so I’ve collected some good stuff along the way.”
“That’s great.” After giving it a thought, Yang Kai fished out a jade bottle and passed it to her, “Take this as it might be useful in case of an emergency.”
The Proprietress took a glance at it and realised that the jade bottle looked familiar. Soon, she recalled what it was.
After Yang Kai left the Blood Monster Cave Heaven back then, he passed her this jade bottle, which contained an Innate Open Heaven Pill born in the Universe Furnace. Blood Monster Divine Monarch should have obtained this pill at some point far in the past.
This Open Heaven Pill was totally different from the ones refined by Alchemists and was innumerable times more valuable. Although one Open Heaven Pill seemed like nothing compared to the millions that flowed through Void Star City each day, many people would start wars just to try to snatch this single pill if word of its existence got out.
At that time, Yang Kai thought that this pill could help the Proprietress break through to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, but she turned him down. As long as her heart demon oath wasn’t resolved, even an Innate Open Heaven Pill would be useless to her.
Now that she was ready to ascend to the Seventh Order, however, this pill was the only thing Yang Kai could offer that could be of some possible help.
After giving it a thought, the Proprietress took the jade bottle and said with a smile, “I’ll give it back to you if I don’t need it.”
Yang Kai replied with a straight face, “I’ll await your good news.”
Back then, the Proprietress directly ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so her aptitude was truly exceptional. Supposedly, given her aptitude, there shouldn’t be a problem when she attempted to rise to the Seventh Order. However, she reckoned that she’d better be careful.
The Proprietress then suddenly asked, “Have you heard that there’ll be a Dao Theory Assembly in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in a few months?”
“You’re aware of it?” Upon finishing his words, Yang Kai smiled helplessly. First Inn was in the business of gathering information. Basically, everyone was aware of it now, so why would the Proprietress not know it?
“I’m not deaf, so why would I not be aware of such a major event?” The Proprietress shot him a glare, “Qu Hua Shang is one of the Core Disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and she has the right to succeed the Sect Master in the future. However, since she has made a mistake, she has to make it up to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises. The Dao Theory Assembly is the punishment for her.”
Yang Kai sighed, “It’s all because of me that Senior Sister Qu is being punished.”
On the side, Yue He asked, “Young Master, was it because…”
Yang Kai nodded solemnly, “All 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises have always been united, so internal divisions are not permitted. Senior Sister Qu broke that taboo.”
Yue He exclaimed, “What should we do then?”
Yang Kai said, “I’m going to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven soon.” Then, he gazed at the Proprietress in puzzlement, “Are there really no grudges between the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises? Why is there even such a taboo?”
The Proprietress explained, “There are definitely grudges between them, but they have their own ways of settling such problems. If some of them are killed without anyone knowing about it, no one can say anything; however, since the other Cave Heavens and Paradises know the details of this incident, those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven have to make it up to them. That is the rule.”
“What rubbish rule is that?” Yang Kai was incensed.
“Since you’re the cause of it, I suppose you should head to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Given your current strength, there shouldn’t be anyone below the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm who is your opponent. However, you’d still better be careful. Although the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would frequently look for suitable partners, a disciple like Qu Hua Shang is very rare. Many talented people will gather together in this Dao Theory Assembly, so the people from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would naturally take part as well.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was startled for a moment, “Those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would join as well? I heard that the partners of the Core Disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would have to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Are those Cave Heavens and Paradises willing to let their disciples join another Sect?”
The Proprietress replied with a smile, “The Core Disciples are definitely not going to join this Dao Theory Assembly; however, the heritages of the Cave Heavens and Paradises are ample. Besides the Core Disciples, they still have other disciples that could join another Sect. The effort will be worthwhile if they can become closer allies with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.”
Yang Kai nodded. Although a disciple would have to get married into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, he would not sever ties with his Master Sect entirely. If his Master Sect fell into trouble in the future, that disciple, and the connection he made, would be of some help.
“There’s one thing I’m worried about, Proprietress,” Yang Kai appeared anxious.
“What is it?” she asked.
Yang Kai replied, “The Cave Heavens and Paradises were already trying to suppress me before I even ascended to the Open Heaven Realm. Now that I’m an Open Heaven Realm Master, would some of them try to kill me if I show up in the outside world?”
He was already targeted by four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and he was just an Emperor Realm cultivator at that time. Now that he was an Open Heaven Realm Master, it was probable that some of them would still want to kill him ruthlessly. Given the heritages of those Cave Heavens and Paradises, it would be easy for them to kill him unless he stayed in Void Land forever.
With two Divine Spirits residing in Void Land, the effort to kill him would simply be too great for the reward.
To his concerns, the Proprietress just said with a smile, “The reason they targeted you before your ascension was that they were worried you’d directly make it to the Seventh Order, and their suppression has yielded some results. In their eyes, you’re just a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so you’re no longer a threat to them. They have already nipped a potential threat in the bud, and a Fifth-Order Master is nothing to them.”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened, “In that case, I’m now safer since I’ve ascended to the Open Heaven Realm.”
“That’s right.”
“There won’t be any problems then,” Yang Kai nodded.
After he chatted with the Proprietress for a while longer, he bid her farewell.
She was going to attempt to break through to the Seventh Order soon, and no one else could help her with that. The only thing Yang Kai could give her was that Innate Open Heaven Pill.
This breakthrough would probably take her a long time; after all, she had to make up for the losses she had suffered in the Shadowless Cave Heaven first before she could attempt to reach the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
The Dao Theory Assembly was just two months away now, so Yang Kai had to set off immediately.
A few days later, he shot into the sky, and as a crack appeared in the Grand Array, he moved past it and dashed into the void.
He was on his own this time. Yue He initially wanted to tag along, but he had turned her down.
After all, he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master that was significantly stronger than others in the same Order. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters would be a threat to him now.
Even if he really came across any danger, he could easily flee since he was on his own.
Furthermore, the Dao Theory Assembly was an event to help get Qu Hua Shang a Husband. Yang Kai wasn’t even sure how he would handle the issue, so it would be inappropriate if he brought Yue He with him.
The journey was long and the void was dead silent, so Yang Kai just moved forward at lightning speed.
On a shattered Spirit Province just outside the Territory Gate of Void Territory stood an alluring lady. It seemed that she had been waiting there for a long time. When she finally saw Yang Kai moving past the Territory Gate, she snorted, “I suppose he can still be considered a responsible man.”
The person was Su Ying Xue, who had previously met up with Yang Kai.
Since Yang Kai had left Void Territory at this point, he should be heading to join the Dao Theory Assembly. That was the reason she sported a milder expression now. Then, she dashed towards the Territory Gate and tailed Yang Kai. After leaving the Territory Gate, she immediately sent a message to someone.
Looking up, she could only see a small dot in the distance as Yang Kai was already far away from her. She curved her lips into a smile and muttered, “I’ll give you one last test; after all, you have no right to marry Qu’er if you’re too weak.”
Meanwhile, Yang Kai was looking at the route in his Universe Chart and heading to the next Territory Gate.
Half a day later, he suddenly lifted his head as he could see a ray of light charging towards him rapidly.
A figure could faintly be seen in the ray of light.
Yang Kai looked up, but before he could make out the person’s face, the other party bellowed, “Where do you think you’re going, boy!?”
Right after the person finished speaking, he pushed out his fist with an immense force. World Force undulated, even the void trembled slightly.
A puzzled Yang Kai had a feeling that the person must have mistaken him for someone else; however, since the other party was about to strike, he was unable to explain himself as he quickly extended his palm to meet the attack.
Booming sounds were heard, as the other party acted violently while Yang Kai responded in kind. They exchanged more than ten moves in just several breaths of time.
“Huh?” The person exclaimed, as though he had discovered something strange. Following that, he exerted more force with his hands.
If the power he showcased earlier was on par with the Fifth-Order, he was now using Sixth-Order strength.
Yang Kai had never expected that he would randomly come across a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master as soon as he left Void Territory, and for some reason, the other party initially hid his true strength. It wasn’t until he sensed Yang Kai’s power that he stopped holding back.
As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master himself, Yang Kai certainly wasn’t afraid of this stranger, so he surged the power of his Small Universe as the battle intensified.
A moment later, the attacker used a feint before widening the gap between them before raising his hand, “Wait!”
Yang Kai abruptly stopped in his tracks and stared coldly at him.
It wasn’t until this moment that he was able to make out the person’s appearance. The other party was a burly man with long dreadlocks, which made him look a bit eccentric. However, judging from the fluctuations of his energy just now, Yang Kai confirmed that he was indeed a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
As their eyes met, the burly man examined Yang Kai and asked, “Are you Liu Pei Yuan?”
“No, and I don’t know him either.” Yang Kai shook his head.
“Ah…” The man landed a slap on his own forehead, then looked apologetically at Yang Kai and cupped his fist, “I’m so sorry for mistaking you for someone else. This is all a big misunderstanding. Please forgive me!”
Yang Kai furrowed his brow with displeasure as the other party directly attacked him without verifying his identity first. Although the man didn’t have any murderous intent, Yang Kai was still upset. Fortunately, both of them had only made some probing moves, so no one was hurt; otherwise, the misunderstanding would have turned into something serious.
Since Yang Kai was in a rush, he wasn’t willing to waste any more time on this man, so he simply nodded and declared, “Since it’s a misunderstanding, let’s forget it. Farewell.”
Then, he turned around and left.
The man shouted from behind, “Farewell, friend!”
It wasn’t until Yang Kai was out of his sight that the man stroked his chin with an amused look, “Interesting.”
While remaining on the same spot, he fished out a Communication Bead and sent a message. A moment later, a ray of light came over from afar and stopped beside him. The person was none other than Su Ying Xue.
“Did you test him?” She asked.
The man nodded, “En.”
“How was it?”
“Your information is wrong, Junior Sister.” The man scratched his head and looked in the direction Yang Kai had left, “You said that guy ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm.”
“Is he not in the Fifth Order?” Su Ying Xue frowned. Qu Hua Shang had seen Yang Kai break through in person, and the fact was verified by the Elders from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. After all, besides Qu Hua Shang, there were also four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who had witnessed the incident, so there was no way the information was wrong.
“Heh, he’s not in the Fifth Order.” The man grinned, “That guy is in the Sixth Order!”
“No way!” Su Ying Xue shot him a glare, “Did you intercept the wrong guy?”
The man shook his head, “You sent his image to me, so there was no way I was mistaken. I was shocked when I traded moves with him just now. I almost suffered a loss at his hands. The power he had showcased was definitely not in the Fifth Order. Although I didn’t use my full strength, he was still able to force a draw. That could only mean that he’s in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.”
“How is that possible?” Su Ying Xue was astounded.
According to the information she had obtained, Yang Kai was supposed to be in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. It had only been two years since he achieved his ascension, so there was no way he could go from the Fifth Order to the Sixth Order in such a short time. No one in the world could achieve that.
The only possibility was that he had ascended to the Sixth Order instead of the Fifth Order at that time.
However, that was also impossible. Qu Hua Shang might conceal the truth for Yang Kai, but there was no way the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene were mistaken.
“Isn’t this for the best?” The man grinned, “Although there’s only a difference of one Order, the gap in real strength is enormous. I was initially worried that he would suffer a setback in the Dao Theory Assembly, but now it seems that he has a chance to come out the winner. Although a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master is fairly powerful, such a person is too weak compared to the people who are going to join the Dao Theory Assembly.”
After giving it a thought, Su Ying Xue realised that he was right and nodded gently, “It’s indeed a pleasant surprise.”
“Since we’ve given him a test, we should return to the Sect now. Let’s go,” the man said and charged forward, followed by Su Ying Xue.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was going to hold a Dao Theory Assembly to select a Husband for the Core Disciple Qu Hua Shang, and they had sent out invitations to many great forces across the 3,000 Worlds. Since the event was just around the corner, many flight-type artifacts could be seen heading to Yin-Yang Territory from different Great Territories.
As Yang Kai flew forward, he could see flight-type artifacts of different shapes and sizes rushing towards Yin-Yang Territory.
It was the first time Yang Kai was visiting the Headquarters of a Cave Heaven, and he was extremely curious about it. He wanted to see the heritage of one of the top great forces in the 3,000 Worlds for himself, so he could understand the difference between Void Land and them.
One month later, he arrived at a place that was two Great Territories away from Yin-Yang Territory. He could also see more flight-type artifacts as he continued moving forward.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was one of the 36 Cave Heavens, which was why it was famous. Since the disciples from those Second Class great forces wanted to marry a beautiful lady and form a relationship with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, it would be worthwhile even if there were some sacrifices. Therefore, many of the people on the ships were in the Fourth Order, the Fifth Order, and even the Sixth Order.
After all, weaker cultivators had no right to take part in the Assembly.
Two figures had been tailing Yang Kai. They were Su Ying Xue and the burly man, who were both from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
At this moment, Su Ying Xue finally believed her partner’s words. Yang Kai must have been in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm; after all, given their cultivation, they still hadn’t managed to close the gap with Yang Kai despite chasing him at full speed for an entire month. A Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could never fly as fast as he did.
Both of them attempted to surpass Yang Kai, but rather than getting ahead of him, he actually got further away from them instead. They initially could see his figure from afar, but now he was already out of their sight.
Just when they were about to enter Yin-Yang Territory, Su Ying Xue’s expression changed as she fished out a Communication Bead and had a look. Then, she stopped in her tracks and said through clenched teeth, “Despicable!”
“What happened?” The man was perplexed as he stopped and looked at her.
“See for yourself.” Su Ying Xue passed the Communication Bead to the man, who took it and had a look.
Soon, he sported a dark expression as he said, “They dare do such a thing?”
Su Ying Xue snorted, “They’re not willing to let any of their Sixth-Order disciples marry into our Sect, so they’re using dirty tricks to filter out any potential opponents. Shameless!”
“Has the Sect Master said anything?” The man asked in a grim voice.
“I have no idea. Let’s find out more details first,” Su Ying Xue shook her head, then took back the Communication Bead and sent out a message before the pair waited on the spot for a response.
A while later, two figures rushed towards them from afar and landed in front of them. As they cupped their fists, they saluted, “Greetings, Martial Uncle, Martial Aunt!”
There were one man and one woman who were both in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm. They appeared intimate, so they were obviously a couple. It was the norm in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Once they found suitable partners and got married, they would go everywhere together.
“How’s the situation now?” Su Ying Xue cut to the chase and asked.
The Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm man replied, “All the Territory Gates leading to Yin-Yang Territory have been cordoned off, and all the ships have to be inspected before they’re allowed to pass. Whenever they discover a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, they immediately challenge him.”
“What great forces are participating in this blockade?” Su Ying Xue asked.
The man then listed more than ten Cave Heavens and Paradises, after which he said, “Those are the great forces that have sent their disciples to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.”
Su Ying Xue snorted, “Seems they’ve thoroughly thought this out.”
The Dao Theory Assembly was meant to select a Husband for Qu Hua Shang, with its winner being able to marry her. No High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master would take part in such an assembly, and the Fourth Order was just the threshold. Supposedly, only a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would stand a chance to be the winner.
Regardless of who the person was, he wouldn’t have a right to fight for the first place if he wasn’t in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, even Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were valuable to those Cave Heavens and Paradises, so they were not willing to let a disciple marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. They would only allow Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to do that.
As such, in order to prevent their own disciples from confronting any Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Dao Theory Assembly, these dozen or so Cave Heavens and Paradises joined forces and cordoned off the Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory. Once they discovered any foreign Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, they would chase them away.
By doing so, they could ensure that the most powerful cultivators who could participate in the Dao Theory Assembly were only in the Fifth Order, which would ease the burden of their own disciples when they joined the competition. Regardless of who the winner would be, their great force would only lose one Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
“Has the Sect Master said anything?” Su Ying Xue asked with a solemn expression.
The disciple replied, “Sect Master has had a discussion with the representatives of those great forces; however, they haven’t really crossed any line as they never killed anyone or forced any participants away. Instead, they’d send Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to exchange moves with the other party so that those people would admit defeat and leave. Since that is the case, Sect Master can’t really say anything.”
Su Ying Xue said through clenched teeth, “Exchange moves? How could outside Sixth-Order Masters be comparable to their own? Why don’t they chase the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters away as well? By then, only Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters will take part in the assembly, which is even better for them!”
The disciple remarked meekly, “Perhaps they want to protect their reputations?”
“They have already humiliated themselves, so why bother!” Su Ying Xue was infuriated.
The burly man hunched his back as the situation was giving him a headache. If only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, it would turn into one big joke. Would they really have to allow Qu Hua Shang to marry a mere Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?
Qu Hua Shang was a Core Disciple from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so she was one of the candidates that might succeed the Sect Master’s position. They were holding a Dao Theory Assembly to select a Husband for her because they were under pressure, and it was already against her will. If they couldn’t even find her a Husband that would somewhat match her capabilities, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would be humiliated.
However, now, a dozen or so Cave Heavens and Paradises had joined forces to cordon off the Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory, and no outside Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were allowed to enter to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly. If this went on, only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be able to participate, which was what those great forces were trying to achieve.
Su Ying Xue ground her teeth with fury, but there was nothing she could do. Just like what the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had said, those great forces hadn’t really crossed any lines as they never forcefully chased the participants away. Instead, they sent powerful disciples to exchange pointers with them and make them back down. How were those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven supposed to interfere?
The man with dreadlocks darted his gaze around before his eyes brightened, he looked in a particular direction and said, “Isn’t there a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who can enter, Junior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue’s expression changed when she heard that, “Senior Brother, you mean…”
The man grinned, “If he can safely enter the Sect and take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, the efforts of those great forces will all go down the drain.”
Su Ying Xue’s eyes lit up, “You have a point, Senior Brother!”
If Yang Kai, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, showed up in the Dao Theory Assembly, he would be able to turn the entire situation upside down. According to the plan of those Cave Heavens and Paradises, only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be allowed to join the Dao Theory Assembly, and eventually only a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would fight for first place.
The heritages of the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from those Cave Heavens and Paradises were naturally superior to outsiders. If nothing unexpected happened, the winner would be from one of their forces, and he would marry Qu Hua Shang. Regardless of who the winner would be, it was an agreement between those Cave Heavens and Paradises.
However, if a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master suddenly showed up, their plan would be ruined.
Although those Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were from the Cave Heavens and Paradises, they still didn’t have a right to fight with a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. By then, in order to protect their reputation or for some other reasons, those Cave Heavens and Paradises would have to send stronger disciples to participate in the assembly. Those Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be too weak, and only Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters could hope to fight for first place.
Therefore, the most important task for them now was to ensure that Yang Kai could enter Yin-Yang Territory to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.
Considering all this, Su Ying Xue suddenly exclaimed with a changed expression, “Oh, no! That guy is not aware of what’s going on. If he reveals his cultivation in advance, he will be barred from entry. It will be terrible when that happens.”
The man realised the severity of the matter as well, so he quickly looked in the Territory Gate’s direction and yelled, “Let’s go!”
After he finished speaking, he turned into a ray of light and shot towards the Territory Gate, followed by Su Ying Xue.
Meanwhile, on a deserted Spirit Province that was several hundred kilometres away from the Territory Gate stood Yang Kai as he placed his palm over his brow and gazed forward, tutting as he muttered, “What’s going on?”
He initially intended to enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven directly to look for Qu Hua Shang and find out about her intentions before coming up with any solution; however, before he even entered Yin-Yang Territory, he saw a ship belonging to Myriad Demons Heaven anchored just outside the Territory Gate. The ship looked huge and magnificent, so there should be many powerful cultivators onboard.
Among the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises, Yang Kai was the wariest of Myriad Demons Heaven. This couldn’t be helped, as his Demon Eye of Annihilation and Black Purgatory Eye came from the aforementioned great force. Ti Zheng had said that those were the two Core Secret Techniques from Myriad Demons Heaven that were never taught to outsiders. Only the disciples with the best aptitude from Myriad Demons Heaven were allowed to cultivate these two techniques.
When they were in the Shattered Heaven Star City back then, Ti Zheng could easily find out that Yang Kai had learned these two Eye Secret Techniques. However, Zhu Jiu Yin was around at that time, so Ti Zheng couldn’t make a move. After that, Yang Kai headed to the Shadowless Cave Heaven, and this matter was put down.
Ti Zheng probably believed that Yang Kai would never be able to leave the Shadowless Cave Heaven, so he stopped pursuing this matter.
However, Yang Kai managed to escape in the end. If he came across Ti Zheng now, the latter might want to snatch his eyes from him. That man was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so Yang Kai didn’t think he could defeat him.
After all, the Demon Eye of Annihilation and Black Purgatory Eye were the best-kept Secret Techniques of Myriad Demons Heaven. If word got out that Yang Kai had learned both these techniques, they would definitely have a reason to kill him.
Furthermore, those from Myriad Demons Heaven had repeatedly attempted to suppress him previously; therefore, as soon as Yang Kai saw their ship, he stopped in his tracks. He had no idea who was aboard the ship, but it would be terrible if Ti Zheng was present.
After having a look at the Universe Chart, Yang Kai, unfortunately, realised that if he headed to another Great Territory now, it would take him at least a month to arrive at Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. There wasn’t enough time for him to do that.
This was giving him a headache.
While he wasn’t sure what to do, he saw two rays of light charging forward from the corner of his eye. As he turned and looked intently at them, his expression soon changed and he waved his hand and called out, “Senior Sister Su!”
The rays of light paused for a moment, then changed their direction and headed to the shattered Spirit Province. A moment later, they landed before him and revealed their figures.
Yang Kai wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he thought he saw Su Ying Xue heaving a sigh of relief upon seeing him again.
When he saw the man with dreadlocks beside her though, he exclaimed, “It’s you!”
“Oh, Little Brother, we meet again.” The man put on a frank smile, “What a coincidence!”
Su Ying Xue pretended to know nothing as she asked, “You two know each other?”
The man replied, “There was a misunderstanding between this Little Brother and me some time ago, leading to a brief exchange of fists. You know this Little Brother, Junior Sister Su?”
With a dispassionate expression, Su Ying Xue said, “He’s the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai.”
The man instantly appeared surprised, “You’re the person who helped Junior Sister Qu ascend to the Open Heaven Realm?”
“Junior Sister Qu?” Yang Kai was shocked, “What’s your name, Senior Brother?”
The man grinned proudly, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Qing Kui.”
Yang Kai was astounded, “Since you’re from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, why did you…” He was curious about why Qing Kui appeared outside of Void Territory some time ago as the latter seemed to be chasing after someone.
Qing Kui immediately cut him off by patting his shoulder, like they were close friends, “I suppose we can be considered friends after a fight. I had heard about you before, but I never expected that I couldn’t recognise you when I finally met you. Hahaha!”
A moment later, he stopped laughing and asked, “Are you here to join the Dao Theory Assembly, Junior Brother?”
After a bit of hesitation, Yang Kai bowed his head, “Well, I think so.”
“What do you mean you think so?” Qing Kui shot him a glare, “Since you’re going to take part in the assembly, why are you staying here instead of going in directly?”
Yang Kai didn’t know what to say, so he told a small lie, “I was tired from rushing all the way here, so I decided to get some rest before heading inside. It never crossed my mind that I’d bump into you two here.”
Su Ying Xue took a glance at the Territory Gate, and despite knowing what was going on, she wouldn’t expose Yang Kai so she just nodded, “Since we’re heading in the same direction, let’s go together.”
Yang Kai frowned upon hearing that. Just when he was about to speak, Qing Kui directly took his arm and cut him off, “Let’s go. The Dao Theory Assembly is just around the corner. We should go back and get prepared.”
The man was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with immense strength, so Yang Kai could only allow himself to be lugged away with a wry smile on his face.
However, he secretly decided that if anything went wrong later, he would immediately flee.
While they were moving forward, Su Ying Xue suddenly spoke to him via Divine Sense, “Junior Brother Yang, regardless of what happens later, don’t make a move. I’ll handle everything.”
Yang Kai looked up at her as he wondered why she was telling him this.
Soon, they arrived at the Territory Gate.
There were some figures standing on the deck of the nearby ship as they looked at the three of them in silence.
Yang Kai focused and gazed back intently at them. Fortunately, he didn’t see Ti Zheng or detected any dangerous auras.
Since he was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, only High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters could make him feel threatened; however, High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were noble beings, and they would rarely leave their Sects. Therefore, there were probably no High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters on this vessel.
“It’s you, Elder Su, Elder Qing.” An elderly man on the deck cupped his fist with a smile. In the Cave Heavens and Paradises, Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were already able to take up the position of Outer Elders while the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would be Inner Elders. Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui were undoubtedly the Outer Elders of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
The two of them wore obviously displeased expressions. Since the Territory Gate leading to their own Sect was being blocked, they were naturally upset. They could be considered polite since they were not openly cursing the people on this ship, so there was no need for them to show any further respect.
The elderly man was aware that they were resentful, so he wasn’t mad at them as he replied with a smile, “Where were the two of you?”
While Qing Kui was warm and friendly with Yang Kai, he was impassive to the elderly man and snorted, “We belong to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, why should we tell you where we were?”
The elderly man chuckled as he didn’t mind it. Then, his gaze fell upon Yang Kai as he said hesitantly, “This Little Brother looks familiar. What’s your name?”
Yang Kai gazed dispassionately at the man without intending to reply. Since Qing Kui was so impolite, it meant that the elderly man was only a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master at most. Therefore, there was nothing to worry about.
“Yang Kai? It’s you!” A young man beside the elderly man suddenly stepped forward and glared at Yang Kai.
The fact that someone from the ship knew him surprised Yang Kai. As he looked over, he couldn’t help muttering, “Pei Wen Xuan?”
He came across this guy when they were in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. At that time, he and Qu Hua Shang were trying to comprehend the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture together, and Pei Wen Xuan was one step ahead of them. After that, Black Crow Divine Monarch seized Zhou Yi’s body and was reborn, after which he attempted to silence all the witnesses. While fleeing, Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang pulled a little trick on Pei Wen Xuan that almost killed him.
The grudges between them were formed during that time.
“You ascended to the Open Heaven Realm?” Yang Kai’s gaze flashed. Pei Wen Xuan was only in the Half-Step Open Heaven Realm when they were in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, but now, just like Yang Kai, he was also an Open Heaven Realm Master.
Although it was hard to tell what Order he was, given his heritage and the fact that he was from Myriad Demons Heaven, he should have reached the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm directly.
“Haven’t you ascended to the Open Heaven Realm as well?” Pei Wen Xuan sneered as he looked at Yang Kai in a condescending manner, “A puny Fifth-Order trash. Your strength doesn’t match your sky-high ambitions at all. What a joke!”
Pei Wen Xuan’s aura was restrained, so it was apparent that it had been some time since he ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Since the heritage of his Small Universe was stable, Yang Kai was unable to immediately identify its Order.
In the same way, Pei Wen Xuan couldn’t sense Yang Kai’s Order.
After Yang Kai’s return from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, he subsequently destroyed Boundless Altar and Golden Rainbow Province. Therefore, the Old Ancestor of Boundless Altar and Li Luo Shui, who had fled from Golden Rainbow Province, were aware of Yang Kai’s true strength.
However, Li Luo Shui was probably hiding somewhere to recuperate while the Old Ancestor of Boundless Altar had suffered a setback because of Yang Kai and lost his Sect, which had been in existence for several tens of thousands of years, so he would smack his own face by going around telling others about it.
According to the information gathered by the Cave Heavens and Paradises, Yang Kai had only ascended to the Fifth Order outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven, which explained Pei Wen Xuan’s words. Even Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui initially thought that Yang Kai was just a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
“You’re pretty lucky to have escaped from the Shadowless Cave Heaven.” Pei Wen Xuan snorted. He had heard that no one had ever left the Shadowless Cave Heaven once they fell into it; therefore, it surprised him that Yang Kai eventually managed to leave that place.
Yang Kai just snickered without responding to him.
On the other hand, the elderly man from Myriad Demons Heaven sported a dark expression, “You’re the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai? It’s no wonder this Old Master finds you familiar.”
Earlier, he felt that he had seen the young man before, but it was obvious to him now that he had seen Yang Kai’s image previously, not the real person.
Yang Kai shot him a dispassionate glance, “That’s right. This King is the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai. What of it?”
The elderly man said in a grim voice, “I’ll ask you a question. What happened to Elder Ti Zheng outside of the Shadowless Cave Heaven? Why did he pass away all of a sudden?”
A startled Yang Kai asked, “Ti Zheng is dead?”
“You weren’t aware of it?”
Yang Kai turned to look at Su Ying Xue and inquired, “Senior Sister Su, is he being serious?”
Ti Zheng was a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master from Myriad Demons Heaven. If he had really passed away, the news would have been spread around; hence, Su Ying Xue should be aware of it.
Su Ying Xue nodded, “He’s indeed dead. I heard that his Life Lamp in Myriad Demons Heaven has also gone out.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was flabbergasted. Why had a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master lost his life all of a sudden? He had witnessed Ti Zheng’s power with his own eyes. Ti Zheng was someone who could use a Divine Manifestation, so he was different from the average Seventh-Order Master. Although he was severely injured by Zhu Jiu Yin, there was no way he would lose his life so easily as he was still fine when Yang Kai entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
This wasn’t a trivial matter, as a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master from a Cave Heaven had fallen. With that said, it was good news for Yang Kai. Ti Zheng was aware that he cultivated the Demon Eye of Annihilation and Black Purgatory Eye. Yang Kai was initially wary of him, so upon learning that Ti Zheng was dead, he reckoned that he could keep this secret for a while longer.
Then, he gazed at the elderly man and asked, “When did that happen?”
“Are you really not aware of it?” The elderly stared fixedly at Yang Kai as though he was trying to look deep into his mind.
Yang Kai shook his head, “I just found out about it now.”
The elderly man examined Yang Kai’s expression but couldn’t find anything off about it, as though the latter was really surprised to learn of Ti Zheng’s death. Then, he scoffed, “Elder Ti Zheng lost his life in the Shattered Heaven. We’re unable to figure out the exact time, but it supposedly happened around the time when he met you.”
Yang Kai said, “When I entered the Shadowless Cave Heaven, even though Ti Zheng was severely wounded, he wasn’t at risk of losing his life. You can ask the other three Masters who were there about it. As for what happened after, I have no idea.”
He secretly thought that Zhu Jiu Yin might have killed Ti Zheng; after all, she was the only one at the place who was capable of killing a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
However, given her temperament, she probably wouldn’t do such a thing. Ti Zheng represented Myriad Demons Heaven, and if she really killed him, she would have to go up against the entire Myriad Demons Heaven. Although Zhu Jiu Yin was a powerful Divine Spirit, she wasn’t so foolish.
Furthermore, upon Yang Kai’s return, she had never mentioned it, so she apparently wasn’t the murderer.
The elderly man from Myriad Demons Heaven frowned. Yang Kai’s words were the same as the information they had gathered. At that time, Yang Kai was forced to ascend to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, after which he immediately dove into the Shadowless Cave Heaven. Then, the four High-Rank cultivators parted ways, and no one knew what happened next.
As an idea flashed through Yang Kai’s mind, he said, “If you want to investigate this matter, you can try to look for Black Crow Divine Monarch. He might have something to do with it.”
Assuming that Ti Zheng wasn’t killed by Zhu Jiu Yin, this matter might have something to do with Black Crow; after all, that guy was a former Divine Monarch who had been reborn through seizing another’s body, and he had many tricks up his sleeves. A wounded Ti Zheng might not be able to defeat him.
As for whether it was the truth, it was none of Yang Kai’s business. He held some grudges against Black Crow, so he reckoned that he would just let those from Myriad Demons Heaven deal with him.
“We definitely will hunt Black Crow down. As for whether you’ve spoken the truth… come with this Old Master to see Elder Zhuo first,” Upon finishing his words, the elderly man extended his hand towards Yang Kai.
Before Yang Kai could make a move, Qing Kui directly pushed out his fist. As their World Forces clashed, Qing Kui and the elderly man staggered backwards.
“What is the meaning of this, Elder Qing?” The elderly man stabilised himself and sported a dark expression.
Qing Kui snorted coldly, “I should be the one asking you that question. Sect Master Yang is our guest who is going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, yet you’ve already made a move before we invite him inside. Do you have no regard for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven at all?”
The elderly man said in a grim voice, “It’s not so serious, Elder Qing. However, this person might have something to do with the death of an Elder from my Sect, so this Old Master cannot be negligent. I have to bring him to see Elder Zhuo in order to look into the matter.”
A defiant Qing Kui snapped, “I don’t care what has happened in your Myriad Demons Heaven. Since Sect Master Yang has come all the way here to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, he’s our guest, and no one can do anything to him; otherwise, don’t blame this Qing for being impolite!”
The elderly man furrowed his brows. Just when he was about to say something, Pei Wen Xuan suddenly spoke to him in secret. After giving it a thought, the elderly man finally relented as he nodded, “You have a point, Elder Qing. This Old Master was too hasty just now.”
They were already in the wrong as they were here trying to intercept all Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who had come to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly. If they still forcefully made a move on Yang Kai, a battle would surely be ignited. The elderly man wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility when that happened.
Since Yang Kai was going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, they could just teach him a lesson then.
“If there’s nothing else, make way now. Why are you all blocking our entrance like dogs before our door?” Qing Kui waved his hand impatiently.
Those from Myriad Demons Heaven were infuriated upon hearing that, but they were not in any place to refute Qing Kui, so they could only hold their fury in.
Following that, Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue hovered on Yang Kai’s sides as they flew towards the Territory Gate.
“The Dao Theory Assembly is a great event. I hope you’ll have fun!” As they brushed past each other, Pei Wen Xuan suddenly flashed a meaningful grin at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai shot him a glance and grinned, “I hope you all will have fun as well.”
The next instant, the world around him started spinning as the space contorted. When he came to his senses, he was already in Yin-Yang Territory.
This was the Headquarters of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven as well as their foundation that had been accumulated over countless years.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but scan his surroundings, but there was nothing interesting as the view in the void was the same as always. As such, he just moved forward alongside Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui.
Soon, however, he realised that this Great Territory was different from others.
There were many Universe Worlds in this place, and every one of them was filled with ample World Energy and could accommodate trillions of lives.
These Universe Worlds were all under the control of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and these innumerable lives could infuse new blood into the great force at any moment to ensure the continuation of their inheritance.
Besides the Universe Worlds, there were also many Spirit Provinces along the way. Some cultivators could be seen moving around on these Spirit Provinces, which came in all different shapes and sizes. The big ones were as large as Void Land while the small ones were only several hundred square kilometres. There were a lot of strange-looking plants in many Spirit Provinces and cultivators could be seen tending to them.
Yang Kai tutted as he moved forward, thinking that the heritage of a Cave Heaven was truly incredible. The entire Great Territory seemed to have been born solely for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. There were so many living in those Universe Worlds that there would never be a lack of future disciples with exceptional aptitude, and the numerous Spirit Provinces used for various gardens and mines could provide an endless stream of cultivation resources.
Although Void Land was pretty amazing now, it was still far behind Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in terms of heritage.
Despite having a prospering Star City now, it would take Void Land a painfully long time to achieve this kind of scale and heritage.
The disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would patrol around the place, and when they saw Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue, they would immediately salute.
After flying for a few days, Yang Kai finally saw a large group of Spirit Provinces that were closely connected. There were about a hundred Spirit Provinces of different sizes that looked like islands on the ocean, hovered in the void. The Spirit Province in the centre was so large that Yang Kai could clearly sense its horrifying heritage even from afar.
Its World Force was unbelievably ample and it wasn’t hard to imagine that countless Open Heaven Realm Masters had passed away on it. After their death, their World Forces were absorbed by this Spirit Province to enrich the heritage of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
This was the true Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. What Yang Kai had seen along the way was just the peripheral foundation of the great force.
He let out a sigh of admiration, thinking that when Void Land achieved this scale one day, it would also stand at the peak of the 3,000 Worlds.
He followed Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui to charge towards the largest Spirit Province. Soon, he penetrated layers of cloud, whereupon the amazingly pure World Energy came right at him from all directions.
Yang Kai’s expression changed as he thought the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven could rapidly increase their strength since they were cultivating in such an environment.
Raising his head, he could see that the Spirit Province was truly magnificent and diversified. Buildings of various styles had been erected everywhere, and there were many exotic beasts wandering around on the mountains as they looked up and howled. All of these sights dazzled Yang Kai.
He could even faintly feel that many of the exotic beasts had the bloodlines of Divine Spirits. Although these bloodlines were quite diluted, these exotic beasts would grow to be powerful should they attain some opportunities in their cultivation along the way.
Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui led Yang Kai to forward while Qing Kui hospitably told him some general information about Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Yang Kai repeatedly nodded as he listened to him.
A moment later, they arrived at a detached building where there was a pretty-looking female disciple who greeted them. Since she was just an Emperor Realm cultivator, she was supposed to be a maidservant in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
The maidservant saluted Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui before uttering softly, “Greetings, Elders.”
Su Ying Xue nodded gently, then turned to look at Yang Kai, “The Dao Theory Assembly is still half a month away, so you’d better get some rest here. When the time comes, someone will inform you how to take part in the assembly.”
Qing Kui landed a forceful slap on the other man’s shoulder, “You have my best wishes, Junior Brother Yang,” He seemed to have high hopes in Yang Kai.
An embarrassed Yang Kai quickly replied, “Senior Sister Su, Senior Brother Qing, I’m worried there’s a misunderstanding here. I’m not here to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.”
Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui were startled.
“What do you mean? Why have you come all the way here if you’re not going to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly?” Su Ying Xue asked with a frown.
Yang Kai replied following a sigh, “This matter has something to do with me after all. Since I’m aware of that, I have to come over to have a look. Where’s Senior Sister Qu now? Can I see her?”
Su Ying Xue stared fixedly at him with a furious expression while Qing Kui hurriedly said, “It’s not convenient for Junior Sister Qu to meet anyone now. Please stay here for the moment, Junior Brother Yang. We can talk about it at a later time.”
Then, he sent a signal to the maidservant, who then extended her hand and said, “This way please, Sir.”
“We’ll take our leave now since we have other matters to attend to. I’ll visit you again soon.” Qing Kui patted the other man’s shoulder, then released his power to engulf Su Ying Xue and shot into the sky.
Yang Kai was about to say something when they abruptly left. After the two of them were out of sight, he followed the maidservant to enter the building and get some rest.
“How could he say he’s not going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly when he’s already here!?” Su Ying Xue was incensed, “In that case, the plan of those great forces will succeed. By then, Qu’er will have to marry a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Perhaps the winner will be some worn-out old man!”
Qing Kui grinned, “Just like what you’ve said, he’s already here. Do you think he can refuse to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly?”
Su Ying Xue gazed at him with vigilance, “What are you trying to do?”
An innocent-looking Qing Kui replied, “Nothing. Let’s go. We have to inform Honoured Master about it. He must be pretty anxious by now.”
As they spoke, they dashed towards a certain Spirit Peak and soon after, landed before a palace.
Before they even entered though, they heard a man bellowing, “How dare they do that! What a bunch of shameless bastards! Do they even have any regard for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven? Father here will go out and kill them all now!” Following that, some things were heard breaking to pieces.
Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui exchanged glances as they couldn’t help but flinch. It wasn’t until the noises subsided that they dragged their feet inside.
The ground inside the Grand Hall was a mess and many servants were cleaning things up with stiff expressions.
In the centre of the hall stood a ferocious-looking man with his hands behind his back. He was clad in a robe embroidered with snake patterns, and he had a golden crown on his head. Presently, he was recklessly releasing his powerful Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm aura, which caused the servants to shudder in fear.
The person was none other than Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Inner Elder, Xu Ling Gong. He was also the Honoured Master of Qu Hua Shang, Su Ying Xue, and Qing Kui.
Just then, Qu Hua Shang shuffled forward with a longsword that was even bigger than her in her hands. Upon reaching the man, she lifted the sword and said in a clear voice, “Your sword is here, Honoured Master.”
“What are you doing?” Xu Ling Gong gazed at her.
Qu Hua Shang batted her eyes and replied, “Didn’t you say you were going out to kill them all? Let’s go now. I’ll cheer for you from behind.”
“Do you think I don’t dare to do it?” Xu Ling Gong sported a grim expression and took the longsword and dashed towards the door, “I’m going now. No one can stop me!”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue sported dark expressions. Following an exchange of glances, they sprinted forward and respectively grabbed Xu Ling Gong’s arms.
“Calm down, Honoured Master! We can discuss this first.”
“Please don’t act on impulse, Honoured Master. It will certainly feel good to kill them now, but that won’t solve the problem. Why would you invite trouble to yourself for no results?”
The two of them hurriedly dissuaded Xu Ling Gong from acting rashly.
As though Xu Ling Gong had just noticed them, he said, “Oh, Su’er and Qing’er.”
Su Ying Xue quickly snatched the longsword from her Honoured Master and tossed it at Qu Hua Shang before glaring at her. In response, Qu Hua Shang playfully stuck out her tongue.
“Please have a seat and drink some tea, Honoured Master.” Qing Kui pulled Xu Ling Gong towards a chair and got him a cup of tea from the side.
Xu Ling Gong grunted and took a sip of the tea. All of a sudden, he blew his top again and threw the cup to the ground, which caused it to break into pieces. In a furious voice, he said, “Since you’ve returned from outside, I suppose you’ve heard something.”
Qing Kui replied with a straight face, “Yes. The Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory have all been cordoned off and all foreign Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who were planning to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly were chased away. Only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters are being allowed to enter.”
“They’ve gone too far!” Xu Ling Gong pounded his fist against the table, “How can those Fifth-Order trash even hope to marry my Disciple? Who do they think they are? They should look at themselves in the mirror first!”
With the longsword in her hands, Qu Hua Shang said with a nonchalant smile, “I don’t mind marrying a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. at that point, I’ll bring the person to meet you, and you can just come up with a random reason and kill him. It won’t be so bad being a widow.”
Xu Ling Gong’s eyes brightened when he heard that as he gazed at Qu Hua Shang and said with an elated expression, “You’re indeed a clever little girl. How did you even come up with that idea?”
Qu Hua Shang replied, “It’s all thanks to your teachings, Honoured Master.”
Xu Ling Gong guffawed with a proud expression, “Of course it’s because of my teachings. My Disciples are all intelligent and talented.”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue sported helpless expressions. Then, Su Ying Xue glared at Qu Hua Shang and said, “How can you make a scene here beside Honoured Master? When you really have to marry a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from one of those Cave Heavens or Paradises, you’ll spend most of your days crying.”
Qu Hua Shang scoffed, “Let’s see who will be the one crying in the end.”
Su Ying Xue shook her head and gazed at Xu Ling Gong, “Honoured Master, why has this matter even come to such a point? It isn’t like there have never been any disputes or even casualties between the Cave Heavens and Paradises. It’s an age-old admonition that the disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises must not fight against each other, but everyone knows that conflicts still happen. Why is Qu’er getting this kind of punishment?”
Upon hearing that, Xu Ling Gong sighed, “There are indeed some conflicts between the Cave Heavens and Paradises, and it’s true that there have been casualties as a result. However, those were just internal struggles among the Cave Heavens and Paradises. But now, Qu’er has made a mistake for an outsider. Moreover, that brat attempted to directly ascend to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm, which broke the taboo.”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue frowned. Given their powers and statuses, they were aware of some secrets that were not known to most people. As they recalled the stories of the carnage of many years ago, they could faintly grasp the severity of the matter.
The Cave Heavens and Paradises were trying to make their stance clear. They would never allow anyone to directly ascend to the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm, and this incident could serve as a warning to all other cultivators of that determination.
If an event like this ever happened again, the disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises should know what to do and remember which side to take.
“Yin-Yang Cave Heaven is one of the 36 Cave Heavens, so while we can resist a certain amount of pressure, Qu’er will have to suffer some punishment…” Xu Ling Gong sighed.
Then, his expression turned furious all of a sudden, “However, those old bastards are too shameless! How can they pull such a dirty trick just because they aren’t willing to let a Sixth-Order disciple get married into our Sect?”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue traded glances, then the former said, “We have a potential solution to that, Honoured Master.”
Xu Ling Gong gaped at him and asked, “What solution do you have?”
Qing Kui replied, “I reckon that the person who has caused all this will have to solve this problem as well.”
Xu Ling Gong became startled for a moment, “Are you talking about that Yang Kai?” Then, he became vexed, “I’m still mad at that brat! If I ever see him, I’ll kill him with my sword! It’s because of that thief that Qu’er’s happiness is ruined!”
“Uh… Well… Honoured Master…” Qing Kui appeared hesitant.
Xu Ling Gong shot him a glare, “Stop stuttering like a woman and speak up!”
“To be honest with you, Honoured Master, Yang Kai has arrived in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. He’s currently resting in Riverside House now,” Qing Kui said meekly.
Xu Ling Gong became startled for a moment before he stood straight up and bellowed, “Father here will go hack him to death now!” When he attempted to take his sword though, Qu Hua Shang hugged it tightly and shook her head at him.
“Let go!” Xu Ling Gong yelled.
“No!” Qu Hua Shang repeatedly shook her head.
“Are you trying to go against me, little girl?” Xu Ling Gong was incensed.
“If you want to hack him to death, you’ll have to kill me first!”
Qu Hua Shang extended her fair neck and presented her head to Xu Ling Gong, who then pushed her away.
“Why would I kill you? Father here only wants to hack him to death! How did that little bastard have the nerve to come to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven? It does save me the trouble since he is already here though. Today, Father will end his life!”
As a commotion broke out, the hall descended into chaos.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue hurriedly went over to placate Xu Ling Gong and eventually made him sit down again, though they were now drenched in sweat, feeling exhausted.
“Honoured Master, Yang Kai is in fact in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, not the Fifth-Order,” Qing Kui quickly reported as he was worried that any further delay would result in more chaos.
“So what if he’s in the Sixth Order? As a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, I can kill him easily,” Xu Ling Gong scoffed.
On the other hand, Qu Hua Shang was astonished, “Impossible! I saw Junior Brother Yang ascend to the Fifth Order. He refined a Fifth-Order Yin Element treasure, I’m sure of it. How could he be in the Sixth Order now?”
Qing Kui replied, “I have no idea; however, I tested him, and I can confirm that he’s indeed in the Sixth Order.”
Su Ying Xue nodded, “He’s indeed in the Sixth Order.”
Qu Hua Shang appeared astounded.
She was there when Yang Kai ascended to the Open Heaven Realm, so she had witnessed the entire process. He was just a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master at that time, so how did he become a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now? She estimated that it had only been two years since they parted ways. In such a short time, it was already difficult for a new Open Heaven Realm Master to solidify their cultivation, let alone ascend to the next Order.
“He’s in the Sixth Order?” Xu Ling Gong finally came to his senses as he arched his brow with joy, “Hahaha! Good! Since he’s a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, I’ll not kill him for now. Tell him to do his best in the Dao Theory Assembly. Regardless of whether he wins or not, I’ll give him some benefits once it’s over!”
He was truly ecstatic. Those shameless people had cordoned off the Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory and forced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to leave, allowing only cultivators below the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly. They were doing it because they wanted to make sure that only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would eventually have the chance to fight for first place, and thus, they would only have to lose a Fifth-Order disciple to Yin-Yang Heaven.
However, if there was even a single Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who joined the assembly all of a sudden, the plans of those great forces would fall apart. By then, they would have to use a different tactic. Whether it was for the reputation of their own Sects or some other reasons, they would have to let Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters participate in the event, and Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would be saved from any embarrassment.
Xu Ling Gong didn’t expect Yang Kai to be the winner. Regardless of the reason why Yang Kai had become a Sixth-Order cultivator, it had been too short a time since his ascension. After all, in the Open Heaven Realm, time was vital for a cultivator to grow more powerful.
Although Yang Kai had somehow become a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he didn’t have enough time to accumulate more heritage in his Small Universe; therefore, he should be no match for those who broke through to the Sixth-Order hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
It was true that since Yang Kai had caused all this, he should also be the one to solve the problem. Considering all this, Xu Ling Gong’s resentment against Yang Kai subsided slightly.
“How many people are aware of this secret?” He then asked.
Qing Kui replied, “No one else other than Junior Sister Su and I. That was the reason he could easily enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Those from Myriad Demons Heaven also believed that he was only a Fifth-Order Master, so they let him through the Territory Gate without giving him too much of a hard time.”
Xu Ling Gong’s lips curved into a devious smile, “It’s not a good idea that no one else is aware of it. We’d better make some noises and let everyone know that he has ascended to the Sixth Order. That will be much more interesting.”
If no one knew that Yang Kai had ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, the great forces who took part in the Dao Theory Assembly wouldn’t send Sixth-Order Masters to join the competition. In that case, Yang Kai would be able to win first place easily.
“Honoured Master!” Qu Hua Shang glared at him, “What are you trying to do?”
Xu Ling Gong stared back at her, “How can you shout at me? Where are your manners?”
Qu Hua Shang ignored his warning and continued glaring at him, “Since no one is aware of Junior Brother Yang’s true power, he would be able to surprise all of them when the time comes. Isn’t that a good idea?”
“What do you mean a ‘good idea’?” Xu Ling Gong realised that his eyes were starting to become sore, and it wasn’t very intimidating since his eyes were smaller than those of Qu Hua Shang, so he decided to give up and looked away, “You’ve ended up in such a state because of that brat. Father here has already been magnanimous enough to not settle accounts with him right now, yet you’re still siding with him? Do you believe I won’t bring my sword to kill him now?”
“I don’t care!” Qu Hua Shang said through clenched teeth, “If you dare to harm him in any way, I’ll…”
“What will you do?” Xu Ling Gong appeared ferocious.
“I’ll… I’ll go make cooked rice and shelled peanuts with him! Let’s see who will still want to marry me after that!” Qu Hua Shang screamed.
Xu Ling Gong parted his lips but couldn’t say a word. A moment later, he pounded against the table and snapped, “How dare you go against your Honoured Master?” Then, he glowered at Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue, “How did the two of you teach her? Look what kind of a person she has turned out to be! How could she say such shameless things?”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue hung their heads low, thinking that it was none of their business. Xu Ling Gong had always doted on Qu Hua Shang. In the past, they would be reprimanded whenever they tried to discipline the young Qu Hua Shang, but now that she had grown up to be a willful person, Xu Ling Gong blamed it all on them instead.
“Ahh! It frustrates me so!” Xu Ling Gong pressed his hand against his chest as though he would soon die of suffocation.
An embarrassed Qing Kui said, “There’s another issue that needs to be solved first, Honoured Master.”
A weakened Xu Ling Gong gazed at him, “Just tell me right away. One day I’ll be so vexed that I’ll pass away because of the three of you.”
The corners of Qing Kui’s mouth twitched, “Yang Kai said that he’s not here to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly; he’s just here to look for Junior Sister Qu. He said that since he’s the cause of this incident, he had to come over to discuss it with her.”
“He’s not going to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly?” Xu Ling Gong instantly became incensed and roared, “Why is he even here if he’s not going to take part!? Is he just trying to watch a good show!? That little bastard must be sick of living!”
To the side, Qu Hua Shang said with a happy smile, “Junior Brother Yang is indeed a man of integrity.”
The three of them gazed at her as they were rendered speechless.
A while later, Xu Ling Gong suppressed his anger with great difficulty and said grimly, “Regardless of the reason he’s here, he has to join the Dao Theory Assembly; otherwise, Father will send him to the Yellow Springs personally!”
Qing Kui turned solemn, knowing that his Honoured Master was truly incensed. If Yang Kai was still so obstinate, he would end up in a horrible state. Then, Qing Kui quickly said, “Don’t worry, Honoured Master. The assembly is still some time away. Just leave the matter to me. I’ll knock some sense into his head and make him take part in it.”
“Good.” Xu Ling Gong nodded gently and tossed a jade slip at him, “Look. These are the candidates that those great forces have sent to join the assembly. Toads lusting after swan meat, the whole lot of them!”
Qing Kui took it and infused his Divine Sense into it, and just like what he had expected, the most powerful candidates were only in the Fifth Order. There wasn’t even a single one in the Sixth Order.
The people who had directly ascended to the Fifth Order were still fine; after all, they still had the potential to become Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the future. Such people could be potential partners for Qu Hua Shang.
However, some of these candidates had apparently reached the Fifth Order from the Third Order through years of cultivation, so the Fifth Order was their limit. How did these old farts have the nerve to join the Dao Theory Assembly? It was no wonder that Xu Ling Gong was infuriated.
Meanwhile, only Yang Kai and the maidservant in the Emperor Realm were in Riverside House.
Yang Kai had repeatedly asked her how he could meet Qu Hua Shang, but there was nothing the maidservant could do; after all, she was just a lowly maidservant in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven since her cultivation was too weak, so she couldn’t possibly come into contact with Qu Hua Shang.
Since that was the case, Yang Kai could only give up on that idea; after all, he was in the Headquarters of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so he couldn’t just wander around looking for her.
Fortunately, Qing Kui came to visit the next day and told the maidservant to prepare an ample meal so that he could have a chat with Yang Kai while drinking.
After their initial ‘misunderstanding’ was cleared up, Yang Kai had a good impression of this man. Furthermore, he was Qu Hua Shang’s Senior Brother, so Yang Kai naturally had to be hospitable to him.
After three rounds of drink, they naturally became closer.
Yang Kai asked him where Qu Hua Shang was and whether he could meet her, but Qing Kui changed the subject instead.
“Junior Brother Yang, why have you come all the way here if you’re not going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly? Do you think Junior Sister Qu is not good enough for you?” Qing Kui asked with the wine cup in his hand.
Yang Kai straightened up and replied solemnly, “Senior Sister Qu’s appearance and cultivation are the best of the best in the entire 3,000 Worlds. There are few women who could match her in either regard. Certainly, this Yang is fond of her, and I feel extremely lucky to have gained her favour.”
“Then, why aren’t you…”
Yang Kai said, “To be honest with you, this Yang already has several Wives, so I’m not willing to hold Senior Sister Qu down.”
Qing Kui became startled for a moment, then burst into laughter, “If that’s your only concern, you can cast it away now, Junior Brother Yang. It’s normal that a man has several Wives. Moreover, Qu’er isn’t a narrow-minded person. She’s known you for quite some time and is fully aware of your situation. Why would you mind it when she doesn’t?”
“I don’t mind it. It’s just that…”
“Are you worried that you won’t be able to explain yourself to your Wives?” Qing Kui teased.
“That’s not the case,” Yang Kai shook his head.
“Why are you hesitant then?” Qing Kui stared fixedly at him.
Yang Kai fell silent for a moment, then sighed, “Senior Brother Qing, can I see Senior Sister Qu and ask her what she thinks about it first?”
Qing Kui sipped his wine and shook his head, “Things have come to such a point where what she thinks doesn’t matter anymore. The most important thing is how the Dao Theory Assembly will end. Do you really want her to marry an old, worn-out Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?”
“What do you mean? Why would she marry an old Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?” Yang Kai was stunned.
“See for yourself,” Qing Kui fished out a jade slip.
“What is this?”
“These are the candidates that the great forces have sent to join the Dao Theory Assembly.”
Yang Kai infused his Divine Sense into the jade slip and put it down a while later, then said grimly, “I’ve truly wronged her.”
Qing Kui said, “Since you’re aware of it, why don’t you take part in the Dao Theory Assembly?”
Yang Kai sighed, “Can I see Senior Sister Qu first?”
Qing Kui furrowed his brows with displeasure. A while later, he snorted and rose from the chair, “That’s all I have to say. Just sleep on it.”
Then, he turned around and left.
Yang Kai called out to him, but the latter never responded. While remaining in his seat, he was lost for words. He looked down at the table, thinking that they hadn’t finished all the wine.
Outside Riverside House, a figure suddenly appeared and gazed at Qing Kui. She was none other than Su Ying Xue.
Qing Kui shook his head and pointed at his own forehead, “He’s such an obstinate man.”
Su Ying Xue’s expression turned cold, “He has to pay the price for what he has done! I’ll teach him a lesson right now!”
Qing Kui immediately took her arm, “Don’t go. His will is firm. Unless he is given no other choice, no one will be able to change his mind.”
“Do we just do nothing and let this travesty unfold then?” Su Ying Xue asked coldly.
Qing Kui sighed, “Since there’s no other choice, we have to use that move.”
Su Ying Xue flung his hand away and snorted, “You’re really a good Senior Brother to her.”
Qing Kui replied meekly, “That’s the only thing we can do. It’s not like we can just watch as Qu’er’s happiness is destroyed. Sect Master Yang has to join the Dao Theory Assembly no matter what. It’s just that Qu’er will have to be taken advantage of in order for that to happen.”
“You’ve already made a move?” Su Ying Xue seemed to have realised something.
Qing Kui nodded gently. Although both of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he had still easily pulled a little trick on Yang Kai since the latter was unsuspecting. Certainly, the main reason was that he didn’t have any murderous or vicious intent when he made a move; otherwise, Yang Kai would have noticed it.
“Aren’t you worried that things will get out of hand?” Su Ying Xue frowned, “Ordinary people are not able to resist that thing.”
Qing Kui scratched his face and said, “There shouldn’t be a problem as long as we make a move in time. In any case, we still have Honoured Master as a last resort.”
“If anyone finds out about it, Qu’er’s reputation will be ruined.” Su Ying Xue was worried, “Many disciples from various great forces have come together in our Sect to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly. If…”
Qing Kui raised his hand and cut her off, “Of course, we have to be secretive when doing it. I’ll make sure that no one will be able to find out, but you don’t want Qu’er to marry someone only in the Fifth Order, do you? You’re also clear about Honoured Master’s stance. Regardless of whether Yang Kai will become the winner, he will have to be the shit-stirrer.”
Su Ying Xue frowned with disdain, “Why are you so vulgar?”
Qing Kui said, “I’ve made a move on Yang Kai, and you’ll handle Qu’er. Quit being soft-hearted, or else you’ll ruin her happiness!”
Su Ying Xue fell silent and appeared hesitant, clearly not knowing what to do.
If she did nothing and let things simply unfold, the Dao Theory Assembly would become a joke, and everyone from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would be embarrassed. Moreover, Qu Hua Shang would never get the happiness she deserved. However, it was difficult for Su Ying Xue to make up her mind to use such a trick on her Junior Sister even though no harm would be caused.
“Let me think about it… I have to give it some serious thought…” Su Ying Xue muttered under her breath.
Qing Kui nodded, not wanting to pressure her.
Three days later, Yang Kai was cultivating in silence when he heard someone knocking on his door, then the maidservant was heard saying, “Elder Qing is here, Sir Yang.”
Yang Kai hurriedly got to his feet and pushed the door open. Qing Kui was indeed standing outside the room.
“Senior Brother Qing!” Yang Kai cupped his fist.
Qing Kui examined him with displeasure, then said, “Come with me.”
Despite not knowing what the other man was trying to do, Yang Kai could only follow him. They left Riverside House and flew off. A while later, Yang Kai asked, “Where are we going, Senior Brother Qing?”
Without turning his head, Qing Kui replied, “Didn’t you want to see Qu’er? I’m bringing you to see her now.”
Yang Kai was elated upon hearing that, then he hurriedly said, “Many thanks for granting my request, Senior Brother Qing.”
Qing Kui only snorted in response. An embarrassed Yang Kai fell silent and followed Qing Kui closely.
A while later, they landed on a Spirit Peak where there was an extensive hollow area in the centre that looked like a mountain valley, which was filled with lush greenery and strikingly beautiful flowers. The view was truly spectacular.
There were some buildings in the centre of the valley and they directly headed towards one particular palace.
Qing Kui turned around and said, “This is Qu’er’s residence. You’ll go in on your own. She’s inside now.”
Yang Kai cupped his fist and thanked him before shuffling into the palace.
In a certain room inside the palace, Su Ying Xue’s hands were placed on Qu Hua Shang’s as they talked to each other in an intimate manner, as though they were real Mother and Daughter or a pair of Sisters.
“You seem tired, Senior Sister. What’s wrong?” Qu Hua Shang raised her hand and touched the other woman’s forehead.
Su Ying Xue forced a smile, “Perhaps I’m just exhausted from all the travelling. But don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Qu Hua Shang said, “Get some rest since you’re so tired, I’ll be fine…Why are you looking at me like this, Senior Sister?”
Su Ying Xue poked the tip of the other woman’s nose, “I’m happy that you’re all grown up now. Time goes by really quickly. You’re now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master just like me.”
Qu Hua Shang giggled and crashed into her embrace. She squirmed for a bit and finally found a position she was most comfortable in, “I’ve just achieved an ascension, so I’m still far behind you.”
“It’s different.” Su Ying Xue shook her head, “I directly ascended to the Fifth Order and then rose to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm through hard work. My potential is not comparable to yours.”
Qu Hua Shang looked up at her, “When I grow to be powerful one day, I’ll protect you and make sure that you won’t suffer from any grievances.”
Su Ying Xue smiled gently, “I’ll be waiting for that day to come.”
As they spoke, they heard a series of footsteps coming closer. While Su Ying Xue stiffened, Qu Hua Shang, who was in her embrace, looked up and became pleasantly surprised, “Junior Brother Yang?”
“Ah…” Yang Kai appeared embarrassed when he saw that they were being so intimate, “I just walked right in since the door wasn’t closed. Sorry!”
He quickly stepped back and closed the door.
Qu Hua Shang batted her eyes and looked at Su Ying Xue, then burst into laughter, “He seems to have misunderstood something.”
Su Ying Xue poked the other woman’s forehead, “What’s so funny about it? Alright, I’ll take my leave now. You have a talk with him.” Then, she got to her feet and left the place.
Upon opening the door, she saw the embarrassed Yang Kai standing outside the room. As she looked at his face and thought about what would soon happen, she became incensed and bellowed, “If you dare to take advantage of Qu’er, I’ll never let you off!”
“I wouldn’t dare to,” Yang Kai bent his back.
“Hmph!” Su Ying Xue flicked her sleeve, and when she brushed past Yang Kai, she forcefully stepped on his foot.
Despite realising the woman’s intentions, Yang Kai didn’t dare to dodge, so he could only brace himself and then cringe in pain after the fact.
Meanwhile, Su Ying Xue’s footsteps faded into the distance.
Qu Hua Shang stuck out her head from the room and beckoned to him, “Come in, Junior Brother.”
Yang Kai tottered into the room and instantly caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance. He took a glance at the room and realised that the decoration was pretty cosy, which allowed him to relax somewhat.
Qu Hua Shang offered him a seat, then filled a cup with tea for him and smiled with her lips covered, “I’m sorry for the pain you have to suffer, Junior Brother. Although my Senior Sister appears to be dispassionate, she’s a warm-hearted person.”
Yang Kai wiggled his toes, which were almost crushed, and said insincerely, “I can see that.”
After taking the cup of tea she had prepared for him, he asked, “This is your room, right? Should we go to another place to have a chat?”
He had never expected that Qing Kui would bring him to Qu Hua Shang’s bedroom; after all, her reputation would be tarnished if others found out that they stayed in the same room for any reason.
“Why should we go to another place? Can’t we have a talk in my room? Or, are you worried that I’ll do something to you?” Qu Hua Shang teased as she directly sat across from the man.
“Stop teasing me, Senior Sister.” The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth twitched. He reckoned that he should be at ease since the woman wasn’t worried about anything, and they were not going to do anything inappropriate anyway.
Across from him, Qu Hua Shang rested her chin on her palm and looked smilingly at him, “Have you come all the way here to see me, Junior Brother?”
Yang Kai nodded his head with a serious expression, “I heard that the people from your Sect are holding a Dao Theory Assembly to select a Husband for you. It’s me who put you in this position, so I had to speak with you.” He sighed.
A nonchalant Qu Hua Shang replied, “It’s not your fault. It’s just that some people are trying to create trouble, and it has nothing to do with you, so don’t feel guilty at all. In any case, it’s thanks to you that I managed to ascend to the Open Heaven Realm in the first place.”
An embarrassed Yang Kai shook his head, “I didn’t help you much.”
In fact, she had to fall in love with him and then sever ties with him in order to ascend to the Open Heaven Realm. He had indeed done nothing at all as it was all her own hard work.
“You already offered me the best help since I came across you at the most critical moment before my ascension to the Open Heaven Realm and fell in love with you. If it weren’t for you, I didn’t even know how much longer I would have to wait before I found a suitable person.”
Yang Kai was secretly stunned as he reckoned that only the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would have the nerve to speak so freely about such things. Most women were not so bold.
Not willing to dwell on this topic, Yang Kai said, “What plans do you have to solve this issue, Senior Sister?”
Qu Hua Shang replied with a smile, “What plans can I have? I’ll just wait for the Dao Theory Assembly to end and marry the winner 100 years later.”
“Are you really willing to do that?’ Yang Kai frowned.
“As a disciple of a Cave Heaven, there are many things that are not up to me to decide, so what does it matter if I’m not willing? I’ve been nurtured by the Sect for many years, so now that the Sect is in trouble, I have to take up the responsibility and solve the problem. Moreover, I’m indeed the cause of this incident.”
Her nonchalance made Yang Kai feel his chest tightening as he felt extremely guilty.
Then, Qu Hua Shang gazed at him with her alluring eyes and said, “Why don’t you take part in the Dao Theory Assembly and become the winner? Then I’ll get to marry you.”
Yang Kai’s heart skipped a beat as he listened to her bold words and took in her beautiful face that was oh so close.
Qu Hua Shang looked down at his chest and smiled faintly, “Have you fallen for me, Junior Brother?”
In fact, Yang Kai had no idea why he was reacting in such a way as his face was all red now. It wasn’t the first time he came into contact with Qu Hua Shang, and there were moments in the past where they literally clung to one another; however, at this moment, he suddenly found this woman to be irresistibly enchanting. As he listened to her voice and saw her smile, his blood seemed to be boiling and his throat felt dry, causing his heart rate to soar.
Quickly drinking down some tea to moisten his throat, he commented, “It feels a little hot here, Senior Sister.”
Qu Hua Shang became startled for a moment, then scanned her surroundings and said gently, “It’s indeed a little hot here.” She laughed, “I guess I just feel warmth since you’re willing to visit me at this point.”
Yang Kai stared fixedly at her and fell into a dazed state. He increasingly felt that the woman in front of him was alluring, and it was extremely hard for him to resist her charm. His mind was filled with lustful thoughts as he gazed greedily at the fair skin that was slightly revealed around her chest and began to feel a little dizzy.
“Junior Brother…” Qu Hua Shang suddenly muttered with a blushing face.
“Hmm?” A shocked Yang Kai suddenly came to his senses, only to realise that he had grasped the woman’s hands at some point, revelling in the soft and delicate feel at his fingertips.
Yang Kai instinctively became alert as there was something off about the situation; however, while he was still lost in his thoughts, he realised that the woman before him had also grabbed his hands and his vigilance instantly vanished into thin air.
Presently, there were three people outside the valley. One of them was standing while the other two were seated with their legs crossed.
The one who was standing was Xu Ling Gong, while the people who were seated were Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui.
At this moment, strange energy fluctuations and a faint white mist could be seen swirling around Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue as they continuously formed different hand seals, as though they were using some profound Secret Technique.
Qing Kui let out a long breath and said through clenched teeth, “That brat is pretty strong-willed and vigilant. He almost shook off the Yang Demon’s influence.”
Yin-Yang Combined Demons was one of the best Secret Techniques in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. It was a Secret Technique that only a man and a woman who were in love with one another could cultivate. The man would cultivate a Yang Demon while the woman would cultivate a Yin Demon. Harsh requirements had to be met before they could cultivate it, and even if they succeeded, the Secret Technique would become useless if one of them fell out of love.
This Secret Technique had many uses. Not only could it assist the couple when they dual cultivated, increasing the rate of their cultivation, it could also be used as a Combined Attack Technique that would significantly increase their powers when they were faced with an enemy.
There was also another auxiliary use of the Secret Technique, which was what Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue were doing.
Presently, they were using the Yin Demon and the Yang Demon that they had nurtured for years to stir up the deepest emotions and magnify the feelings in other people’s hearts. At the same time, they were transferring their feelings of attraction and love for one another to the people who were the targets of this Secret Technique.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue had been a couple for many years, and their love for each other was deep and resolute. At this moment, they were using their Yin-Yang Combined Demons together to stimulate Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang.
In other words, the feelings Yang Kai had for Qu Hua Shang were those of Qing Kui to Su Ying Xue, not his real sentiment. He was just influenced by the Secret Technique.
It was the same case for Qu Hua Shang.
However, there was a prerequisite for this Secret Technique to work. The people that the technique was used on had to be at least fond of each other; otherwise, the Secret Technique would not work.
If there was a blood feud between both parties and they were eager to hack each other to death, this Secret Technique would be completely useless as trying to amplify non-existent feelings would still result in non-existent feelings.
Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang had gone through many life-and-death moments together and supported one another in the Grand Ancient Ruins and Blood Monster Cave Heaven, so both of them treasured the relationship they had. They were Humans, so there was no way they felt nothing for one another.
Regardless of Qu Hua Shang’s feelings for him, Yang Kai’s fondness for her was infinitely magnified under the influence of the Yin-Yang Combined Demons Secret Technique, which was proof that it had worked.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue continuously used different hand seals to sustain the effects of the Yin-Yang Combined Demons. As time passed, the inside of Qu Hua Shang’s room became more and more heated, and things seemed to be getting out of hand.
There came a moment when Qing Kui suddenly opened his eyes and said, “We should stop now; otherwise, they’ll really cross the final line.”
They needed Yang Kai to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly to turn things around and save Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s face and protect Qu Hua Shang’s happiness; otherwise, they wouldn’t have done such a thing. Naturally, they wouldn’t sacrifice Qu Hua Shang’s innocence to achieve that.
According to Xu Ling Gong, Yang Kai would just be the shit-stirrer. He didn’t expect Yang Kai to come out the winner, but the latter had to take part in the event.
In fact, he had been waiting for this moment for quite some time. As he shuffled towards the valley, he sported a ferocious expression and murderous intent swirled around him, as though he was going to kill someone ruthlessly.
He was going to catch Yang Kai in the act and make sure that the bastard little boy wouldn’t be able to refuse his demand.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue exchanged glances and worried that something bad would happen, they hurriedly stopped using their Secret Technique and raced after their Honoured Master.
A moment later, following a loud bang, the door of Qu Hua Shang’s room was kicked open. Despite already expecting it, Xu Ling Gong was still incensed when he saw the sight in the room.
Clothes were scattered everywhere on the ground, and there was a sense of intimacy in the air. The curtains around the bed had been untied and presently, Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang were covered in a quilt as they hid in the corner and shuddered.
They gazed at Xu Ling Gong in horror as though they were two kids that had been caught making a big mistake.
[Not a moment too soon!] Xu Ling Gong took a glance around the room and knew that these two young people hadn’t managed to do anything, yet. They had only taken off their outer clothes.
Certainly, Qu Hua Shang had already been taken advantage of, but she hadn’t lost her purity; otherwise, it would be hard for her to explain herself to the winner of the Dao Theory Assembly.
The current situation was the best outcome.
“You dare?!” Xu Ling Gong bellowed as his fury seemed able to shake the sky, “Qu’er, I’ve been your teacher for many years, but I never expected that you’d do such a shameless thing! You disappoint me so!”
“H-Honoured Master!” Qu Hua Shang’s teeth chattered as she had never expected things to come to such a point. While she was getting intimate with Yang Kai, her Honoured Master suddenly barged into her room and scared her out of her wits. She instantly felt cold all over her body.
“Honoured Master?” The middle-aged man that had just barged into the room was clad in a robe embroidered with snake patterns, and there was a golden crown on his head. As Yang Kai gazed at the enraged man with surging murderous intent, he had the urge to dig a hole and stick his head into it.
It was truly embarrassing that he was caught in bed with Qu Hua Shang by her Honoured Master. He still hadn’t the foggiest idea why he was so impetuous this time. He only intended to have a talk with Qu Hua Shang, so how did the two of them end up in bed?
This wasn’t how he would usually act. Fortunately, nothing had happened yet, or else he wouldn’t be able to explain himself.
“Senior…” Yang Kai hurriedly called out.
“Enough nonsense! Today you must die!” Xu Ling Gong yelled as his murderous intent almost materialised. Following that, he charged towards Yang Kai.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue arrived just in time. The former quickly wrapped his arms around the older man’s waist and shouted, “Please calm down, Honoured Master! He’s the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai. He saved Junior Sister Qu’s life before!”
Xu Ling Gong exerted more force with his hands in an attempt to push Qing Kui away, but the latter would never let him go, so he roared, “I don’t care who he is. Since he has the guts to take advantage of my Disciple, he must die!”
Qing Kui said anxiously, “If you kill him, Junior Sister Qu will be regarded as an unrighteous person forever! Please think twice!”
“What?” Xu Ling Gong paused for a moment, then bellowed, “Get lost! So what if she’ll be regarded as unrighteous!? I’ll hack him to death first!”
Qing Kui thought that this was different from what they had agreed upon. It seemed that his Honoured Master was truly incensed. In order to prevent things from getting out of control, he promptly sent a signal to Su Ying Xue.
The two of them immediately latched onto Xu Ling Gong and kept persuading him for a long time before the older man was finally appeased.
However, his eyes were still bloodshot, and he was panting as though he was a furious lion. The way he glared at Yang Kai was like he wanted to skin him, eat his flesh, and drink his blood.
Yang Kai cowered under the quilt, and even the warm body beside him was unable to melt the coldness he felt.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue breathed a sigh of relief. They felt exhausted from having to play along with their Honoured Master who seemed to have completely forgotten about their original plan.
It was inappropriate that Yang Kai and Qu Hua Shang remained cuddled together with nothing but a quilt covering them, so Qing Kui sent Su Ying Xue a signal, who then leapt onto the bed and carried Qu Hua Shang away, quilt and all. Yang Kai was left on the bed in only his underwear as he looked embarrassed.
In an adjacent room, Su Ying Xue put down the quilt and asked worriedly, “Are you alright?”
Qu Hua Shang’s face was all red as she clenched the quilt and shook her head. She was still reeling from the shock of the fact that she was caught in the act.
“Let me have a look.” An anxious Su Ying Xue lifted the quilt a little and took a peek below before finally breathing a sigh of relief.
Qu Hua Shang still had her underwear on as she had only taken off her dress. It seemed that they hadn’t done anything.
“Senior Sister, Honoured Master…”
Su Ying Xue waved her hand, “Don’t worry. I’ll put in a good word for you. I’m sure he won’t blame you.”
A blushing Qu Hua Shang asked, “I’m worried that he’ll harm Junior Brother Yang. Can you check on them for me?”
Su Ying Xue shot her a glare, “How are you still in the mood to be concerned about that little bastard at this point? You should mind your own business first!”
Back in the bedroom, under Xu Ling Gong’s vicious stare, Yang Kai put on his clothes and adjusted his hair. Then, he walked up to the older man and forced a smile as he cupped his fist, “Greetings, Senior.”
Xu Ling Gong directly took a seat on the chair with a stern expression. He examined Yang Kai in a way as though he could peel off the latter’s skin with his eyes.
Qing Kui just stood behind Xu Ling Gong, but when he saw how embarrassed Yang Kai looked, he had to try his hardest to suppress his laughter. Seeing that his Honoured Master was not speaking though, he eventually took the initiative to explain, “This is our Honoured Master Xu Ling Gong, one of the Inner Elders of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.”
“So it is Senior Xu. I’ve heard so much about you,” Yang Kai said politely as he secretly scanned the surroundings. He decided that if Xu Ling Gong made a move, he would immediately flee.
There was no way he could explain what had happened, and it was expected that the other party was infuriated.
“You’ve heard a lot about me, have you?” Xu Ling Gong yelled and directly broke the table into pieces, “Brat, you’ve taken advantage of my Disciple and tarnished her reputation. How do you want to die? Tell me and I’ll see it done!”
Yang Kai’s forehead was covered in sweat as he said, “Please don’t get me wrong, Senior. It was just a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?” Xu Ling Gong’s fury surged, “You were in my Disciple’s bed, half-naked, and you have the gall to tell me it was a misunderstanding!?”
“Well…” Yang Kai glanced cautiously at the older man, “We didn’t manage to do it. Nothing had happened between us.”
Xu Ling Gong snapped, “You didn’t manage to do anything because this Monarch arrived in time! Had I been just a breath later, you would have succeeded!”
“It’s all my fault. I have no idea what was going on, but I had indeed accidentally made a mistake. I’m willing to suffer the punishment for my acts.” Yang Kai directly offered an apology. Although they didn’t manage to do anything, Qu Hua Shang’s reputation would be affected if this incident was known to others.
After all, outsiders wouldn’t believe that nothing had happened under such circumstances.
“Hmph!” Xu Ling Gong sneered, “What’s the point of punishing you? You’ve already taken advantage of Qu’er. Can you undo it?”
Yang Kai hung his head low with a meek expression, “What do you want me to do, Senior? Please just tell me.”
Xu Ling Gong said coldly, “You know what you have to do now.”
Yang Kai fell silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh, “Don’t worry, Senior. When the Dao Theory Assembly takes place, I’ll take part in it and give you a satisfactory answer.”
It seemed that he had no choice but to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly now.
The reason the Dao Theory Assembly was held did have something to do with Yang Kai. If Qu Hua Shang hadn’t followed him to the Shadowless Cave Heaven to help him, none of this would have happened.
Before he came to this place, the notion of eventually taking part in the assembly did occur to him, but he had never expected that he would be forced into joining it in such a way.
At that instant, he was torn between tears and laughter.
Yang Kai thus secretly decided that he would just win first place and come up with a solution after Qu Hua Shang’s confinement ended 100 years later. In any case, there was no way he would watch as she married some stranger she had no feelings at all for.
Qu Hua Shang’s 100-year confinement was a certainty, and no one could foretell what would happen after she was freed. A lot of things could change after such a long time.
“Don’t forget what you’ve said.” Xu Ling Gong had been waiting for Yang Kai to say that, then he turned to look at Qing Kui, “You’ve also heard it right, Qing’er? No one forced him.”
Yang Kai was startled as he felt that Xu Ling Gong suddenly appeared jubilant.
To the side, Qing Kui replied with a straight face, “Yes, I’ve indeed heard it. It was Junior Brother Yang who requested to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.”
Xu Ling Gong laughed heartily, “Good, give him a place in the assembly and take him through the procedures later.”
“Yes.”
It was only then that Xu Ling Gong rose from the chair and examined Yang Kai, who appeared perplexed. Then, he placed his hands behind his back and calmly strode out.
[It’s settled? Just like this?] Yang Kai gazed at the middle-aged man’s back in shock. When he sensed his murderous intent earlier, he genuinely thought that Xu Ling Gong wanted to kill him. It never crossed his mind that he would be so easily appeased.
It seemed that Xu Ling Gong was like a loud thunderstorm that carried no rain.
Regardless, it was the best outcome for Yang Kai. Xu Ling Gong man was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master after all, and he was the Honoured Master of Qu Hua Shang. If they got into a fight, Yang Kai wouldn’t have even been able to fight back, so he would definitely suffer a terrible loss.
“Junior Brother Yang, Honoured Master has high hopes for you, so you mustn’t disappoint him.” Qing Kui chuckled and patted the other man’s shoulder. It was obvious that he was also ecstatic. When those scheming people saw a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master suddenly showing up in the Dao Theory Assembly, they would certainly be flustered.
Qing Kui wasn’t serious when he said that his Honoured Master had high hopes for Yang Kai, of course. To Xu Ling Gong, he just wanted to see Yang Kai taking part in the Dao Theory Assembly and wasn’t concerned about the final outcome, nor did he expect Yang Kai to win first place.
The heritage of a newly promoted Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master wasn’t comparable to those who had been in the same Order for several hundred or thousand years.
Yang Kai said after a sigh, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Qing. I’ll do my best to not disappoint all of you.”
“Good, just do your best, but don’t push yourself too hard,” Qing Kui replied in a perfunctory manner.
“Can I check on Senior Sister Qu?” Yang Kai asked.
He had never been more embarrassed in his entire life. When Xu Ling Gong barged into the room just now, his soul almost left his body. He supposed that Qu Hua Shang wasn’t in a better state either, and he was worried since he couldn’t see her now.
“Junior Sister Su is taking care of Qu’er, so you don’t have to worry about her. Just get some rest now. I’ll take you through the procedures of joining the assembly tomorrow.”
“En.” Yang Kai did not insist. He reckoned that both of them would be embarrassed if he really saw Qu Hua Shang right now, so he obeyed Qing Kui and returned to his temporary residence.
The next morning, Qing Kui came to visit again and led Yang Kai to deal with the procedures to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.
Yang Kai stared at the other party’s back as he fell into his thoughts.
He finally came to his senses after a night of contemplation. He was quite flustered the day before, so he hadn’t managed to sort out his thoughts for a while. After he returned to Riverside House, however, Yang Kai pondered on the issue and realised that something was off. The incident just felt odd to him, as though he had been set up.
He was just there to visit Qu Hua Shang and find out about her intentions; he didn’t have any lustful thoughts, so how did they end up lying together on her bed? Furthermore, the atmosphere at that time had been strange and it was as if he couldn’t help having obscene and lustful thoughts fill his mind. Qu Hua Shang seemed more attractive than she usually was, and his self-restraint also seemed to be much lower than it should have been.
In truth, Yang Kai was quite fond of Qu Hua Shang, but it hadn’t reached the point where he wanted to get intimate with her.
He even suspected that he had been affected by some kind of aphrodisiac, but after checking on his body carefully, he couldn’t detect any residual medicinal traces.
Another thing was that Xu Ling Gong and the others came at exactly the right moment to interrupt him and Qu Hua Shang.
If they came any earlier, nothing would have happened in the first place, and if they came any later, he and Qu Hua Shang would have already finished cooking rice and shelling peanuts.
Moreover, why would the Master and his Disciples visit Qu Hua Shang together all of a sudden? It might be possible for Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue to do that since they were Qu Hua Shang’s Senior Brother and Sister; however, as a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Xu Ling Gong shouldn’t have had so much free time. What’s more, while Xu Ling Gong was her Honoured Master, there was no way he should have directly kicked open the door to his female Disciple’s bedroom without first knocking.
Yang Kai had a feeling that he had been set up, but he couldn’t gather any proof. Even if he asked Qing Kui about it now, the latter definitely wouldn’t admit to it; therefore, he decided to pretend to know nothing.
In any case, taking part in the Dao Theory Assembly was no big deal to him.
On the road, Qing Kui was amiable to Yang Kai as he told him some interesting tales about Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and soon, they arrived at their destination.
The procedures to join the assembly were not complicated. Yang Kai just had to tell them his name, background, and cultivation, then he was given a token.
However, when he left, he was brought to another Spirit Peak instead of his usual resting place, Riverside House.
“There are many people who are going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, and the participants are all assigned to one of a few Spirit Peaks to have some rest and to get acquainted with one another. You’re going to Intertwining Fate Peak,” Qing Kui explained with a meaningful smile.
“Get acquainted with one another?” Yang Kai arched his brow.
Qing Kui grinned, “Although the Dao Theory Assembly is still a few days away, the tests began the moment you signed up.”
A glint flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes as he realised the intentions of those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
The Dao Theory Assembly indeed hadn’t commenced; however, since the test had already started, the performance of the participants would be recorded by those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Moreover, such an arrangement would allow the more powerful cultivators to thin out the weaker ones before the official event began, thus saving some time and effort.
“I’ll have to get to know my neighbours then.” Yang Kai grinned, “However, Senior Brother Qing, I’ve just ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so I’m unable to fully control my strength. If I accidentally kill or cripple someone who offends me…”
Qing Kui said, “The Dao Theory Assembly is not a child’s game. Since they have the guts to take part in it, they have to be prepared to lose their life at any moment. Those who haven’t realised such a simple truth can scram back to where they came from.”
Yang Kai raised his brow, “Does that apply to everyone?”
“Of course.”
“En, I understand,” Yang Kai nodded. In that case, he wouldn’t have to worry about anyone holding him responsible afterwards.
Seeing the vicious glint in the eyes of the young man in front of him, Qing Kui suddenly felt uneasy as he wondered if he had made the right decision by conning him into taking part in the assembly. He couldn’t help but drop him a reminder, “If you come across the disciples from other Cave Heavens and Paradises, you’d better act with a bit more restraint. It will do you no good if you form a feud with them.”
Yang Kai replied, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Qing. I understand.” The prerequisite was that they wouldn’t come to offend him.
A while later, they finally arrived at Intertwining Fate Peak. The buildings were closely connected and formed into a huge courtyard at the centre of which was a platform atop which two people were engaged in an intense battle as their World Forces clashed.
Yang Kai took a glance and, judging from their energy fluctuations, they were only in the Fourth Order. Moreover, the two of them were pretty restrained as they clearly didn’t intend to kill one another. Yang Kai thus retracted his gaze and ignored the matter.
Now, to him, Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were no different than slightly bigger ants.
Qing Kui led Yang Kai to descend from the sky and land in front of a certain building, then said, “This will be your residence before the Dao Theory Assembly starts. The token given to you is a jade that can be used to control this building’s arrays. You’ll be informed when the Dao Theory Assembly is about to commence.”
“Got it. Many thanks, Senior Brother Qing.”
After an impassive nod, Qing Kui shot into the sky and soon disappeared.
Yang Kai took a glance at his temporary residence, then fished out the token and infused his World Force into it. Following that, he waved his hand, whereupon a gap appeared in the protective array around the building. After he entered the place, the gap closed.
A handsome young man clad in all white clothes, who was seated beside the central stage, asked the person beside him with a frown, “Who is that guy? Why would Elder Qing personally lead him to this place?”
Not only was the young man good-looking, but his demeanour was also calm and aloof. It was apparent that he came from a powerful background. What’s more, he had the air of a Leader about him.
Upon hearing his associate’s questions, he shook his head to indicate that he had never met this guy before.
A sense of wariness flashed through the young man’s eyes as he wondered, “Could he be a disciple from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises?”
However, even if he was a disciple from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises, he wouldn’t necessarily be treated by Qing Kui in such a way. The arrival of such a person on Intertwining Fate Peak all of a sudden caused them to feel a little concerned.
A Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master offered to help, “Give me a moment, Brother Kong. I’ll ask around and see whether I can find out that guy’s background.”
The person called Brother Kong nodded his head, “Many thanks for your help, Brother Sun.”
The man surnamed Sun appeared to be honoured, “Don’t mention it, Brother Kong. When the Dao Theory Assembly starts, all of us on Intertwining Fate Peak will need you to take care of us, so you don’t have to thank me for solving such a trivial problem for you.”
The man surnamed Kong nodded in a reserved manner, “Good.”
After the message was sent, they waited. Many people had arrived on Intertwining Fate Peak much earlier than Yang Kai, so they had either already known or met each other, forming a rather harmonious relationship with no major conflicts so far.
However, nobody seemed to know who Yang Kai was, and since he was guided here by Qing Kui personally, he naturally drew some attention.
The young man surnamed Kong sported a doubtful expression as he looked at Yang Kai’s resting place. He found the other party familiar just now, but from his angle he was unable to make out the person’s face clearly, nor could he recall where they had met in the past.
Suppressing the doubt in his mind, he shook his head and awaited the answer.
“Honoured Master!” Qing Kui stepped into the Grand Hall and cupped his fist.
“Is everything done?” Xu Ling Gong seemed to be in a jovial mood. He was drinking on his own and humming a song when Qing Kui entered the place.
“Yes,” Qing Kui replied respectfully, “I followed your order and made him settle down on Intertwining Fate Peak.”
“Very good, very good! Hahaha!” Xu Ling Gong grinned in a devious manner.
A puzzled Qing Kui asked, “Is there anything special about Intertwining Fate Peak, Honoured Master? Why do you want Yang Kai to stay there?” After all, he came back to the Sect a few days ago, so he wasn’t familiar with the current affairs in the Sect.
Xu Ling Gong picked up some food from a nearby plate, and as he munched on it, he replied, “The Dao Theory Assembly is still a few days away. They initially only expect Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to take part in the assembly, so how do you think those old farts will react when a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master suddenly appears?”
Qing Kui stated, “They’ll certainly be flustered. In order to save their Sects from embarrassment, they’ll have to send new candidates to join the assembly.” This was the plot they had come up with.
Since Yang Kai, the troublemaker, was going to join the assembly, they would now have to wait for the scheming old farts to react. If nothing unexpected happened, things would unfold just like what they had imagined.
“That’s right; however, it would be a bad idea if no one finds out that he’s a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. He’ll have to make some noise and let everyone know.” Xu Ling Gong grinned, “On Intertwining Fate Peak, there’s a potential successor to the next Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union. He’s also the eldest Son of one of the former Union Masters, Kong Feng. His name is Kong Tian Yu!”
“Heavenly Sword Union!?” Qing Kui arched his brow. He couldn’t help but whistle as he took pleasure in someone else’s misfortune, “We’ll have a good show to watch, then.”
Although he knew little about Void Land, he was aware that there was a blood feud between Void Land and Heavenly Sword Union. The former Union Master Kong Feng was killed by Yang Kai because he led the Hundred Sects Alliance to invade Void Land.
At that time, Yang Kai was just an Emperor Realm cultivator, but he was able to make use of the power of the Nine Heavenly Layers to kill Kong Feng. Otherwise, there was no way a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could have been killed by an Emperor Realm Junior.
After Kong Feng’s death, a man named Shen Liang, also a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, succeeded him as Union Master, but he was also killed soon after. Although it wasn’t Yang Kai’s doing directly this time, it was someone from Void Land who did the deed.
Two Union Masters were consecutively killed by people from Void Land. It could be said that Heavenly Sword Union had suffered immense losses at Void Land’s hands. It was practically an irresolvable blood feud.
Since Kong Tian Yu was on Intertwining Fate Peak, there was no way Yang Kai could have a peaceful time staying there.
“Honoured Master… you’re such a cunning man!” Qing Kui couldn’t help but admire the older man. Right after he finished speaking though, he saw a wine bottle fly at him. He immediately covered his head and fled while Xu Ling Gong cursed at him from behind.
On Intertwining Fate Peak, the man surnamed Sun clenched the Communication Bead in his hand with an awkward expression.
Kong Tian Yu asked, “Have you found out anything? Who is that guy?”
The man surnamed Sun took a glance at him and replied hesitantly, “Brother Kong, from what I’ve gathered, that person is the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai.”
“Yang Kai?” Kong Tian Yu became startled for a moment, then started yelling with a hideous expression, “Are you sure he is Yang Kai? The one from Void Land?”
The man surnamed Sun nodded, “Yes, I’m certain. It wasn’t difficult to find such information. The candidates who are going to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly are not confidential in any case, so the information comes from a disciple from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. If you don’t believe me, Brother Kong, you can get someone else to verify it.”
“There’s no need for that.” Kong Tian Yu turned around and glared at Yang Kai’s residence, then said through clenched teeth, “It’s no wonder I found him so familiar. So, he’s Yang Kai!” He started laughing maniacally in the next breath, “Since he is here, it has saved me the trouble of looking for him. Father, just you wait, I’ll avenge you now!”
The former Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union, Kong Feng, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, was killed by an Emperor Realm cultivator. Although the other party had achieved this feat by making use of a powerful Grand Array, Kong Feng had become a laughing stock after word got out.
Kong Tian Yu was the son of the former Union Master with an exceptional aptitude. He directly ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm several hundred years ago, and he was the first in line to succeed his father. If everything went all, he would be able to become the Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union when he reached the Sixth Order.
However, due to Kong Feng’s death, which had tarnished the reputation of Heavenly Sword Union, Kong Tian Yu fell from the first to the fifth in line to succeed the Union Master.
Given his position now, he practically had no hope of becoming the Union Master in his lifetime.
It could be said that his future had been ruined by Yang Kai. This coupled with his father’s death, caused Kong Tian Yu to want to kill Yang Kai. He needed to clear his name and cast away the humiliation that had been inflicted upon his family.
Unfortunately, those from Void Land were not pushovers as there were two Divine Spirits residing in that place, so those from Heavenly Sword Union couldn’t afford to offend them openly. Therefore, he could only keep the resentment to himself.
The Dao Theory Assembly was held by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to help Qu Hua Shang select a Husband. It allowed Kong Tian Yu to see a glimmer of hope in the darkness. If he could become the winner in the assembly, he would be able to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. By then, he could stop getting marginalized by those from Heavenly Sword Union.
Perhaps the Heavens took pity on him as Yang Kai had also left Void Land to take part in the assembly. This was the best chance for him.
Kong Tian Yu had been paying close attention to any news about Yang Kai since the latter had killed his father, so naturally, he was aware that Yang Kai ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm just outside of the Shadowless Cave Heaven in the Shattered Heaven about two years ago.
Both of them were in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. However, the heritage of Yang Kai, who only achieved an ascension two years ago, was definitely not comparable to that of Kong Tian Yu, who had been in this Order for hundreds of years.
Kong Tian Yu thus decided that he would cut Yang Kai to pieces to vent out his fury.
As his murderous intent surged, he strode towards Yang Kai’s residence. The other dozen or so cultivators, who were also there to join the assembly, exchanged glances as they became excited. Knowing that a good show was about to start, they followed him as well.
Upon reaching Yang Kai’s place, Kong Tian Yu extended his hand and summoned a spear. After taking a deep breath, he infused his strength into the spear and pushed it out forcefully. At the same time, he bellowed, “Yang Kai, get out here!”
All of them were shocked when they saw his move.
The others had been staying here for a few days before Yang Kai’s arrival, and during this period of time, they had exchanged some pointers, but none of them was a match for Kong Tian Yu. Even those in the Fifth Order were much weaker than he was. Therefore, the people on Intertwining Fate Peak regarded him as their leader. Kong Tian Yu had earned this position with his spear alone.
However, it wasn’t until Kong Tian Yu thrust out his spear this time that they realised he hadn’t shown his full strength during their bouts some time ago. Judging from the power of his attack, they reckoned that even though he was still some distance away from the Sixth Order, he wasn’t far off.
Although the attack was powerful, it still couldn’t break the array around the building.
The courtyard was meant for them to rest in comfort, so the Spirit Arrays were naturally quite sturdy.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai was seated with his legs crossed in his room. The Dao Theory Assembly was only a few days away, so there wasn’t enough time for him to refine any resources.
The growth of an Open Heaven Realm was all about accumulation over a long period of time. Regardless of what resources one refined, they had to ensure the balance in their Small Universe was maintained.
Therefore, it was best to collect a full set of resources of the Yin, Yang, and Five Elements before refining them.
Since there wasn’t enough time to refine a full set of resources, Yang Kai decided to simply consume some Open Heaven Pills. The Yin, Yang, and Five Elements in Open Heaven Pills were in perfect balance, and although they weren’t an efficient method of cultivating, the pills were safe and easy to consume. One could refine them at any moment without any worries.
Yang Kai had just refined a handful of Open Heaven Pills when he felt the Array outside his residence shaking, then heard someone bellowing.
He wondered who would call out to him at this point.
Initially, he decided to ignore this person, but his inaction only caused the other party to become more rampant. The continuous attacks caused the Array to shake constantly, leaving him unable to focus. The speed at which he refined Open Heaven Pills also slowed down significantly.
Certainly, it was expected that Yang Kai was incensed.
Seeing that the Array was starting to show signs of failing, he had no choice but to get up and shuffle towards the door, an aura of coldness swirling around him.
Although the Array around the building was sturdy, it couldn’t possibly withstand a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master’s relentless bombardment. As Kong Tian Yu repeatedly attacked with his spear, the entire Intertwining Fate Peak shook as though it would collapse at any moment.
Yang Kai’s silence infuriated him, causing him to exert more force with each blow.
All of a sudden, the Array around the building disappeared. The door was pushed open from the inside, and a young man with a grim expression stepped out.
As their eyes met, an enraged Kong Tian Yu jabbed his spear into the ground and roared, “Are you Yang Kai?”
A displeased Yang Kai glared at him and snapped, “Who are you? Why are you shouting in front of my door?”
“Are you Yang Kai or not? The one from Void Land!” Kong Tian Yu asked again.
Yang Kai replied nonchalantly, “So what if I’m Yang Kai?”
Kong Tian Yu narrowed his eyes and nodded, “Good. I’ve finally found you.”
“Do we know each other?” Yang Kai looked curiously at him, “It seems that there are some grudges between us.”
Kong Tian Yu picked up his spear and pointed it at him, “Remember, the one who killed you is the son of the Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union, Kong Feng, Kong Tian Yu!” Then, he looked up at the sky and roared, “Father, do you see it now? Your son will avenge you today!”
After he finished his words, Kong Tian Yu forcefully thrust out his spear as his World Force seemed able to shake the Void.
The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters among the crowd paled. Although there didn’t seem to be anything special about Kong Tian Yu’s attack, they felt threatened just by looking at it. It was imaginable that Kong Tian Yu must have used his full strength in order to avenge his father’s death.
Everyone thought about how they would resolve the attack if there were Yang Kai, but they soon realized there was nothing they could have done in his place. The only option would be to meet this attack head-on, but since they were weaker than Kong Tian Yu, their Small Universes would be damaged if they tried to counter this thrust, resulting in serious injury or even death.
*Pa…*
The violent sight they all imagined never happened though. Following a light sound, Kong Tian Yu was rooted to the spot as though he had been bound. His spear was grasped by Yang Kai with only one hand, and he was no longer able to move it one bit.
Kong Tian Yu and everyone else were stunned.
All of them widened their eyes as they couldn’t believe what they saw.
A Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had gathered all his strength to thrust out his spear, yet that spear was easily grasped by another Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with only one hand. It proved that the latter must be immensely powerful.
“You’re from Heavenly Sword Union?” Yang Kai examined Kong Tian Yu, “Kong Feng was your father?”
Upon closer look, he realised that the person named Kong Tian Yu indeed shared some similarities with Kong Feng in terms of their appearances.
After recovering from the initial shock, Kong Tian Yu gripped his spear and with a flourish shook off Yang Kai’s grasp. Retreating a few steps to widen the gap with his enemy, both shocked and doubtful, he muttered, “You…”
Kong Tian Yu was shocked at the fact that his enemy possessed such incredible strength. Just now, he couldn’t detect Yang Kai using his World Force at all, but the latter could easily grab his spear. In other words, Yang Kai had only used brute force to accomplish this feat.
The fact that a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was able to reach such a point in terms of physical strength was unheard of. At the very least, throughout Kong Tian Yu’s Martial Dao, he had never come across anyone who was so strong before.
However, he wasn’t aware of the immensity of Yang Kai’s strength in his Dragon Form. No cultivators in the same Order could surpass him when it came to physical prowess.
“Heavenly Sword Union… Hahaha.” Yang Kai suddenly started chuckling, “Very good. I haven’t managed to visit your Sect yet, but you’ve come here to make a scene instead. Interesting indeed.”
After his return from the Shadowless Cave Heaven, Yang Kai subsequently destroyed Boundless Altar and Golden Rainbow Province to help the Proprietress resolve her heart demon oath, which sent a shock wave across the great forces that took part in the raid on Void Land. Consequently, many of those same great forces sent representatives to Void Land’s Star City with gifts and requested to meet Yang Kai as they were worried that he would also destroy their Sects.
In fact, Yang Kai didn’t really care about the great forces that had invaded Void Land before. At that time, they were forced to join the alliance for various reasons. Void Land was a powerful Sect now, so there was no point in settling the grudges against those minor great forces. It would be a waste of time and energy.
With that said, Yang Kai didn’t intend to let Heavenly Sword Union off.
He initially planned to call the roll and storm into Heavenly Sword Union to get even with them; however, the Dao Theory Assembly had derailed his plan, so he had to come to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven first.
It never crossed his mind that he would bump into Kong Feng’s son here. It seemed that Qing Kui had deliberately made him stay on Intertwining Fate Peak for this exact reason.
Then, Yang Kai let out a long sigh, “So troublesome. I initially planned to keep a low profile, but it seems that won’t be possible now.”
He was fully aware of what was going on with the Dao Theory Assembly. The most powerful participants were only in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. By taking part in the assembly as Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he was like an adult who was competing against children. There was no doubt that he could easily win first place if nothing changed.
If he revealed his true strength now though, the situation in the Dao Theory Assembly would change. By then, people who were above the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm would participate in the assembly.
Then, it suddenly dawned upon Yang Kai that perhaps this was the exact outcome Xu Ling Gong and Qing Kui wanted to see. He reckoned that it must be the truth, and it wasn’t until this moment that he realised why he and Qu Hua Shang were caught in the act. This was all a plot set up by Xu Ling Gong.
[Cunning old fox!] Despite knowing that Xu Ling Gong was doing it for Qu Hua Shang, Yang Kai was still displeased as no one would be happy being manipulated.
“What are you talking about?” Kong Tian Yu glared at him as he finally calmed down. The fight between Open Heaven Realm Masters was always about the powers of their Small Universes, not physical strength. He was astonished that Yang Kai was able to easily grasp his spear just now, but he had now recovered from his shock.
“Regardless of what you say, you will die today!” Kong Tian Yu wielded his spear again and pointed it at Yang Kai. As he spoke, he pushed out his spear, which was surrounded with an aura from an experienced Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. As his World Force permeated the place, a trail of darkness was left behind that could hardly be healed as he extended his spear.
“I was the Young Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union and the successor to the Union Master. I had all the glory with me; however, it’s all because of you that I’m marginalised by the old farts in the Sect now. But so what? As long as I can become the winner in the Dao Theory Assembly, I’ll be the Young Master of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. By then, I’ll make all of them kneel before me and beg for my mercy! Hahaha! Do you see it now? That’s the difference between us! Although you’re also a Fifth-Order Master, you’re not comparable to me! I’ve been in this Order for hundreds of years while you only achieved an ascension two years ago. Let’s see how much longer you’ll… What!?”
Kong Tian Yu abruptly had his arrogant speech cut off as he became rooted to the spot. His hideous expression contorted as he gazed at his own hands with trembling eyes.
He was supposed to be holding a spear, which was a Fifth-Order artifact that Kong Feng had refined for him when he ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm in the past.
However, there was presently nothing in his hands. The Fifth-Order artifact that had been with him for hundreds of years had suddenly gone missing.
Looking up, he saw that his spear was now in Yang Kai’s hands as the latter nonchalantly wielded the weapon.
[When did that happen!?] Kong Tian Yu’s pupils contracted as the cold sweat slid down from his forehead to his cheeks. Although the young man in front of him looked ordinary, he felt like he could see the door of death slowly opening before his eyes.
The people around them were flabbergasted.
Initially, they could see that Kong Tian Yu’s attacks became increasingly menacing every time he pushed out his spear. Faced with the bombardment of attacks, Yang Kai’s only option would be to dodge and flee.
However, to their astonishment, the situation had been turned around in the blink of an eye. Kong Tian Yu’s artifact was snatched by his opponent, and no one could clearly see what happened at that moment. When they came to their senses, the dust had already settled.
“You talk too much.” Yang Kai shot a disinterested glance at Kong Tian Yu, “Moreover, that’s not how you’re supposed to use a spear. I’ll teach you a move.”
Then, he wielded the spear and slowly thrust it out towards Kong Tian Yu. Compared to the spear technique Kong Tian Yu had used, Yang Kai’s attack wasn’t intimidating at all; furthermore, it was outrageously slow as all of them could see the trail clearly.
Even a three-year-old kid could easily dodge it.
The spectators were all doubtful as they wondered what was special about the attack.
However, Kong Tian Yu, the only one actually facing the attack, was now in an utter state of panic. He could clearly feel that the spear contained a horrifying power that he could not possibly resist, and that the shadow of death was about to consume him whole.
He attempted to dodge, but regardless of how hard he tried, he was unable to move a muscle. The space around him seemed to have been sealed off, and even his senses seemed to have been warped, like time itself had slowed down.
The spear magnified before his eyes to the point where he could see nothing else.
*Hong…*
Violent force exploded as the spear struck Kong Tian Yu’s forehead and instantly exploded his head.
The headless corpse convulsed as blood started spurting out of his neck and dyed his snow-white robes scarlet.
The force lingering in the air slowly dissipated.
“Sixth-Order! A Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master!” Someone exclaimed.
*Xiu xiu xiu…*
All the spectators instantly fled in all directions with pale looks on their faces.
The Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai, who had just arrived, was actually a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Despite being a powerful Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Kong Tian Yu was still killed in one move.
Kong Tian Yu had been the most powerful person on Intertwining Fate Peak until now, so if he wasn’t a match for Yang Kai, there was no way the others would be able to deal with him. That was the reason that they had immediately fled as they were worried that Yang Kai would target them next.
“Have you learned it?” Yang Kai asked dispassionately, “In that case, you can rest in peace.”
Looking up next, Yang Kai saw a petite figure that looked like a young girl only seven or eight years old. Her face was pretty cute, and her hair had been tied into two ponytails. As she silently hovered in the air, she looked down at the entire Intertwining Fate Peak. There was a writing brush in her hand as she dipped it in her mouth before jotting something down on a pad. It seemed that she was trying to record something.
She had to be some kind of invigilator and there must be such a person on every Spirit Peak. They were the people sent by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to observe the participants and everything they did would be recorded by them.
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her.
The young girl’s expression instantly darkened as she raised her book to stop Yang Kai from looking at her.
After storing Kong Tian Yu’s Space Ring, Yang Kai turned around and re-entered his lodging to continue cultivating.
Since he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now, it was no big deal for him to kill a Fifth-Order Master, and the matter didn’t bother him one bit. If Kong Tian Yu hadn’t caused a scene, Yang Kai wouldn’t have ruthlessly ended his life.
However, that was perhaps the outcome Xu Ling Gong and Qing Kui wanted to see.
Since Yang Kai had revealed his Sixth-Order cultivation, the situation in the Dao Theory Assembly would soon change drastically.
Some disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven soon came over to take the corpse away and clean up the blood. Just a while later, the spot in front of Yang Kai’s door was spotless once more, as though nothing had happened just now.
Just like Yang Kai had expected, after he returned to his room, messages were sent out in all directions. The fact that a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master appeared on Intertwining Fate Peak spread around at the speed of lightning.
On a certain Spirit Peak in a certain mountain range surrounded by mist, inside a gazebo, there were more than ten figures who were either standing or seated as they seemed to be having a casual chat. One of them was Xu Ling Gong.
The Dao Theory Assembly was meant to select a Husband for Qu Hua Shang, so as her Honoured Master, Xu Ling Gong was naturally unable to stay out of this matter. Therefore, he was here to receive the top Masters who came from other Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Xu Ling Gong was a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, so the people who deserved his attention were also High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. Therefore, the people in the gazebo were all the Inner Elders from various Cave Heavens and Paradises. None of them was a nobody.
There was also another group of people outside of the gazebo, but unlike the meeting between the Elders, it was just a meet-up among the younger generation.
While the Elders from the Cave Heavens and Paradises were having a discussion, the younger generation were not standing idly by. Instead, they were exchanging pointers. Presently, there were one man and one woman who were engaging in an intense battle. As their Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm auras clashed, they flew around the place.
The people from the Cave Heavens and Paradises rarely had such a chance to gather together; therefore, using the Dao Theory Assembly as a chance, the Elders brought their favourite Disciples to this place. It wasn’t that they wanted them to take part in the assembly as they wouldn’t have the heart to let the Disciples they had high hopes for getting married into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Nevertheless, they could make use of this chance to let the younger Disciples familiarise themselves with one another and increase their experience.
As the people in the gazebo watched the fight, some of them would make a remark from time to time. They looked like they were having a chat with the people around them, but they were actually commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of the ones in the battle.
Although there was only a difference of one Order between them, the gap between the Mid-Rank and the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm was no different from the distance between the Heavens and Earth. As Inner Elders, they were perfectly qualified to point out the weaknesses of these youths.
The man and the woman in battle continuously adjusted the ways they made a move as they listened to the Elders comment, gaining some valuable knowledge along the way.
Just then, an old man with a rosy face said, “Good, the battle should stop here. Both of you must be exhausted, so get some rest now.”
Upon hearing that, the man and the woman leapt away and saluted one another. Then, they put away their artifacts and sat down with their legs crossed.
Just then, a grim-looking old man with an aquiline nose in the gazebo turned to look at Xu Ling Gong and asked in a hoarse voice, “Why are you in the mood to keep us company today, Brother Xu?”
Xu Ling Gong was responsible for handling all the affairs in the Dao Theory Assembly. Supposedly, he had to keep these Elders company; however, since the day they arrived, Xu Ling Gong had only shown up once on the first day and let them stay in their respective residences after. He had practically ignored them since then.
In fact, they fully understood how Xu Ling Gong felt. He was resentful of them. After all, they had used a dirty trick to make sure that only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, which meant that only a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would eventually marry Qu Hua Shang.
They reckoned that Xu Ling Gong had been pretty restrained for not outright attacking them, so it was understandable that he ignored them most of the time.
However, he had come to visit them on this day with a jovial expression, as though something great had happened to him.
“What do you mean? While it is true I was too swamped with work and didn’t have the time to keep you company, I do now,” Xu Ling Gong replied nonchalantly, “Since all of you have come all the way here, I’ll have to make time for you even though I’m busy.”
They naturally wouldn’t believe him. This guy previously showed no trace of politeness when glaring at them since they arrived. However, they couldn’t figure out why he was in a jubilant mood on this day.
Just then, someone approached them from afar. After saluting all of them, he walked up to the grim-looking old man and whispered something to him.
The grim-looking old man’s expression changed as he shot a meaningful glance at Xu Ling Gong, soon understanding what had happened.
Then, he gently waved his hand to motion for the person to withdraw and stared at Xu Ling Gong before commenting, “An ingenious move indeed, Brother Xu. This Zhuo is impressed.”
With the wine cup in his hand, Xu Ling Gong looked smilingly at him, “What are you talking about, Brother Zhuo? I don’t understand.”
“It’s fine. I know what you’ve done,” the old man surnamed Zhuo sneered and rose from the chair. “I’ll take my leave.”
Seeing that, Pei Wen Xuan, who was seated among the younger disciples, hurriedly got up and left with him.
As they walked down the mountain, Pei Wen Xuan cautiously followed the old man surnamed Zhuo. He instinctively had a feeling that the other party was in a terrible mood, but he had no idea what had happened.
“There’s been a change in the Dao Theory Assembly, Wen Xuan,” the old man surnamed Zhuo suddenly said.
Pei Wen Xuan became startled for a moment, then asked, “Master Zhuo, you mean…”
This old man was none other than Zhuo Bu Qun, an Elder from Myriad Demons Heaven. In the past, Ti Zheng was responsible for handling all external affairs; however, after his death in the Shattered Heaven, Zhuo Bu Qun took over his duties and subordinates.
“A Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master has appeared in the Dao Theory Assembly,” Zhuo Bu Qun replied.
“A Sixth-Order? We all agreed that only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would join the assembly. Who broke the rule?” Pei Wen Xuan asked with a frown.
“He’s not from one of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. You know him as well actually.”
“Who is it?”
“The Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai!”
Pei Wen Xuan was startled for a moment, then knitted his brows together, “Are you mistaken, Master Zhuo? I’m aware that Yang Kai is in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven because he moved past the Territory Gate we had cordoned off; however, he’s supposed to be in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, not the Sixth-Order.”
“The eldest son of Kong Feng, Kong Tian Yu, ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm several hundred years ago. His power was considered quite good among those in the same Order. Nevertheless, he was killed by Yang Kai in one move.”
Pei Wen Xuan’s pupils contracted when he heard that.
Although he hadn’t been in any contact with Kong Tian Yu before, he had heard about him. Just like Zhuo Bu Qun had said, that guy was a powerful Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who achieved his ascension several hundred years ago.
Nonetheless, he was killed by Yang Kai with only one move. Pei Wen Xuan wouldn’t doubt Zhuo Bu Qun. Since the older man had said so, the information must have been verified.
Seeing as Yang Kai was able to kill Kong Tian Yu easily, he had to be in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Pei Wen Xuan was dumbfounded to learn that Yang Kai was in the Sixth Order, which was the same as him, as according to the information the Cave Heavens and Paradises had gathered, Yang Kai had only made it to the Fifth Order outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven.
Suppressing the doubt in his mind, Pei Wen Xuan asked, “Master Zhuo, you mean…”
He knew that Zhuo Bu Qun wouldn’t have said such a thing for no reason. He was definitely required to do something.
“According to the original plan, all of us only had to respectively send one Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly; however, with this turn of events, things have changed. What’s more, the problem occurred at the Territory Gate we were responsible for. Since we’re at fault, we have to give an explanation to the others. I want you to participate in the assembly and become the winner,” Zhuo Bu Qun ordered impassively.
That was the reason he immediately left the gazebo upon hearing the news.
The news would be spread among the other great forces soon and if he hadn’t left, he would’ve been criticized by the others. After all, the problem was with the Territory Gate that Myriad Demons Heaven had guarded.
Upon hearing that, Pei Wen Xuan replied, “I can definitely become the winner. But, Master Zhuo, I’ll have to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven by doing so,” Despite knowing that Yang Kai was also in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he was still confident of defeating the other party since he was a disciple from a Cave Heaven.
The disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises were not afraid of anyone in the same Order.
“You’re a Core Disciple of Myriad Demons Heaven, so we won’t let you marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the issue.”
Pei Wen Xuan nodded his head, “I’ll do as you say, Master Zhuo.”
After giving it a thought, Zhuo Bu Qun said, “You must not be complacent. Although you’ve refined Sixth-Order Elements and eventually ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Yang Kai condensed several Seventh-Order Elements before. Moreover, he’s able to use a Divine Manifestation; therefore, you can’t regard him like any other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. It will probably be difficult for you to deal with him.”
Pei Wen Xuan replied, “Don’t worry, Master Zhuo. I will not be negligent.”
“Very good. The assembly is just a few days away. Get some rest and make sure that you’re prepared.”
“Yes.”
In the gazebo on the Spirit Peak, Xu Ling Gong was humming a tune as he was in a jovial mood. He watched as the cultivators from the Cave Heavens and Paradises came over and reported to their respective Elders in small voices one by one.
The Elders initially had no idea why Zhuo Bu Qun had left all of a sudden, but upon hearing the reports from their subordinates, they finally realised what had happened.
A Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had suddenly shown up in the Dao Theory Assembly. Although there was only one person, it had derailed all of their plans and arrangements, forcing them to change their tactics.
The Elders subsequently left, all of them shooting resentful glances at Xu Ling Gong before that. It was never a good feeling to be stabbed in the back.
Xu Ling Gong on the other hand only became more jubilant. After all of them were gone, he couldn’t help but start guffawing.
Meanwhile, there were only a small number of people in a certain palace of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven where Open Heaven Realm Masters had to make a registration to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly.
Those who were supposed to make a registration had already done so, and since the assembly was just a few days away, it was basically too late for those who hadn’t managed to do so already to sign up. The disciples responsible for registering the Open Heaven Realm Masters were thus lazing about somewhat sleepily.
Although there were several hundred people already registered, there was only one Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. The outcome of the Dao Theory Assembly wouldn’t be surprising since there was a stark difference between those in different Orders.
However, they were just ordinary disciples, so it had nothing to do with them.
When two disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, who were bored behind the registration desk, saw a figure appearing all of a sudden in front of them, they were astonished. Looking up, they could instantly recognise that the person was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who was the Outer Elder of Myriad Demons Heaven.
Previously, this person had brought a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from the same Sect to make a registration, so the two disciples could recognise him.
One of the disciples from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven rose from the chair and asked, “So, it is Elder He. Why have you come here all of a sudden?”
Elder He’s expression was so cold that it was as though a layer of frost could be scraped off his face. He had nowhere to vent out his fury, which almost burned him alive.
He was the elderly man who had previously stopped Qing Kui and Yang Kai just outside the Territory Gate.
Since Yang Kai had managed to enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven under his watch, he had to take full responsibility for it. As such, he had just been harshly reprimanded by Zhuo Bu Qun, which was why he was in a foul mood.
“I’m here to make a registration!” He said in a sulky voice.
“What?” The disciple who spoke earlier was startled. When he looked behind Elder He, he saw no one there. Puzzled, he asked, “Are you doing it for yourself or…”
Elder He roared, “You want this Old Master to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven!? Of course, I’m making a registration for someone else!”
The two disciples were stunned as they had no idea why Elder He was so incensed. Still, they hurriedly straightened up and helped him with the registration, “Please tell me the person’s name, cultivation, and Master Sect.”
Elder He replied in a grim voice, “Pei Wen Xuan, Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Myriad Demons Heaven!”
The two disciples were startled as they looked up at him. One of them asked hesitantly, “Are you sure you want to make a registration for Senior Brother Pei?”
They had heard about Pei Wen Xuan. He was a rising star in Myriad Demons Heaven who directly ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. There was no doubt that he had a bright future.
The status of Pei Wen Xuan in Myriad Demons Heaven was the same as Qu Hua Shang in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Such a person was destined to be one of the most important figures in Myriad Demons Heaven in the future, so there was no way he would marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven; otherwise, it would be a huge loss for his Sect.
Therefore, when the two disciples, who were responsible for registering the candidates, heard that Elder He was making a registration for Pei Wen Xuan to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, they were dumbfounded.
“Cut the crap! Do it now and give me a Jade Token!” Elder He snapped.
“Yes, yes, yes. Please give us a moment, Elder He!” Not daring to be negligent, the two disciples hurriedly recorded Pei Wen Xuan’s information and passed the elderly man a Jade Token.
Not willing to stay there any longer, Elder He took the token and left while the two disciples exchanged glances in puzzlement.
Before they even recovered from their shock, more people had come to register.
…
Half a day later, the two disciples fell into a dazed state as they looked at the book in front of them.
In such a short time, more than ten Cave Heavens and Paradises had sent new disciples to take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, and they were all in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Just like Pei Wen Xuan, they were rising stars of their respective Sects who achieved an ascension in the past one hundred years.
The two disciples were torn between tears and laughter because there was even a woman on the list.
The words ‘Lang Ya Paradise, Gu Pan, Sixth-Order’ were clearly written in the book.
The purpose of the Dao Theory Assembly was to help Qu Hua Shang find a Husband, so the participants were naturally all men. Something had to be terribly wrong with Lang Ya Paradise as they had sent a female disciple. If Gu Pan happened to become the winner, she would have to bed Qu Hua Shang in the future.
The two disciples felt their blood beginning to boil as they began to imagine such a future.
Although they had no idea what had happened that made these new Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realms change their minds and take part in the Dao Theory Assembly, they could clearly feel that a change was taking place in the assembly.
Their gazes fell upon a certain name as they had a feeling that the change had something to do with that person; after all, prior to this, he was the only Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm among the hundreds of participants in the assembly.
On Intertwining Fate Peak, Yang Kai examined Kong Tian Yu’s Space Ring and obtained some Fifth-Order materials from it. Other than that, there was nothing worth mentioning.
As the Lord of Void Land, Yang Kai had a First Class Star City and countless powerful Open Heaven Realms as subordinates. Given his wealth, he was naturally dismissive of ordinary treasures. After putting everything of value in his own ring, he continued refining Open Heaven Pills.
Soon, however, the barrier around his house was triggered. Instead of a violent fluctuation this time though, it felt more like someone was simply trying to get his attention.
With a frown, Yang Kai got up and lowered the barrier. After pushing the door open, he saw a decent-looking young man standing outside. Seeing Yang Kai, the young man quickly saluted him, “Gathering Yuan Union’s Lu Jing greets Senior Brother!”
Yang Kai sized him up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
He remembered seeing Gathering Yuan Union in his Universe Chart, which included all the known Great Territories and great forces within them. When he was looking for the Star Boundary in the past, Yang Kai had carefully studied every part of the Universe Chart, so he vaguely remembered a force called Gathering Yuan Union.
However, he didn’t pay any attention to this force since he probably wouldn’t come into contact with them.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Gathering Yuan Union was above average among the Second Class great forces, with a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master overseeing their Sect.
“I’m sorry for bothering you, Senior Brother.” Lu Jing cautiously examined Yang Kai’s expression, and upon seeing that the latter didn’t show signs of impatience, he set his mind at ease. He was shocked to see Kong Tian Yu getting killed in just one move a short time ago. That guy was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but he was killed like an ant. Therefore, Lu Jing was terrified when dealing with Yang Kai as he was worried that the latter would make a move on him at any moment.
The participants of the Dao Theory Assembly had to understand that they might get killed at any moment; hence, Yang Kai could murder all the people on Intertwining Fate Peak if he wanted to do that.
“If you don’t mind, can I come in to speak with you?” Lu Jing asked in a gentle tone.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai stepped aside. Lu Jing thanked him and shuffled into the house.
After they were seated, Lu Jing said, “I’ve heard much about you, Senior Brother. Now that I finally see you…”
Before he could finish his flattery, Yang Kai raised his hand and cut him off, “Just speak frankly.” Since it was the first time they met, there was nothing worth talking about between them and the only reason Yang Kai let him in was to find out his intentions.
An embarrassed Lu Jing coughed and put on a hollow laugh, “Good, Senior Brother Yang, the reason I’ve come to visit you is to ask you to protect me in the Dao Theory Assembly to the best of your abilities.”
Yang Kai frowned and gazed at him in puzzlement.
Lu Jing put on a bitter smile, “As you can see, Senior Brother, I’m just a Fourth-Order cultivator, one of the weakest among the participants in the Dao Theory Assembly. If I encounter a powerful opponent, there’s no way I can survive.”
With an awkward expression, Yang Kai asked, “Since you’re aware of your weaknesses, why have you still come here to take part in the assembly?”
A troubled Lu Jing replied, “Do you think I want to be here, Senior Brother? I had no choice. Although the purpose of the Dao Theory Assembly is to help Senior Sister Qu select a Husband, it is also a major event in the 3,000 Worlds. My Father told me to take part in it to broaden my horizons and gain some life experience. He doesn’t expect me to become the winner. To be honest with you, many participants of the assembly are in the same situation as me.”
“They’re forced to come here by their families?” Yang Kai was surprised.
Lu Jing replied, “Well, not all of them. There are only a small number of people who are forced to come here by their families. What I mean is that they’re taking part in the assembly not to become the winner but to go through some training by using this event as an opportunity.”
Upon hearing his explanation, Yang Kai nodded his head. After giving it a thought, he realised that it was just like what Lu Jing had said. The Dao Theory Assembly was considered a major event in the 3,000 Worlds. Many powerful cultivators had gathered together in this place to exchange moves, which was a kind of training for them.
Then, Yang Kai said with a frown, “It will be difficult for me to ensure your safety. What I can do at most is to let you off when you’re faced with me. The others might not be as easy-going though.”
Upon hearing that, Lu Jing burst into laughter, “Do you think the assembly is just an event where all the participants have to fight with one another until the strongest one emerges?”
“Isn’t that the case?” Yang Kai was shocked.
Lu Jing explained, “There might be such an event in the final stage; however, from what I’ve gathered, the assembly isn’t so simple. There must be other arrangements; however, I’m unable to find out how the assembly would be carried out.” He paused for a moment, “Why do you think those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven want us to stay on different Spirit Peaks?”
Yang Kai replied, “Of course, it’s to allow the stronger cultivators to weed out weaker opponents in advance to simplify the situation.”
“That might be one of the reasons; however, it’s also possible that they want us to familiarise ourselves with one another and find our own companions so that we can face various challenges together.”
A glint flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes when he heard that. Was it really the intention of those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven for making such an arrangement?
Lu Jing went on to say, “The Dao Theory Assembly is to help Senior Sister Qu select a Husband, so it would be too straightforward if they just wanted to select the strongest cultivator. In that case, there would be no need for a competition at all, we would just have to stand in a row and let the High-Rank Open Heaven Realms examine us to select a winner. However, how do they examine the winner’s temperament and personality? Only by going through different tests could the participants showcase their capabilities in different areas.”
Yang Kai reckoned that Lu Jing had a point.
“Therefore, I think that the Dao Theory Assembly isn’t just about fighting against one another. There must be more to it!” Lu Jing’s eyes seemed to be glowing as though he was confident that his speculation was right. Then, he turned to look at Yang Kai, “Hence, I hope you’ll ensure my safety to the best of your abilities, Senior Brother.”
Yang Kai stroked his chin and said frankly, “If the assembly is just like what you’ve said, I can take care of you to some extent; however, what can you give me?”
Lu Jing was startled as he hadn’t expected Yang Kai to agree so easily. The speech he had prepared in advance now became completely useless, so he simply asked dazedly, “What do you want, Senior Brother?”
The way Yang Kai gazed at him made him shrink back.
“If I’m not mistaken, Gathering Yuan Union focuses on doing business. Your ships sail everywhere in the 3,000 Worlds, and your Sect is quite wealthy. Since you’re able to represent Gathering Yuan Union to take part in the assembly when you’re just in the Fourth Order, you’re obviously an important figure in your Sect.”
“Say no more, Senior Brother. I’m willing to pay you a Sixth-Order Yang Element treasure as a reward. What do you think?” Lu Jing interrupted Yang Kai as he was worried that the latter would come up with some unreasonable demands.
“Deal!” Yang Kai replied without hesitation.
Lu Jing breathed a sigh of relief and cupped his fists, “I’ll be relying on you then, Senior Brother. After the Dao Theory Assembly ends, I’ll pass you the reward.”
Yang Kai nodded, and after they chatted for a bit more, Lu Jing left.
Upon activating the Array again, Yang Kai returned to his room and fell silent.
A Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was able to directly offer a Sixth-Order Yang Element material, which went to show that Gathering Yuan Union was truly wealthy. It had to be noted that a Sixth-Order material was worth 10 to 20 million Open Heaven Pills, with Yin and Yang Element treasures being even more expensive than that.
Therefore, it was apparent that Lu Jing was an important figure in Gathering Yuan Union. Perhaps he was the Young Union Master, which was why he could offer such a handsome reward so easily.
If there were indeed other arrangements in the Dao Theory Assembly just like what Lu Jing had speculated, Yang Kai wouldn’t mind protecting him as long as he was capable of doing so.
There was a serious lack of Sixth-Order materials in Void Land. Besides the Great Emperors, Su Yan, and his other wives, Yang Kai also needed Sixth-Order materials now. Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like Yue He and the others also needed Sixth-Order materials to cultivate efficiently.
Although he had a First Class Star City where he could obtain Sixth-Order materials from time to time, Yin and Yang Element materials were still extremely rare.
Lu Jing was clearly a seasoned person, so he knew that other rewards might not be able to move Yang Kai. As such, he directly offered a reward that Yang Kai would not be able to turn down.
Everything was peaceful for the next few days.
When Kong Tian Yu was on Intertwining Fate Peak previously, the place was lively as the residents would exchange pointers from time to time. However, after he was killed by Yang Kai with only one move, the entire Spirit Peak fell into a dead silence. The dozen or so people living here all hid in their resting places to cultivate while keeping their defensive Arrays activated, worried that Yang Kai would storm into their places and kill them all in advance.
After all, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was essentially unmatched on the Spirit Peak.
The Dao Theory Assembly officially commenced a few days later.
As a loud bell tolled, the cultivators, who had been cultivating on their respective Spirit Peaks, stepped out of their residences.
On Intertwining Fate Peak, as soon as Yang Kai left his room, he saw many people looking at him with fearful eyes. Although a few days had passed, the sight of Kong Tian Yu’s head being blown up by Yang Kai’s spear attack remained vivid in their minds. Kong Tian Yu was the strongest Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master among them, but he was unable to survive a single move from Yang Kai. Certainly, as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Yang Kai stood out among them.
They were previously worried that Yang Kai would kill all of them on Intertwining Fate Peak so that he would have fewer opponents; however, after he dealt with Kong Tian Yu, he went on to cultivate in seclusion and didn’t bother anyone else, allowing the others to have some peaceful days to live.
Honestly speaking, if it weren’t because they couldn’t back down halfway, everyone on Intertwining Fate Peak would have fled already. None of them would be a match for a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in the Dao Theory Assembly, so rather than staying there and getting humiliated, they could save themselves some time and embarrassment by backing down.
However, the Dao Theory Assembly was held by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and no one had the guts to leave halfway. The consequences would be dreadful if their backing down was taken as a sign of disrespect towards Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Just then, Lu Jing approached Yang Kai in a friendly manner.
Yang Kai nodded gently at him and looked up. There was a slim woman clad in revealing clothes who was hovering in mid-air. Her short skirt could barely cover her alluring bottom, and as the wind whisked through her skirt, one could almost catch a glimpse of the spring scenery hidden below.
The woman was weak as she was only in the Third-Order Open Heaven Realm; however, her skin was delicate, and her eyes were extremely enchanting.
“Since all of you are ready, please come with me,” the woman stated in a sweet voice. As she turned around and flew forward, the men were aroused when they saw her bare back.
None of them moved a muscle as they gazed at Yang Kai.
It wasn’t until Yang Kai flew up that the others followed him.
More than a dozen people left the Spirit Peak and they soon reached the endless void. They had no idea where the woman was leading them to, but they could only follow her as it wasn’t appropriate to ask her about it.
One hour later, they finally saw a huge Universe World in the distance. The Universe World was much larger than average, and looking from afar, they could see that the terrain was pretty complex with the environment quite hostile. There was also a layer of grey mist around the Universe World, seemingly shielding it from complete view.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but study the Universe World in puzzlement. Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was one of the 36 Cave Heavens, so why was there such a strange Universe World in their territory? Given their strength, it wasn’t hard for them to change the environment of this Universe World, so there must be a reason for them to keep it as it was.
Outside the Universe World, there was a gigantic palace hovering in the void, in front of which was a square that was filled with many people.
The Third-Order woman from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven led the group from Intertwining Fate Peak to land on the square. After stabilising herself, she performed a salute in a particular direction, “Greetings, Elder Xu. The participants from Intertwining Fate Peak are all here.”
Xu Ling Gong was seated on a chair in that direction while Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue were standing behind him.
Seeing Yang Kai, Qing Kui nodded at him.
Xu Ling Gong swept a glance over them as his gaze eventually fell on Yang Kai. He seemed to be in a jovial mood as he said amicably, “Good, you may leave now.”
“Yes.” The Third-Order Open Heaven Realm woman bowed and departed, leaving Yang Kai and the others where they stood.
Yang Kai scanned his surroundings and realised that many cultivators had gathered together in groups in the square. There were somewhere between 300 to 400 of them in total. It seemed that they were also participants in the Dao Theory Assembly. The weakest ones were in the Fourth Order while there were many Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Just like those from Intertwining Fate Peak, these cultivators were supposed to be staying on their respective Spirit Peaks previously, but they were now all brought to this place.
Soon, Yang Kai fell into a dazed state as he stared fixedly in a particular direction, a hint of shock on his face.
That was because a petite woman was standing over there. Many of the participants around her were also examining her in shock.
The existence of such a woman among a large group of men was like the bright moon in the dark night sky. It was expected that their attention was drawn to her.
After all, the Dao Theory Assembly was meant to help Qu Hua Shang select a Husband. Although those from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven hadn’t set any strict rules, the participants were basically all men.
Why would a woman take part in such an assembly? However, there really was a woman standing right on the square. Moreover, Yang Kai actually knew her. She was none other than Gu Pan from Lang Ya Paradise.
Yang Kai could barely suppress his laughter. It wasn’t surprising that Gu Pan was in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven because she and Qu Hua Shang were close friends. Since this matter was about Qu Hua Shang’s future happiness, it was only to be expected that she had tagged along with her Master to this place. Nevertheless, it was quite awkward for her to appear in this square.
When Yang Kai came across Gu Pan and Qu Hua Shang in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary in the past, they were also Emperor Realm cultivators just like himself. After such a long time though, everyone from back then had ascended to the Open Heaven Realm.
[Qu Hua Shang and Gu Pan both ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. In that case…]
Yang Kai kept darting his gaze around and soon found two other familiar faces. One of them was Lin Feng from True Martial Cave Heaven, and the other was Ning Dao Ran from Free and Unfettered Paradise.
Of the friends he got to know in Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, only little fatty Xu Zhen wasn’t around. It wasn’t certain whether he didn’t come or he hadn’t ascended to the Open Heaven Realm yet.
When their eyes met, Lin Feng snorted as he seemed to be displeased with Yang Kai. On the other hand, Ning Dao Ran just nodded at Yang Kai as a polite gesture.
There were also some other unfriendly gazes that were examining Yang Kai.
As Yang Kai swept a glance over them and soon saw Pei Wen Xuan from Myriad Demons Heaven and Yin Xin Zhao from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven. These two guys had formed grudges against Yang Kai in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. At that time, Yin Xin Zhao relentlessly tried to kill Yang Kai. Fortunately, Qu Hua Shang never gave up on Yang Kai as she carried him on her back and eventually escaped from danger.
There were some other people that Yang Kai didn’t know, but he had a feeling that they were also Core Disciples from the various Cave Heavens and Paradises just like Qu Hua Shang.
There seemed to be a lot of powerful opponents in this Dao Theory Assembly.
The disciples of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven continuously led more participants to this place from various Spirit Peaks where they formed into different groups and waited patiently.
On a platform overlooking the square, Xu Ling Gong sat in the centre seat among the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises, all of whom sported dark expressions.
This couldn’t be helped, as Xu Ling Gong had suddenly changed the content of the Dao Theory Assembly.
According to the original plan, the participants would just have to go on stage and fight against one another until the final winner emerged. It was a brutal but simple way as the stronger cultivators would be at an advantage.
Nevertheless, Xu Ling Gong informed them at the last moment that the rules had been changed, which infuriated the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from more than a dozen Cave Heavens and Paradises. They didn’t mind changing the content of the assembly, but Xu Ling Gong had crossed the line by changing it at the last possible moment, leaving them unprepared.
Presently, Zhuo Bu Qun from Myriad Demons Heaven was seated to the left of Xu Ling Gong. He turned to look at him and asked impassively, “Brother Xu, what are you trying to do?”
“What do you mean?” Xu Ling Gong glanced over at him.
Zhuo Bu Qun asked, “Have you changed the rules at the last moment for a particular person?”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.” Xu Ling Gong appeared innocent, “If you think there’s something wrong with the assembly, you can leave now. I don’t mind.”
Zhuo Bu Qun snorted, “Is it really so easy, Brother Xu? Since we’ve joined the assembly, why would we leave halfway? If news spread, Myriad Demons Heaven would become a laughing stock.”
“Stop spouting nonsense if you’re not going to leave then. I’m in charge of the Dao Theory Assembly, and I can do whatever I want!” Xu Ling Gong seemed ready to fight it out if need be.
Seeing that both of them were incensed, the people beside them hurriedly calmed them down.
Xu Ling Gong looked smilingly at the square, but he secretly felt bitter in his heart. If Qu Hua Shang hadn’t pestered him, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to change the rules of the Dao Theory Assembly.
If they carried out the original plan and let the participants simply go on stage to fight, the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would have a distinct advantage. The winner would be one of those disciples from the aforementioned great forces, not Yang Kai.
Although Yang Kai was also a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it had only been two years since his ascension. Be it his heritage or foundation, he wasn’t comparable to the disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Only when the rules were changed would he stand a chance to become the winner.
Xu Ling Gong knew that Qu Hua Shang was trying to help Yang Kai, but despite that, the young man would have to rely on his own power if he wanted to win first place. Now, they could only hope that this brat wouldn’t disappoint them.
As time passed, all the participants of the assembly were brought to this place.
Yang Kai looked around and realised that there were about 500 or 600 people who were taking part in the assembly; however, he reckoned that there were originally more who were now buried on the various Spirit Peaks, just like what had happened to Kong Tian Yu.
Therefore, there were probably about 1,000 people who had registered to join the assembly.
It had to be noted that all 1,000 of these people were in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm and above. None of them were minor characters.
There was no doubt that the Dao Theory Assembly was a major event in the 3,000 Worlds. It seemed that Lu Jing was right to say that many of the people who joined the assembly didn’t intend to become the winner as they had to be fully aware that they were not powerful enough to win. The reason they still participated in the event was to give themselves some training.
Certainly, if they were lucky enough to be the winner, it would be life-changing for them.
Previously, more than a dozen Cave Heavens and Paradises had cordoned off the Territory Gates around Yin-Yang Territory and chased off all the foreign Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, which allowed the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to have some hope.
However, following the participation of more than a dozen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters now, their hope was thoroughly crushed.
Many well-informed people had some complaints about Yang Kai at this moment. If it was not for his sudden participation, the Dao Theory Assembly would not have had any Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in attendance. In the current situation, they no longer expected to obtain any of the top positions, they simply hoped that they would not be ranked so lowly that they besmirched the names of their Sects.
After a while, nobody else was guided to this place. It would seem that all of the participants had gathered here.
Qing Kui leaned over and muttered something in Xu Ling Gong’s ear, after which he nodded lightly and said, “Since everybody is gathered here, let us begin.”
Behind him, Su Ying Xue immediately took one step forward and raised an arm upon hearing those words. Hundreds of streams of light burst out all of a sudden and swept across the huge square.
A short while later, all the participating cultivators were surprised to find a pale gold wristband floating in front of each of them. The wristbands were made from some kind of unknown material that exuded a faint pulsing aura.
Su Ying Xue’s expression was cold and indifferent as she explained, “All participants, please wear these wristbands. These wristbands are very important. They are the key items that will determine your ranking in the Dao Theory Assembly, so do not lose them or destroy them. Do not remove them without authorisation either or you will be disqualified.”
Everybody curiously looked at the pale gold wristbands after hearing those words. Despite studying the wristbands from all angles, they could not figure out anything about them. Nevertheless, they could only obey since these arrangements were something Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had prepared for them.
It didn’t take long before everybody was wearing the wristbands. What was surprising was that the wristbands transformed into a circular brand that imprinted itself on their wrists when worn.
Yang Kai quietly scanned the wristband for a moment but did not detect anything unusual. He could not even sense the slightest hint of something wrong. As for what these wristbands were meant for, he remained clueless and turned to look at Lu Jing curiously.
Unfortunately, Lu Jing shook his head to indicate that he did not know anything either.
Yang Kai could only give up. In any case, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would eventually give an appropriate explanation for the situation.
Once everybody was wearing the wristbands, Xu Ling Gong slowly got to his feet. The majestic aura of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master unfolded and with a dignified expression, he spoke, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven has been established in the 3,000 Worlds for countless years. Our inheritance is steeped with history. Today, I will be choosing a Husband for my youngest Disciple. It is comforting for this Monarch to see so many handsome young men standing here. I hope you will perform well and achieve satisfactory results.”
His voice was not loud, but everybody could hear him clearly with the help of his Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm aura. It sounded almost as though he was standing next to each person while speaking.
“The location of the Dao Theory Assembly this time lies within the Universe World behind you.”
The expressions of many people changed to reveal knowing looks. The truth was that many of the cultivators had already made some guesses when they saw this Universe World. If that was not the location where the Dao Theory Assembly was going to be held, then why guide people to this place?
Yang Kai noticed that Lu Jing, who was standing next to him, had turned slightly pale. Lu Jing seemed apprehensive about something, almost as though this particular Universe World contained some kind of deadly threat.
“The Universe World before you is known as Prison Star. It is the place where Yin-Yang Cave Heaven exiles certain dangerous criminals. The people in that Universe World consist of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples who committed grave crimes, as well as vicious and atrocious villains who were captured and brought back from the outside world. It can be said that every single existence within that place is a criminal. You can kill them at your discretion!”
“I knew it! It really is the Prison Star!” Lu Jing murmured softly.
Yang Kai turned to look at Lu Jing. [He knows something about this Prison Star. Unfortunately, it’s not convenient for me to ask him about this matter under the current circumstances. I can only figure things out once Xu Ling Gong finishes his speech.]
“This Prison Star is a training ground for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples. What you need to do now is enter the Prison Star and slaughter those who can be killed. The wristband will record your achievements. In the end, the person with the highest score recorded in their wristbands will be the winner!”
As soon as those words left Xu Ling Gong’s mouth, a commotion broke out among the cultivators in the silent square and many of the cultivators couldn’t help revealing joyous looks.
That was particularly true for many Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. They originally thought that they would only be accompanying their charges on a study trip to the Dao Theory Assembly; after all, they did not have the slightest chance of winning against the ten or so Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in a straight-up fight.
On the other hand, if the Dao Theory Assembly was carried out in this manner, then they could avoid fighting with the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters entirely There was even a chance of winning first place if they could obtain a good enough result on the Prison Star.
Xu Ling Gong coldly observed the commotion below only to break into a grin after a long while, “You will know how the wristband records your achievements later, but there is something else this Monarch needs to inform you about first. All the criminals on Prison Star have been notified of this event, and have been told that if they kill enough participants, they will be able to obtain their freedom. That’s why… it’s not just you hunting them, they will also spare no effort to hunt you down; after all, it has been many years since they last tasted freedom.”
The commotion throughout the square died down abruptly.
One of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters frowned at those words, “Brother Xu, why was I not informed about this?”
If that were the case, then every single person who participated in the Dao Theory Assembly would be in mortal danger. There were many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on Prison Star, and if anybody were to encounter those people, even a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises might not escape alive.
Similarly, the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters turned to look at Xu Ling Gong in unison. It was clear that it was also the first time they had heard about this.
Xu Ling Gong slapped his head lightly, “Oh? Did I not tell you? No worries! It’s not too late for you to find out now!”
“Brother Xu, is this your own idea? Or, is this Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s idea?” A High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master questioned.
Xu Ling Gong glanced sideways at that person and simply stated, “I am in charge of the Dao Theory Assembly. Whatever I say goes. If you are worried about your Disciples, you can withdraw right now. This Xu will not stop anybody.”
[Withdraw!? We’re already here! Who would have the nerve to quit now!? If we did that, won’t other people look down on our Sects!?] They originally assumed that the Dao Theory Assembly was an explanation given by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven as a result of the joint pressure exerted by the various Cave-Heavens and Paradises for Qu Hua Shang’s actions. It would now seem though that everybody had been fooled by Xu Ling Gong.
If they had known that the Dao Theory Assembly would be so dangerous, they wouldn’t have allowed their most treasured Disciples to participate. Those whom they brought here were newly promoted Sixth Open Heaven Realm Masters. How could they compare with the old ghosts on Prison Star?
“Martial Uncle Xu, how will the achievements be calculated if two people worked together to kill a criminal?” Yin Xin Zhao of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven suddenly cupped his fist and asked.
Xu Ling Gong grinned, “Rest assured, as long as you are nearby when the criminal dies, you will share a certain amount of the achievements. You can figure out the secrets behind this mechanism yourselves.”
Yin Xin Zhao nodded lightly and asked again, “What if we were to… accidentally kill another participant?”
Xu Ling Gong said, “Of course, there will also be achievements for that. Moreover, all the results previously obtained by that person will be passed on to you.”
Yin Xin Zhao licked his lips and smiled, “I see. This Disciple understands now.”
The expressions of many participating cultivators were rather ugly. Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Dao Theory Assembly was now a chaotic free-for-all. There was no doubt that Xu Ling Gong set this up to promote killings. It didn’t matter whether it was the criminals on Prison Star or the participating cultivators, as long as they killed another, they would receive achievements for their deeds!
Lu Jing turned deathly pale as he gulped nervously and looked at Yang Kai pitifully, “Senior Brother Yang…”
The rules of the Dao Theory Assembly had suddenly become so brutal that he was not sure if Yang Kai was still willing to fulfil their previous agreement.
Yang Kai, however, just said, “Rest assured. Just follow me later.”
Lu Jing was overjoyed, “Many thanks for your care, Brother Yang.”
He was incredibly grateful that he made such a timely move back on Intertwining Fate Peak. How else could he have had the chance to follow a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now? He was just a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. If he had entered Prison Star with his current strength alone, it would not be long before he ended up as somebody else’s meal.
“Are there any other questions?” Xu Ling Gong scanned the audience.
Nobody answered.
Thus, he nodded in satisfaction, “In that case… Let the Dao Theory Assembly begin!”
After saying that, he sat back down again.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue stepped forward at the same time and walked out from behind Xu Ling Gong. They each used a set of hand seals before pushing their palms out towards Prison Star. In the next moment, a wide, multi-coloured road appeared out of nowhere, connecting Prison Star and the palace square like a rainbow.
Su Ying Xue shouted, “All participants, please enter. The event will last for one year, during which Prison Star’s Grand Array will remain closed. Nobody will be allowed to enter or leave without authorization. Once the one-year period is up, we will guide you back here!”
Everybody glanced at the rainbow bridge for a moment and not long after that, somebody moved and landed atop it. A distorted light flashed by and that person vanished out of sight in an instant, probably transferred somewhere on Prison Star.
The rest of the cultivators quickly stepped onto the rainbow bridge, either alone or in small groups of three to five.
Yang Kai was in no hurry to move and simply stood there waiting.
“Junior Brother Yang!” A coquettish voice suddenly rang out. Yang Kai turned to look in that direction and saw a figure flying out from the depths of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. It was Qu Hua Shang.
On the stage, Xu Ling Gong was taken aback by the sight and asked Su Ying Xue, “What is that girl doing here?”
Su Ying Xue slowly shook her head.
His facial muscles twitched slightly in annoyance. Regardless of the circumstances, the purpose of the Dao Theory Assembly was to choose a Husband for Qu Hua Shang; hence, it was truly inappropriate for her to make a public appearance at a time like this. Be that as it may, she was already here so it was already too late to stop her.
The cultivators who had yet to enter Prison Star looked up upon hearing her voice and many people recognised her identity and looked enamoured at the mere sight of her.
Leaving aside the fact that she was in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Qu Hua Shang’s figure and looks alone were first-class throughout the 3,000 Worlds. If they could take the winning spot in the Dao Theory Assembly, they would be able to win the hand of such a gorgeous beauty. If that had happened, then their lives would not have been in vain.
In front of everybody’s eyes though, Qu Hua Shang landed lightly in front of Yang Kai.
“Senior Sister Qu, what are you doing here?” Yang Kai asked.
He had not seen her since the last time the two of them had been caught in bed by Xu Ling Gong; therefore, he never expected for her to come here at this time.
“I came to see you.” She looked at him with a smile. All of a sudden, she took two steps forward and threw her soft body into his arms, “Come back soon, Junior Brother. I will be waiting for you!”
Yang Kai immediately froze in place. The two of them had been in the throes of passion and nearly sealed the deal in her bedroom last time, but that incident had simply been a trap devised by Xu Ling Gong so it could not be counted. But now, she was the one who took the initiative to hug him. Furthermore, she did it in front of so many people that he was completely caught off guard. When Yang Kai looked around, he saw that the expressions of many participating cultivators were as black as the bottom of a pot!
The Dao Theory Assembly was held in order to choose a Husband for Qu Hua Shang; therefore, all the cultivators who came to participate in this event carried at least a glimmer of hope in their hearts. They dreamed of winning first place and bringing home a beautiful bride. It was for that reason that they rolled up their sleeves and prepared to put their lives on the line.
To their greatest dismay though, Qu Hua Shang took the initiative to embrace one of the participants with a look that seemed to indicate that she was secretly in love with that man right in front of all of them…
That atmosphere instantly became tense. For a time, many people glared at Yang Kai with hatred and rage in their eyes. Even more people decided that what the eyes did not see, the heart did not grieve. They turned around and rushed onto the rainbow bridge and were transported into Prison Star.
“Junior Brother, please be careful!” Qu Hua Shang did not show too much intimacy in her actions and quickly let go. Then, she took two steps backwards and winked at him.
Yang Kai nodded lightly. Turning around, he strode towards the Rainbow Bridge.
“Senior Brother Yang, please wait for me!” Lu Jing finally came back to his senses and quickly caught up with Yang Kai’s pace. At the same time, he drew upon his World Force and covered both of them in it.
Yang Kai noticed and did not resist.
When the two of them stepped onto the rainbow bridge together, they felt a swirling sensation washing over them and their vision blurred for a moment. In the next instant, they were in another world.
Overwhelming pressure pressed down on them from above, and Yang Kai involuntarily slumped slightly. It felt as though his Small Universe was being covered by something and his power could not flow properly.
“Please forgive me, Senior Brother Yang. The transfer to the Prison Star is set to a random location. If I had not done that, you and I would have been separated and it would have been difficult to meet up again.” Lu Jing explained his actions just now.
Yang Kai looked surprised, “This place… is a little strange!”
Lu Jing said, “Senior Brother, don’t panic. The Prison Star…”
He was about to explain something when he suddenly heard a piercing scream coming from not far away. Turning to look in that direction, he saw a strong and burly man riding on top of a woman in a bush nearby.
The man was grinning and laughing. His hands were busy ripping apart the clothes on the woman’s body without care, quickly exposing her snow-white skin to the air. It didn’t take long before all she had left were her undergarments that concealed her most private parts. The woman kicked and punched desperately, crying and screaming at the same time; however, her actions only seemed to fuel the man’s excitement, causing him to become more and more aggressive.
“Stop! How dare you do such a despicable thing in broad daylight!?” Lu Jing felt the blood rushing to his head at the sight and roared in their direction. He never imagined that he would be greeted by such an ugly sight the moment he and Yang Kai entered the Prison Star.
Lu Jing’s voice startled the burly man who was about to finish what he started. That man turned to look in this direction, his eyes sweeping over Lu Jing. Then, he grinned savagely, “Where did this baby come from? How dare you ruin my fun? Scram if you don’t want to die!”
Lu Jing snapped angrily, “The people of the Prison Star are heinous indeed! Now that I’ve run into you, I can’t forgive your deeds!”
While speaking, he reached out and summoned a longsword into his hand before pointing it at the man.
The power of Lu Jing’s Small Universe fluctuated, making that burly man’s expression change slightly, “Fourth Order?”
His expression couldn’t help becoming solemn in response. He was only in the Third-Order Open Heaven Realm, on the other hand, this brat who popped out of nowhere turned out to be in the Fourth-Order. How could he dare to be negligent? He couldn’t care less about the woman pressed underneath him anymore and hastily drew upon his own World Force to confront Lu Jing.
Yang Kai glanced in their direction once then stopped paying attention to them.
One was in the Third Order while the other was in the Fourth Order, so there was no doubt about the outcome. Although Lu Jing was nothing compared to Yang Kai in terms of strength, it did not change the fact that a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was in the Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm. Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters generally commanded a certain level of respect in the 3,000 Worlds.
Instead, Yang Kai lowered his head to look at the jade slip in his hand, immersing his mind into it as he carefully inspected the contents.
This jade slip was something Qu Hua Shang had secretly stuffed into his hand under the guise of hugging him earlier. He did not know what information was recorded within the jade slip, but even so, it had to be important seeing as she did not hesitate to destroy her own reputation by making an appearance at the Dao Theory Assembly just to hand it to him.
On the other side, Lu Jing was caught in a fierce battle with that burly man, but thanks to the difference in their Orders, he still held the absolute advantage.
It didn’t take more than ten breaths of time before the burly man was suppressed to the point where he could not fight back. Sword wave after sword wave flashed out, slicing across the man’s torso, blood flowed freely from those wounds, and in a panic, the man hurriedly begged for mercy.
A hint of hesitation flashed across Lu Jing’s eyes, but he quickly responded firmly, “The death of scum who oppress others and forcefully seize women aren’t worth pitying!”
With a flick of his longsword, Lu Jing created a rain of sword waves that crashed down on the burly man. When the light died down, he gave a soft snort and flicked off the blood staining his blade.
Meanwhile, the burly man remained standing there motionlessly until a soft breeze blew past his body and shattered it like a wooden block that had been sliced apart. Blood flowed out like a river.
Inadvertently or otherwise, Lu Jing glanced at Yang Kai as though to say that he was not completely useless; unfortunately, he turned around only to see Yang Kai looking down at a jade slip. He couldn’t help feeling disappointed as a result.
Following the death of that burly man, a black light escaped from one of the pieces of his corpse and split into two. One part rushed into the golden wristband around Lu Jing’s wrist while the other part rushed towards Yang Kai, who was standing not too far away, and slipped into his golden wristband.
“Oh?” Lu Jing exclaimed in surprise, “Is that how our achievements are recorded?”
They had heard about this from Xu Ling Gong previously. As long as the participants were nearby when the criminals were killed, they would all share a certain amount of achievement. They had not understood how the mechanism of sharing worked at the beginning, but how could he not understand after witnessing the situation just now?
Lu Jing lowered his head to examine his golden wristband and discovered something. The golden wristband that was initially blank had been dyed black at a certain spot. It seemed to be part of a pattern, but the pattern was not fully revealed because the achievements he accrued were too few.
There was no time to think too deeply about this matter though. Putting his longsword away, Lu Jing walked towards the woman and gently asked, “Are you alright?”
The woman’s body and all her womanly charms were on full display. There were only a few torn pieces of cloth left covering her body and her suet-white-jade-like skin shone with a porcelain-like lustre. She was shivering violently and curled up in place. When she saw Lu Jing approaching her, her eyes filled with fear and panic as she kept shaking her head and pleading, “No! No! No, please…”
Her weak and vulnerable appearance made one subconsciously pity her.
His heart moved, Lu Jing tried to comfort her, “Miss, please don’t be scared. I don’t have any ill intentions.”
Walking over to her, he removed his shirt and draped it over her body to cover up her womanly charms.
Her body continued to shiver violently, and it was obvious that she had been scared witless by what had happened to her. The sight made Lu Jing feel helpless, but just as he was about to reassure her once more, an inexplicable sense of danger flooded his heart and chills spread across his entire body.
Before he could understand what was happening, he noticed that Yang Kai, who had been standing a few paces away earlier, had suddenly appeared before him at some point in time. Yang Kai was squeezing the woman’s neck and the expression on the woman’s face had become even more terrified than before.
“Senior Brother Yang, you…” Lu Jing looked at Yang Kai in puzzlement.
*Kacha…*
Yang Kai exerted some force into his hand and the woman’s head fell forward limply, the vitality in her eyes dissipating quickly. A black light escaped from her wrist and just like before, the light divided into two pieces and disappeared into their wristbands.
Lu Jing was shocked! Be that as it may, he was no fool, so after a moment of hesitation, he lifted the shirt he had draped over the woman’s body and instantly broke out in cold sweat at what he saw.
A dagger glowing with a faint blue light had appeared in the woman’s hands at some point. Moreover, the dagger was clearly aimed at his chest. Just a little further and it would have pierced into his body. Only then did he understand where the sense of crisis had come from just now.
The person he initially thought to be a powerless woman being assaulted turned out to be a poisonous snake that was hiding her fangs! If Yang Kai had not acted decisively, he would either be dead or heavily wounded by now!
“It turns out that everyone in the Prison Star is an extremely vicious person after all! They are all people who deserve to be killed!” Lu Jing wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cupped his fists, “Many thanks for saving my life, Brother Yang.”
Even a woman they met while she was being assaulted turned out to be so dangerous. It could be perceived what kind of people were locked up in this damned place from this experience alone.
Yang Kai smilingly said, “Brother Lu, don’t forget that indulging in lust is equivalent to hanging a knife above your head. Take care to avoid such mistakes in the future!”
Lu Jing blushed furiously, “It’s not what you think! I… I just… Haa…”
There was no way to explain away his mistake. That was because he had truly been fascinated by that woman’s beauty and charm for a time; otherwise, he would not have dropped his guard so easily. What Yang Kai said was not far from the truth.
“This Prison Star is odd indeed,” Yang Kai muttered to himself.
Lu Jing explained, “Brother Yang, you might not know this, but the Prison Star is a place used by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples as a life-and-death training area, so the entire Prison Star is shrouded and suppressed by a powerful Grand Array. All cultivators, regardless of their cultivation, will experience a huge decrease in strength here. Not to mention that the stronger they are, the more intensely they will be suppressed. I’m sure you saw my fight against that man just now.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I noticed.”
He had noticed this phenomenon as soon as he entered the Prison Star. There was some sort of suppressive force that existed everywhere, making him feel as though a mountain was pressing down on him.
Lu Jing was in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm while that burly man was in the Third-Order. Even so, their fight had not demonstrated the majesty that a Third-Order and Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master should have. That was clearly due to the suppression of the Grand Array covering the Prison Star.
Logically speaking, it should have been as simple as lifting a finger for a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to eliminate one in the Third-Order. Nevertheless, it had taken Lu Jing a whole ten breaths of time to finish his opponent. While Lu Jing’s strength was indeed much greater than the burly man’s, the suppression he faced was also much stronger. Thus, the wide gap in their respective strengths was narrowed greatly.
“Because of the Grand Array, all the people on the Prison Star are unable to exert their real strength. Since you are in the Sixth Order, Senior Brother Yang, you will also face the greatest suppression among us. That is why you have to be careful when you encounter an enemy. Even a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master might have the power to fight you on equal terms in this place.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly. Looking down at his golden wristband, he murmured thoughtfully, “The way the Dao Theory Assembly records our achievements is quite interesting as well.”
The golden wristband was originally just a blank golden brand; however, a small black mark appeared on one part of the golden wristband after they killed that man and that woman. He examined the golden wristband carefully and said, “It appears to be a pattern of a star.”
Similarly, Lu Jing looked at his wrist and compared the pattern on Yang Kai’s wrist with his own. Their situation at the moment was completely identical, “You’re right, Senior Brother Yang. This is most likely a star.”
It was just that the pattern of the star was not completely stained black yet. At most, only 10% of the star had turned black.
Recalling their encounter just now, Lu Jing commented, “Those two were probably in the Third-Order Open Heaven Realm. Moreover, you and I shared our achievements equally. Only 10% of this star was stained black. In other words, we have to kill 10 Third-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on our own in order to get one star’s worth of achievements! What if it were Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters or Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters…”
“We just need to test it out on somebody to know,” Yang Kai replied casually.
“That’s true!” Lu Jing nodded. Following behind a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yang Kai gave him a great sense of security. Even if they really were to encounter a powerful foe, he had nothing to worry about. He only needed to protect himself well and leave everything else for Yang Kai to solve.
Thus, he secretly decided that he would keep some distance the next time Yang Kai killed somebody. It would be bad if he stole more of Yang Kai’s achievements; after all, he only wished to return home safely from this trip. As for his final placing, Lu Jing wasn’t too bothered either way.
“But, before that, we have to figure out where we are located on the Prison Star,” Yang Kai rose into the sky while speaking.
He initially wanted to observe his surroundings from above, but to his surprise, he had only just taken flight when he suddenly felt the pressure on his head increasing sharply. Furthermore, the pressure became more and more horrifying the further up he went. When he reached a height of 1,000 metres, he became completely powerless to ascend further.
Yang Kai was speechless. The Prison Star’s Grand Array was truly amazing. It was able to make a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him unable to resist. Thinking about it again though, it made sense. This place was where Yin-Yang Cave Heaven locked up all the most heinous criminals, many of which were in the Sixth Order. If it were so easy to break free of the Grand Array’s suppression, then all the criminals within would have escaped a long time ago.
With his current strength, Yang Kai was only able to fly 1,000 metres up into the air. Any other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would probably fare worse in his shoes. In this way, escaping from the Prison Star was nothing more than a dream.
Standing 1,000 metres above ground, Yang Kai studied his surrounding environment whilst comparing the topography with the information contained within the jade slip in his hand.
This jade slip was something Qu Hua Shang had handed to him at the last moment. Recorded within the jade slip was various information related to the Prison Star, including a complete map and details on the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm prisoners.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had been managing the Prison Star for countless years, so they knew everything about it and its inhabitants. It would not have been difficult for Qu Hua Shang to obtain this information. Nevertheless, her actions could be construed as favouritism if they were known she only did this because she was worried that accidents might happen if Yang Kai ran into an enemy that was too strong for him.
Unfortunately, the information he obtained from his current investigation was too little for Yang Kai to confirm their current location; therefore, he could only continue to proceed forward.
Lu Jing followed behind Yang Kai with a relaxed expression.
Both of them experienced a sharp decrease in travel speed thanks to the suppression of the Prison Star’s Grand Array. Yang Kai originally thought that the one-year period of the Dao Theory Assembly was far too long; after all, the cultivators participating in the event were all in the Fourth Order and above. The Prison Star might be large, but it could not withstand the damage caused by hundreds of Open Heaven Masters battling each other. It would not take more than ten to fifteen days for the entire Prison Star to be turned upside down.
Now, however, it would seem that their travel speed and strength had dropped significantly due to the various suppression effects of the Prison Star’s Grand Array. One year might not even be enough time for a person to tour the entire Prison Star.
Yang Kai would stop and study the topography of his surroundings from time to time, and after half a day, he finally confirmed his location. He carefully went through the information recorded in the jade slip once more before he turned to look in a certain direction.
[You’re first!]
While leading Lu Jing forward, the pair occasionally came across wandering criminals, some alone, some in small groups.
Xu Ling Gong had spoken the truth. All the criminals locked up in the Prison Star had been informed in advance about a large number of cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly who would pour into the Prison Star. If they killed enough of the participants and obtained the necessary achievements, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven agreed to set them free.
Tempted by this offer, the criminals on the Prison Star were actively searching around. Many of them had been imprisoned in this place for hundreds or even thousands of years. Some might even have been here for longer than that. As long as Yin-Yang Cave Heaven did not agree, they had no way of escaping this place. This opportunity was so difficult to come by, so they had to make good use of this opportunity.
If they were lucky enough, they might even receive a new chance at life!
Although there were many criminals imprisoned on the Prison Star, most of them were not particularly strong. Along the way, Yang Kai and Lu Jing only encountered those who were in the Third Order and below. Yang Kai had not bothered to attack, but Lu Jing enthusiastically killed them all.
After multiple attempts and experimentation, the two of them finally gained some understanding of how things worked. As long as the distance between them exceeded 300 metres, then the credit for the kill would not be shared. On the other hand, the black light escaping from the wrists of the criminals would split into two as long as they were within 300 metres of each other.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven probably designed this system in this manner after taking into account that some people might travel together. This profit-sharing method would make dividing their achievements more convenient. Naturally, there was an issue regarding who contributed more and who contributed less; however, that could be solved through negotiation among those travelling together.
Three days later, the two of them entered a dense jungle. The dense jungle was covered in a thick fog that reduced their visibility to just ten metres at most. The surrounding area also had a faint suppressive force that dampened the perception of their Divine Senses. It was obvious that some sort of Spirit Array had been arranged here.
The presence of a Spirit Array could only mean that there were people living here, and judging by the traces and strength of the Spirit Array, the person living here was not weak.
Lu Jing nervously followed closely behind Yang Kai, peering into his surroundings from time to time. He did not know why Yang Kai wanted to come here, but Yang Kai seemed to have had a very clear goal throughout their travels.
*Kacha…*
A soft sound rang out, causing all the hairs on Lu Jing’s body to stand in fear, but looking down he saw that he had simply stepped on a dried branch. Laughing in relief, he felt that he might have been a little too nervous.
The thought had only just crossed his mind when a black shadow suddenly loomed over him. Immediately following that, Lu Jing felt an extremely sticky feeling wrapping around him while his nostrils were filled with a nasty and pungent stench. It felt as though he had accidentally fallen into a smelly swamp. Shocked, he hurriedly activated his Small Universe. World Force surged and spilled forth as he punched forward ferociously.
Lu Jing’s vision abruptly returned to him while his entire body felt wet and sticky; he was covered from head to toe in a turbid yellow liquid. Turning to look behind him in shock and terror, Lu Jing saw a huge flower with a gaping hole that had been blasted open by something. The flower was oozing with a liquid that was identical to the liquid covering his entire body.
Lu Jing’s expression darkened. Only then did he realise that he had been swallowed by this strange flower just now. He had seen many of these enormous flowers along the way, but he never imagined that they were capable of eating people.
“Oh?” Yang Kai looked at the flower with interest.
*Ci ci ci…*
An odd swaying sound rang out around them as a dozen or so of these gigantic flowers in their surroundings suddenly burst open to reveal rows and rows of jagged fangs. The tendrils of the flowering plants stretched out like poisonous snakes towards them. Then, these flowering plants bit down on the two of them.
“How dare mere Monsters act so brazenly!?” Lu Jing yelled with a stomach full of grievances. With a flick of his hand, he summoned his longsword. Sword light flashed out, slashing at the attackers and tearing them to pieces one after another. These flowers might be strange, but it was not strong enough to actually harm a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him.
*Shua shua shua…*
The sound of something slicing through the air rang out. The branches of the ancient trees in their surroundings seemed to come alive and began whipping towards them. Moreover, each attack contained an extremely heavy force behind it.
Before Lu Jing could recover from his shock, the branches lashed all over his body. He was so badly beaten that he became flustered and quickly shouted for help, “Brother Yang!”
“What an impressive Spirit Array!” Yang Kai commented casually before pitch-black Golden Crow’s True Fire suddenly erupted from his body and spread outward, instantly burning the branches that stretched out towards them to a crisp.
Terrified faces appeared on the ancient trees in the surroundings. There was a series of rustling sounds as many of the ancient trees pulled their roots out from the ground and fled as though they had encountered their natural enemy!
The surroundings around Lu Jing and Yang Kai suddenly became empty.
“Let’s go and meet the Master of this place!” Yang Kai grinned.
Lu Jing was covered in wet and sticky goo, but he could only dejectedly follow behind Yang Kai as he murmured, “Brother Yang, I don’t feel so good.”
“You’ll be fine. We’ll borrow the bath from the Master of this place to wash up later.”
Lu Jing sighed, “I guess that’s all we can do.”
The slime all over his body contained some corrosive properties, but his cultivation as a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master allowed Lu Jing to withstand them. Doing so would only consume some of his World Force, so it wasn’t too difficult. What was annoying was the foul stench that made him want to vomit.
The pair moved forward smoothly. After what happened just now, the flowers and strange gigantic trees had vanished out of sight, but the Array in this place also seemed to have bewildering abilities. Yang Kai and Lu Jing wandered around for a while but could not leave, much less discover where the Master of this place was located.
Yang Kai impatiently stopped in his tracks and shouted loudly, “Are you here, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch!? Come out and face me!”
According to the information given by Qu Hua Shang, the person who lived here was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master by the name Hui Gu.
When Hui Gu arrived at one of the Universe Worlds under the jurisdiction of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, he brought catastrophe to it and caused all life to be annihilated. His actions provoked the anger of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and he was eventually captured by one of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Elders who was in the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Hui Gu was then thrown into the Prison Star where he had been imprisoned for more than 800 years.
This dense forest was basically an existence akin to a Restricted Area for all the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples who entered the Prison Star for training. After all, the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples who came for training would not be too strong. Who among them could survive a direct confrontation against an established Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like the Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch?
Only people on the level of Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue would be an opponent for Hui Gu. It was just that their identity and status did not allow them to enter the Prison Star without sufficient reason. The only exception being that they received a special mission from the Sect. When they were promoted to become Outer Elders, they were each sent into the Prison Star to kill a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master as a kind of test.
“Where did this thing with no eyes come from!? How dare you run wild in this Monarch’s territory!? Hurry up and scram if you don’t want to die; otherwise, don’t blame this Monarch for being ruthless!” A sharp voice rang out, and listening to this ear-piercing voice felt very uncomfortable. Furthermore, the voice seemed to come from all directions. It was difficult for anybody to pinpoint where it was coming from.
“Are you sure you want to speak to me in such a manner?” Yang Kai glanced sideways in a certain direction.
A strange cackling laughter rang out, “Brat, you sure are arrogant! This Monarch is in a good mood today, so I will overlook your transgression. Hurry up and scram before I reconsider!”
Yang Kai gently nodded, “I hope your bones are as hard as your mouth is stubborn!”
When those words left his mouth, the pitch-black Golden Crow’s True Fire burst out and filled the surroundings, turning everything around Yang Kai into a sea of flames!
Yang Kai did not know much about the Dao of Spirit Arrays; but there was clearly a Bewildering Array set up in this place. Neither he nor Lu Jing could find their way around as a result. In order to destroy the Spirit Array, he could either locate the Array Core or shatter its structure with brute force. Given that it was simpler, he chose the latter option.
The pitch-black Golden Crow’s True Fire filled the air, burning everything that it came into contact with and forcing its way outwards. The sharp voice initially taunted him unceasingly, but the other party quickly realised that something was wrong with the current situation. The whole array was on the verge of falling apart under the engulfment of the Golden Crow’s True Fire.
The voice suddenly became incredibly furious. That person controlled the Array from the shadows and triggered all sorts of changes that turned into an endless variety of attacks. These attacks then shot towards Yang Kai and Lu Jing from all directions, each one containing great power.
Yang Kai’s expression remained unchanged, however. While casually blocking each and every one of those attacks, the Golden Crow’s True Fire continued to spread outwards.
Lu Jing hid beside Yang Kai, looking pale and not daring to move a single muscle. As a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he would have been killed on the spot if he had fallen into this array on his own. The only reason he remained safe and sound was thanks to Yang Kai’s protection.
The attacks that came from all directions were not only dense but also never-ending. Not to mention, every single attack contained power equivalent to the full-strength blow of a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
An incense stick later, Yang Kau suddenly turned to look in a certain direction and grinned savagely, “Found you!”
The power in his body surged and wrapped around Lu Jing. Following that, he charged forward in that direction and rammed straight through the Bewildering Array before he plunged headfirst into an enormous tree cave.
A violent force spread out, accompanied by a series of muffled groans and screams of agony. The huge tree swayed, leaves and branches falling. Three breaths later, everything became calm again.
Inside the tree cave, Yang Kai held a midget by the neck. This fellow was half the height of an ordinary Human with a long and sharp chin that jutted out. Yang Kai held the midget up in front of him and gave a gentle shake. The midget remained motionless, swaying back and forth like a limp noodle. Even the aura around his body was completely obliterated.
“Is he dead?” Yang Kai furrowed his brow tightly. All of a sudden, he licked his lips and added, “Well, if he is, I shouldn’t let him go to waste.”
Under Lu Jing’s stunned watch, Yang Kai opened his jaw wide and lifted the midget to stuff him into his mouth. His actions made it seem like he was going to eat him alive. Lu Jing’s eyes twitched violently at the sight.
Just then, the midget that had been motionless and pretending to be dead suddenly began to struggle and scream frantically, “Mercy! Have mercy, Sir!”
Yang Kai looked at the midget with a playful expression, and as their gazes met, how could the midget not know that Yang Kai had simply been messing around with him? His little trick of playing dead had been seen through from the start.
Yang Kai casually tossed him to the ground and said lightly, “Don’t even think about running. You won’t get away.”
While speaking, he walked over to a bench and sat down grandly with a swish of his robes.
The midget trembled violently and crawled on the ground. How could he dare to run? He had only exchanged a couple of moves with Yang Kai before he was captured alive. With his meagre strength, he wasn’t even worthy of carrying Yang Kai’s shoes. In addition, his plan to play dead had failed miserably. How could he have any other thoughts at the moment?
Glancing around, Yang Kai noticed that the furnishings inside the tree cave were very simple. It could be seen that the master of this place was not a materialistic person. After confirming that there was nothing worth taking notice of, in the room, he finally lowered his head to look at the midget in front of him and asked disappointedly, “Are you Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch?”
Contrary to the information that Qu Hua Shang had given to him, the midget in front of him was only in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm, a far cry from a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The midget hurriedly explained, “Sir, please understand. This little one is only a servant of Sir Hui Gu!”
“So, you are not Hui Gu?” Yang Kai raised an eyebrow at those words.
The midget looked up and squeezed out an ingratiating smile, “This one is called Bai Mo!”
While speaking, he raised his hand and stroked the cluster of white hair on his head.
(TL Note: Bai Mo = White Hair, literally)
“Pfft!” Lu Jing couldn’t help bursting into laughter from where he stood nearby. Even he could sense that the midget was only in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm after observing the fight between Yang Kai and the midget earlier.
The midget might have held a leadership position among slightly weaker Second-Class great forces, but he was nothing more than a servant here on the Prison Star. Moreover, he had been given such a random name. This was clearly not his real name, but there was no need to inquire further into this matter.
“Where is Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch?” Yang Kai furrowed his brow tightly together, feeling a little disgruntled. He had come all the way here, thinking that he could go on a killing spree and earn some achievements, but who could have known that he would only find a weakling in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm here? This trip was a waste of his time and energy.
Bai Mo replied respectfully, “Thanks to a grand event on the Prison Star recently, Master has gone to visit Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch to discuss countermeasures.”
“Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch?” Yang Kai’s expression changed upon hearing those words. He thought back on the contents recorded within the jade slip given to him by Qu Hua Shang and there was indeed somebody by the name of Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch, who was also in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. It was said that he had the bloodline of a Great Monster, so his strength was not to be underestimated.
“Sir, you came here to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly hosted by Yin-Yang Heaven, right?” Bai Mo asked, carefully observing Yang Kai’s expression.
“So what if I did?” Yang Kai studied Bai Mo seriously. Yang Kai was staring so hard that Bai Mo felt all the hairs on his body standing upright. Whenever he recalled the time when Yang Kai had tried to eat him up in one bite, he couldn’t help shuddering.
Hastily squeezing out some tears, Bai Mo prostrated himself on the ground, “Sir, please have mercy! This one’s cultivation is low. I did not commit any heinous crimes either. Back then, I simply had eyes but failed to see and made fun of a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciple! For just that, I was actually thrown into the Prison Star. Sir, please have mercy! I’m really not a criminal!”
Upon confirming that Yang Kai and Lu Jing were here to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly, how could Bai Mo not know that his very life was just a trophy in their eyes? He was no match for them in terms of strength, so he could only beg for his life.
Yang Kai kicked Bai Mo to the ground, “Stop snivelling if you want to live!”
Bai Mo immediately fell silent and stared at Yang Kai pitifully with traces of tears still in his eyes.
Sitting on the chair, Yang Kai mulled over the issue for a while. After pondering in silence, he got to his feet and picked Bai Mo up from the ground, “Do you know where Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch is?”
Bai Mo quickly nodded, “I do! I do! Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch is on good terms with Master, so they keep in contact with each other. Master once brought me to Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s Palace!”
“Guide me!” Yang Kai released Bai Mo and instructed.
Ba Mo looked at Yang Kai incredulously for a moment, then he immediately became overjoyed, “Sir, please come with me!”
At the same time, a middle-aged and fair-faced man along with another burly and stocky man sat opposite each other inside an enormous palace that was located approximately 100,000 kilometres away. There was nothing about the fair-faced man that made him seem particularly special. On the other hand, the stocky man was one head taller than most people. His muscles stacked high upon each other, giving off the feeling of explosive power.
These two were none other than Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch and Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch.
Bai Mo had not lied. As soon as it was announced that a large number of cultivators would enter the Prison Star to participate in some kind of Dao Theory Assembly and their targets were all the criminals on the Prison Star, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch had immediately departed for Giant Clam Palace to discuss countermeasures with Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch.
The two of them might be in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but they did not dare to underestimate the elite disciples of the various Cave-Heavens and Paradises. Besides, the Dao Theory Assembly was an opportunity for them. If they could kill enough of the participating cultivators, they could regain their freedom.
In any case, they were not worried about whether or not Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would play fair. Seeing as they were notified of this matter, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was bound to fulfil their promises no matter what. That was why both Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch and Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch took this matter very seriously.
Contrary to their expectations, however, the two of them were in the middle of their discussion when Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch suddenly sensed an anomaly back at his secluded home. He performed a Secret Technique and immediately found out about the situation.
At this moment, a transparent light screen appeared and floated between the two Masters. The light barrier was projecting the current situation within Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s secluded home. Naturally, the conversation between Yang Kai and Bai Mo entered their ears clearly without any deviation whatsoever.
Dispelling the Secret Technique, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch looked up at Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch, “What do you think, Brother Ju Xian?”
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch replied grimly, “Not surprising. That brat must be from one of the Cave-Heavens or Paradises; otherwise, where would he find the confidence to come charging straight at us both at once?”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch nodded, “It’s a given that he comes from one of the Cave-Heavens or Paradises, but which one is uncertain.”
“Who cares where he comes from? It’s one thing if he does not provoke this Monarch, but if he dares to run wild in this Monarch’s territory, then he will not walk out of this place alive.” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch waved his hand boldly, his voice filled with great self-confidence.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch said, “Don’t get careless, Brother Ju Xian. This brat knows that we are together in the same place. Even so, he dares to come charging straight at us. It’s clear that he has something to support his confidence.”
“Hui Gu, you are too cautious. What is there to fear if you and I join forces? No matter how powerful he is, he is no different from us. We are all in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm after all. Moreover, according to the information we received, all the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters participating in this Dao Theory Assembly are newly advanced with less than a hundred years’ accumulation. How strong can this boy’s heritage be? Don’t forget; a battle between Open Heaven Realm Masters is nothing more than a competition between the strength of their respective Small Universes’ heritage.”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch mulled over the issue and nodded, “Your words make sense, Brother Ju Xian, but it is still better to err on the side of caution.”
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch chuckled, “Rest assured, this Monarch is no fool. If that brat really does come here, I will send somebody else to test him first to learn more about his foundation and origins. Brother Hui Gu, I’ve always told you that you should have gathered more subordinates under you. You just had to ignore my advice and keep only Bai Mo. He is just a trivial Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. What can he do?”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch laughed, “I’ve always liked my peace and quiet.”
“In any case, that doesn’t matter anymore. If you and I seize this opportunity during the Dao Theory Assembly, then we can escape from this place. When that time comes, we can go anywhere we want.” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch licked his lips, “How many achievement points will someone in the Sixth Order give us?”
“I don’t know, but it’s obvious that it won’t be too few.”
The two of them exchanged a glance with each other and were very eager to make a move. Since they knew that Yang Kai was heading straight for this place, it was only natural that they made certain arrangements to ensure that the brat did not walk out of this place alive.
…
“Brother Yang, what is the cultivation of Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch?” Along the way, Lu Jian suddenly asked this question.
Yang Kai did not respond. On the other hand, Bai Mo proudly said, “Master is in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm! He is also one of the supreme existences on the Prison Star!”
Lu Jing’s expression couldn’t help becoming solemn. He even felt a sense of lingering fear creeping into his heart. Although a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master could also call themselves a Heavenly Monarch, the gap in strength between one Order and the next was extremely wide. As a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Lu Jing also had the right to address himself as ‘Heavenly Monarch’; however, the weight and power of his title as a Heavenly Monarch were as different as night and day compared to Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch.
“Is this Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s Palace?” Yang Kai looked up at the huge palace built into the towering mountain above them, one that was constructed almost completely out of odd-shaped boulders, giving it a simple but crude air.
Under Bai Mo’s guidance, the three of them travelled 100,000 kilometres and finally arrived at this place. Before they even went up the mountain though, Yang Kai could already perceive the malicious gazes that seemed to come from the above clearly. Those gazes seemed to be looking in this direction.
It was conceivable that this place was different from Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s home in that there were a number of subordinates around, instead of just one. The palace was clearly teeming with Masters, not just Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch alone.
Nevertheless, this was exactly what Yang Kai was hoping for. The more people there were, the greater the benefits he would reap once he succeeded in his endeavour. It would also save him the effort and time of going around searching for prey.
“Brother Yang, are we going up the mountain just like this?” Lu Jing’s complexion was turning paler and paler by the moment. Although his cultivation could not compare to Yang Kai’s, his perception of danger was extremely sharp. The hidden but powerful auras coming from the mountain were far too oppressive for him.
“Do you want to wait here for me?” Yang Kai glanced at Lu Jing.
Lu Jing hesitated for a moment before he shook his head, “I’m going with you, Brother Yang.”
There were many dangers in the lion’s den, but staying outside alone might not be as safe as staying beside Yang Kai. At the very least, staying with Yang Kai meant that they could take care of each other even if they ran into any powerful enemies.
“Let’s go,” Yang Kai took a step forward. When he first advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he had single-handedly destroyed Profound Yang Mountain and defeated the three Mountain Lords. His current strength was much higher than back then, so no matter how impressive this palace might be, it was nothing compared to Profound Yang Mountain back then. Hence, there was nothing to fear.
Their path forward was unobstructed, with not a single person in sight; however, Lu Jing could distinctly sense the hidden and suppressed murderous intent around him that was poised to attack at any time.
It didn’t take long before the trio arrived at the top of the mountain. Many people were standing on a smooth and flat square located at the mountain peak. A rough estimate indicated that there were a dozen people gathered in this place, and their eyes immediately lit up at the sight of Yang Kai.
The cultivation of these dozen or so people was uneven, ranging from the Third Order to the Fifth Order. Furthermore, there were two figures standing quietly behind this group, looking on with interest.
Yang Kai immediately focused on these two people, but that couldn’t be helped as the aura around them was obviously much stronger than the others. While it was impossible to determine their exact cultivation, if his guess was correct, then these two were most likely Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch and Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch.
“Master!” Bai Mo looked up at Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch pitifully. In addition, his eyes were filled with tears and untold grief.
The Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch nodded lightly, “I know what happened. It’s not your fault. Come here!”
Bai Mo glanced at Yang Kai with some trepidation and did not dare to move away.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch said lightly, “Rest assured. Nobody can hurt you in front of this Monarch.”
“Yes!” Bai Mo hurriedly replied before his figure shifted as he moved away from Yang Kai, rushing towards Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch.
Yang Kai did not move, almost as if he didn’t notice Bai Mo running away from him. He simply counted to himself, and after a while, he nodded and said, “13 people. It’s a little lacking, but such is life.”
Everybody was taken aback by his words. Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch frowned, “Little friend, which Cave-Heaven or Paradise do you belong to? Identify yourself!”
“Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch?” Yang Kai squinted in that direction and asked another question instead of answering the previous question.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch nodded in response, “It is this Monarch.”
“So, you must be Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch?” Yang Kai then turned to look at the burly man.
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch coldly snorted, “Indeed. Brat, I don’t care which Cave-Heaven or Paradise you come from, since you dare to barge into my palace, don’t even think about leaving this place alive!”
Yang Kai exclaimed in surprise, “You sure are hospitable, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch!”
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch coldly snorted again, “I can’t believe you still have the mood for wisecracks. Let me show you just how this Monarch treats unwelcome guests!” With a wave of his large hand, he shouted, “Kill!”
In an instant, all 13 Open Heaven Realm Masters standing in front of Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch and Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch drew upon the power of their Small Universes in unison. The might of their Secret Techniques and artifacts burst forth, blasting towards Yang Kai.
Lu Jing paled visibly. Without even thinking about it, he pulled away and quickly retreated! In the face of such an overwhelming barrage, he had no way to defend himself. The only thing he could do was withdraw!
He had only just steadied himself when he heard a series of explosions coming from in front of him. The aftermath of violent energy spread out in all directions.
Before the dust had even settled though, flashes of spear light erupted, and a mix of muffled groans and screams of agony rang out. Fresh blood splattered in all directions as wave after wave of sharp energy burst out like ripples spreading outward in all directions.
The fallout from these clashes caused Lu Jing’s vitality to roil and his Small Universe to quiver. For a time, he felt dizziness washing over him and horror flooded his heart. Not daring to be careless, he hurriedly circulated his strength to stabilize his Small Universe.
It took a full ten breaths of time before Lu Jing finally recovered, and at the same time, the vibrations from in front of him subsided without warning. When he looked up, he couldn’t help letting out a soft cry of surprise, his mouth gaping open so wide that he could have stuffed a fist into his mouth.
1,000 metres ahead, Yang Kai stood motionless, hefting a spear over his shoulder. The wind blew, causing his black hair to flutter and his robes to flap noisily. Blood flowed around his feet while pieces of meat and severed limbs were scattered all around him. It was a bone-chilling scene that looked like purgatory itself.
Every one of the 13 Open Heaven Realm Masters who had attacked him just now was dead, with not many even retaining complete corpses. Most of their bodies were torn to pieces as though they had been hit by a storm of brutal attacks.
Lu Jing was stunned. Likewise, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch and Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch were frozen in shock. Meanwhile, Bai Mo was so terrified that he nearly fell backwards to the ground. Just thinking about the fact that he had been travelling with somebody so powerful that he could have been casually crushed to death filled him with a sense of overwhelming dread.
Numerous black lights flew out from the corpses and plunged into the golden wristband on Yang Kai’s wrist, instantly causing three stars to light up at once.
“You…” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
He never expected his subordinates to actually kill Yang Kai. According to his joint speculation with Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch, this person was most likely in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm; after all, the other party had dared to come charging directly into this place despite knowing two Sixth-Order Heavenly Monarchs had gathered
Therefore, he initially planned to use his subordinates to test Yang Kai’s abilities before he made further plans. His plan would also make it more convenient for him and Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch to launch a targeted assault on their opponent. Who could have known that 13 of his subordinates would be killed in such a swift and brutal manner?
Although the strength of those 13 subordinates had varied quite a lot, there were still 2 Fifth Orders among them. Even so, none of them could defend against the opponent’s spear!
“How dare you do this!?”
Yang Kai licked his lips as though he had just eaten a full meal, “You are hospitable indeed, Heavenly Monarch!”
“I’ll kill you!” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was infuriated. He might be in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but it was not easy for him to recruit so many subordinates under him on the Prison Star; after all, he was not the only Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in this place.
Besides, the cultivators on the Prison Star were ruthless and vicious people, so most of them were unwilling to be subservient to others. Compared to serving under someone, these outlaws preferred to be free so that they could act without restraint.
The main reason Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch only had Bai Mo as his subordinate was that he personally preferred having peace and quiet. The second reason was that he had not been able to find other suitable candidates.
The dozen or so subordinates under Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch were people whom he had spent a lot of effort to subdue. Their strength might not compare to his, but he could leave various matters to their discretion. It had saved him a lot of time and effort in the past; hence, it was only natural that he was filled with boundless rage when they were slaughtered by Yang Kai’s spear.
In his rage, the muscles on his body bulged and his entire being swelled in size by a considerable margin. He grabbed at something in the void and two round war hammers appeared in his hands. His huge and stalwart figure was indescribably imposing. It only took him a single step forward for him to appear above Yang Kai’s head. The war hammers came swinging downward.
“Impressive attack!” Yang Kai commented, his desire for battle stimulated. He had exchanged blows with various Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on multiple occasions, but he had not had a proper fight against another Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master since his return from Shadowless Cave Heaven. For that reason, he wanted to know just how much he had grown since the time he had initially broken through.
Yang Kai’s spear stabbed forward like a leaping dragon. There was nothing fancy about his movements, but there was a kind of indescribable beauty in their simplicity. There was no fixed style of form to his movements as his spear seemed to flow freely and without restraint.
*Hong…*
Turbulent World Forces collided with each other and Yang Kai’s figure swayed slightly. He clearly felt his Small Universe World shake from the impact.
On the other hand, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was sent flying backwards like a sack, his eyes filled with pure astonishment.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch initially planned to follow up after Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch to attack Yang Kai, but when he saw this scene, his pupils contracted abruptly. He simultaneously suppressed the World Force that was gathering in the palm of his hand as quickly as possible.
As a fellow Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he clearly knew the extent of Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s heritage. Their strength was basically on par, with neither having any kind of discernable advantage over the other.
Just now though, Ju Xian had been forcefully sent flying after a single clash with this unknown enemy, which went to show how powerful this boy’s heritage was!
With such a mighty enemy, things wouldn’t end well for them even if they joined forces. How was it possible for someone in the Sixth Order to exert so much power? Just which Cave Heaven or Paradise did he belong to?
On the other side, Ju Xian crashed to the ground in a mess, both his eyes still widened in shock. He could scarcely dare to believe that he could be so vulnerable. Although the attack just now had not injured him, the Small Universe in his body was shaking restlessly.
Shaking his head vigorously, Ju Xian hurriedly suppressed the shaking in his Small Universe. Only then did he feel a little better.
“Weak. You’re too weak!” Yang Kai shook his head slowly. Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s strength could not even compare to Mao Zhe’s, so it was only natural that the other party was no match for him.
Back then, Yang Kai had enough strength to fight Mao Zhe even though he had only just advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so what more was there to say about his current strength? He had devoured a massive amount of World Force from the Wind Spirits in the Astral Wind Source; hence, his current strength was significantly higher than after he just rose to the Sixth Order.
“Junior, how dare you humiliate me!?” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was livid. Raising his twin war hammers above his head, he charged forward again without regard for anything else. He drew upon all the power in his Small Universe and poured his World Force into his twin weapons. Then, he ferociously smashed them down on Yang Kai in a barrage of attacks. Every hammer that came crashing down tore space apart and caused the surrounding world to collapse.
Yang Kai’s spear swept out as he met each blow head-on.
It might not have been long since he advanced into the Open Heaven Realm, but Yang Kai already had countless experiences fighting other Open Heaven Realm Masters, giving him a firm understanding of such conflicts. A battle between Open Heaven Realm Masters was simply a competition between the heritage of their respective Small Universes. The stronger their heritage, the greater their strength, and vice versa.
Yang Kai might not have advanced into the Open Heaven Realm long ago, but he had fully integrated his Sealed World Bead into his Small Universe during his advancement. The Small Sealed World had always contained a huge heritage, among which included some of the Blood Monster Divine Monarch’s legacy. It was only natural that ordinary Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters could not compare with him.
After exiting Shadowless Cave Heaven, he also refined many Wind Spirits and obtained the World Force contained within their bodies, saving him at least 100 years of cultivation.
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch might be strong, but he couldn’t even compare with Mao Zhe, so how could he be a match for Yang Kai? There was a loud explosion and his burly figure was sent flying backwards once more. He slammed straight into the mountain and a violent force struck his body, causing him to bleed profusely.
*Hong…*
A huge hole appeared along the stretch halfway up the mountain as Ju Xian smashed right into the mountain and vanished out of sight. The mountain peak swayed unsteadily for a while, as though it was about to collapse as gravel and loose rock tumbled down its sides.
Yang Kai casually flicked his spear and turned to look at Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch, who had been watching the battle, “It’s your turn now.”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s expression was solemn. In all the years since he advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he had fought countless Masters of varying Orders, but even so, he had never met anyone who was as strong as Yang Kai. If Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was no match for this young man, then he would naturally be no match for this person either.
When he saw Yang Kai looking in his direction with malicious intentions, he sullenly said, “Ju Xian will not be so easy to defeat. It’s not too late for such big talk after you beat him!”
“Hmm?” Yang Kai suddenly turned his head to look at the hole that had been smashed open in the mountain. A surging but hidden power seemed to be reviving in that direction. An extremely terrifying power spread outward, interlaced with an extremely pure…
“Monster Qi?” Yang Kai raised his brow.
He suddenly remembered something. According to the information recorded in the jade slip that Qu Hua Shang had given to him, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch seemed to carry a Monster Race bloodline. Although he had not noticed this factor when exchanging blows with the other party just now, it would now seem that the information Qu Hua Shang had given to him was accurate. Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch did indeed carry a Monster bloodline. Moreover, a powerful one at that.
“The reason why ants will always be ants is that they will never experience the power of a Master! Brat, you’ve angered me now! The consequences of angering this Monarch are dreadful!” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s majestic voice rang out from within the walls of the mountain. Following the sound of his voice, the entire mountain peak swayed and dense cracks appeared along the entire side of the mountain.
*Dong dong dong…*
A steady heartbeat that sounded like the beating of a drum reverberated through the air, influencing the flow of vitality in everybody. Bai Mo and Lu Jing immediately flushed red, looking like they were in great pain.
A rumbling sound came from the walls of the mountain, as though some sort of behemoth was walking out from inside it.
*Kacha…*
Two gigantic hands suddenly protruded from the mountain wall. The sturdy rocks were crushed into dust by these gigantic hands, almost as if they were as fragile as tofu. Just by looking at these gigantic hands, it was easy to imagine how enormous their owner was.
“Moo!” The sound of a bull’s mooing shook the entire sky.
The two gigantic hands violently wrenched apart the mountain walls, creating a large split that extended across its entire length. Then, a bull’s head with two curved horns emerged from within, one that carried a slight resemblance to Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s original appearance. The ‘giant’ then opened his mouth and roared, “Junior, today will show you what true power…”
The roar coming from the bull’s head suddenly caught in his throat. He suddenly felt a large shadow blocking out the light from his eyes and the Monster bloodline in his body couldn’t help shuddering in fear. When he looked up, he saw a gargantuan Dragon Head looking down at him with great interest.
The Dragon Head had twin horns, Dragon Scales covered its entire body, and the Dragon Beard below its maw flapped in the air magnificently. Moreover, the two Golden Dragon Eyes, like two huge suns staring at him, emitted a dazzling light.
*Gudong…*
The bull’s head swallowed audibly at the sight, while Bai Mo and Lu Jing shivered in fear. Meanwhile, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch shouted with an extremely solemn expression, “Dragon Clan!”
He had personally witnessed the small young man suddenly swelling and transforming into this behemoth in front of him in less than a breath of time. The 1,500 metres long body in front of him was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.
“Oh?” Yang Kai snickered, “What were you saying just now? I’ll allow you to finish your sentence!”
The bull’s head remained silent, but his expression was as gloomy as could be.
Yang Kai shook his head slightly, “The Prison Star’s Grand Array is truly amazing. I can’t believe it managed to suppress me so much.”
When he was fighting earlier, Yang Kai had already noticed this phenomenon. Under the suppression of the Grand Array, he could only exert approximately 30% of his full strength. Needless to say, the same held true for everybody here.
It was just that he was astonished to discover that the Prison Star’s Grand Array could even suppress his Dragon Transformation Secret Technique. Under normal circumstances, his figure would have reached at least 4,500 metres in length; however, he was barely 1,500 meters now.
Their four eyes suddenly met, and the bull’s head slowly retracted back into the mountain.
Yang Kai stretched out his Dragon Claw, reached into the mountain without the slightest hindrance, and dragged out Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch who had activated his Monster bloodline.
At this moment, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s image was completely different from before. His body was several dozen metres tall and every single muscle stacked on top of each other indicated great underlying strength. Unfortunately for him, his figure, which would have been terrifying in front of an ordinary person, now looked as ridiculous as a child’s toy in front of Yang Kai.
“A Kui Niu descendant?” Yang Kai raised an eyebrow.
Kui Niu was an Ancient Divine Spirit, and although it was not ranked very highly, it was still a Divine Spirit. Any mature Divine Spirit would have the strength of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was clearly a descendant of Kui Niu, but his bloodline was obviously not very pure. The only reason he obtained that kind of physique was by activating his bloodline with the heritage of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. If not for the suppression of the Prison Star’s Grand Array, his body would have been much larger. Unfortunately, regardless of how much larger he would have been, the difference between him and the current Yang Kai wouldn’t change.
“Die!” Knowing that he was standing on the juncture of life and death, Ju Xian opened his mouth and let out a roar after being captured by Yang Kai. Dense World Force transformed into a pure plume of smoke under the influence of a Monster Race Secret Technique and shot towards Yang Kai. This plume of smoke looked almost ethereal and non-existent. Nevertheless, it was a blow that contained the full power of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Yang Kai clenched his hand hard while at the same time, he opened his ferocious mouth and took a deep breath, causing his abdomen to abruptly swell up as a result.
“Fire Dragon’s… Flaming Breath!” Pitch-black Golden Crow’s True Fire spewed out from Yang Kai’s Dragon Maw, colliding with the white column of smoke.
The intense forces collided with each other, causing an enormous shockwave to spread out in all directions. The impact pushed Yang Kai’s body backwards slightly. Taking this opportunity, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch launched a fierce storm of attacks on Yang Kai’s claw that was grabbing him.
The pain nearly made Yang Kai loosen his grip and throw Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch away. Fortunately, he collected himself in time. Before Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch could break free of his grip completely, Yang Kai tightened his grasp around the other party’s legs and immediately after that, he raised his arm and smashed Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch into the ground.
*Hong…*
An earthquake shook the ground and the surface cracked open.
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch felt a wave of dizziness washing over him, but before he could recover from his shock, Yang Kai lifted him up and swung him down to the opposite side to smash him into the ground once more. Ju Xian fought back desperately, but any form of resistance was futile in the face of such overwhelming strength.
*Hong hong hong…*
Lu Jing stood frozen on the spot. With every explosion that rang out, his body bounced upward involuntarily due to the shockwaves travelling along the ground. He stared blankly at Yang Kai who was toying with a behemoth that was several tens dozen metres tall as though throwing a ball of dough from side to side…
“The end has come…” On the other side, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s eyes widened in horror. He wanted to escape, but he could clearly sense that Yang Kai had separated out a thread of aura that locked onto him from a distance while he dealt with Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch.
If he did not escape, then this aura would simply remain idle, but the moment he ran, Yang Kai would move to stop him. He had no confidence that he could escape from this monster.
[Is Yin-Yang Cave Heaven planning to purge us all this time?] The Prison Star had existed for over a hundred thousand years and had always been an important training ground for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples. Although there were countless criminals locked up in this place, there was no denying that they had greatly contributed to the growth of many Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples. [Why did Yin-Yang Cave Heaven let such a monster into the Prison Star? Could it be that they no longer feel the need for the Prison Star to exist and want to wipe out everyone within?]
Looking at Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch who was completely helpless to fight back and could only allow himself to be slaughtered like a cow, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch couldn’t help feeling a sense of sorrow and sympathy because he knew he would be next.
*Hong hong hong…*
The loud explosions continued. Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch had activated his Monster bloodline, which strengthened his physique and made him far more resistant to physical punishment, but even so, he could not withstand being tossed around by Yang Kai in this manner.
A short while later, Yang Kai stopped. He held the several dozen metres tall Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch upside down and gave him a little shake. Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s body swayed like a limp noodle. Blood flowed profusely, dripping downward like a trickling river. Even the bull horns on his head were broken.
“Is he dead? How boring!” Yang Kai’s voice rumbled loudly as he lifted Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch to his eye level.
The motionless Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch abruptly jerked his eyes open. The rage and humiliation burned brightly in his eyes, like rampant flames that threatened to burn everything to ashes.
“Die together with me, you bastard!” Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch roared furiously. All of a sudden, his originally burly figure swelled in size and his World Force became extremely disordered.
Yang Kai gingerly picked up the toothpick-like Azure Dragon Spear from the ground and thrust it at Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch.
The Azure Dragon Spear grew rapidly and soon became 1,500 metres long. The spear stabbed straight into Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s chest, pinning him firmly against what was left of the mountain wall.
Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s eyes widened. He glared hatefully in Yang Kai’s direction but could not break free of the Azure Dragon Spear’s suppression no matter how much strength he drew out. A terrifying force surged up from the spear and poured into his body, destroying his innards wantonly. Even his Small Universe was shattered and began to collapse.
“I can’t believe that I, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch, will die like this!” The light in his eyes slowly dimmed. Even though his face was filled with resentment and unwillingness, his vitality eventually dissipated.
“En, he should be dead this time,” Yang Kai muttered to himself; however, he did not see any black light rushing towards him despite waiting for a little while. He pondered in silence for a moment before the realisation struck him. They were probably too far apart. According to the hypothesis that he and Lu Jing came up with earlier, they had to be within 300 metres in order to obtain the achievements from killing their enemy.
Grabbing the Azure Dragon Spear with one hand, he dragged Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s corpse that was speared onto its tip closer to him. The moment he did so, a dense black like flew out from Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch’s right hand and plunged into his wristband.
Slightly more than three stars had been illuminated on his golden wristband before, but when the black light from Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch poured in, five more stars lit up all at once.
“I can get five stars from killing someone in the Sixth Order?” Yang Kai raised his brow slightly at the sight. He was starting to get a vague understanding of how the achievements in the Dao Theory Assembly were calculated.
Along the way here, Lu Jing had killed several insignificant parties. Combined with the achievements that Yang Kai obtained from slaughtering the 13 Open Heaven Realm Masters from earlier, the correlation between the Order and the number of achievement points became clear.
The achievements in the Dao Theory Assembly were most likely calculated with Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as the base; in other words, killing a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would fully light up one star on the golden wristband. Accordingly, it would take ten Third-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters or five Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to fully light up one star on the golden wristband.
Meanwhile, killing a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would give five times the achievement accrued from killing someone in the Fifth-Order. It would seem that killing a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would provide the highest gains. Be that as it may, how could someone in the Sixth Order be so easy to kill?
Apart from Yang Kai, all the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters participating in the Dao Theory Assembly were young rising stars, each of them having broken through less than 100 years prior. Even if their starting points were extraordinary, they could not compare with the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on the Prison Star who had undergone millennia of cultivation to strengthen their foundations. Therefore, they could only manage to kill a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master if two or three of them worked together!
There weren’t many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on the entire Prison Star, but there were still about 20 of them. If Yang Kai could kill all of them, then he was bound to firmly occupy first place in the Dao Theory Assembly. Unfortunately, it was far too troublesome to search for them one by one. The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were scattered across the Prison Star and the area covered by the Prison Star was vast. Under the premise of being suppressed by the Grand Array, he might not find many of them even if he searched non-stop for the next year!
Yang Kai gathered his thoughts and turned to look to the side. Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch, who had been standing there and watching the fight, had disappeared at some point. Even Bai Mo was gone. It was obvious that they had fled hastily when he sank into contemplation.
“Senior Brother Yang, they escaped in that direction!” Lu Jing loudly called out to Yang Kai while pointing in a certain direction.
“They won’t be able to escape,” Yang Kai broke out into a savage grin. His enormous figure shrank rapidly and returned to his original appearance. Manipulating Space Principles, he then vanished from the spot.
Trying to escape from a person who was proficient in the Dao of Space was nothing more than a fool’s dream. It didn’t matter how capable Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch was, as long as the slightest traces remained, he would never escape from Yang Kai’s pursuit. In this regard, Yang Kai had absolute confidence.
10,000 kilometres away, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch brought along his one and only subordinate Bai Mo as he escaped as swiftly as the wind. There was a layer of blood mist around his body and it was obvious that he had activated some sort of Secret Technique that had a heavy consumption rate. It seemed he was burning his own Blood Essence to flee with all his strength.
The sight of Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch being killed had frightened him out of his wits. Before today, he could never have imagined that Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch would be so vulnerable. [No. It’s not that Ju Xian is incompetent. The strength of that guy from the Dragon Clan is just too tyrannical and outrageous.]
Despite both parties being in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was killed effortlessly, completely incapable of fighting back against Yang Kai.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch was on par with Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch in terms of strength, so seeing as Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch was no match for Yang Kai, neither was he. That was why he decided to run away when Yang Kai was distracted; after all, that man was an existence akin to a living nightmare. If he did not flee, then all that awaited him would be death.
*Shua…*
All of a sudden, his figure that had been speeding forward came to an abrupt stop. Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s expression was extremely solemn as he stared forward, a drop of cold sweat sliding from his forehead to his cheek.
“Master?” Bai Mo looked at Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch hesitantly.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch did not respond. He simply continued to stare hard into the space straight ahead. This place was shrouded in a fog so dense that he could barely see ten metres in front of him, and even his Divine Sense was suppressed to the limit. Nevertheless, he could clearly sense that there was an extremely ferocious gaze upon him from up ahead. It felt like an evil Dragon was hiding there!
[How… How can he be so fast!?] Hui Gu was filled with disbelief. He had fled with all his might, so how could that monster have gotten ahead of him?
Realisation seemed to hit Bai Mo at that moment. Although he could not see anything ahead, it did not stop him from inferring something from the expression on Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s face. A hint of panic filled his expression, but that panic soon turned into determination. His power surged with a loud roar, “Master, go! I’ll stop him for you! You have to remember to avenge me, Master!”
After shouting those words, he charged straight ahead.
Two bright crimson rays of light shone from within the fog, like two red lanterns in the dark night.
*Pa…*
A thud was accompanied by a miserable scream. Bai Mo was mid-charge when he was slapped to the ground by a palm that seemingly stretched out of nowhere, his life or death uncertain.
“Foolish loyalty!” The two crimson rays of light swayed and slowly loomed closer. Then, the figure of that Dragon Clan member gradually entered Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s vision.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch glanced towards Bai Mo and discovered that the latter had simply been smacked to the ground and he was in no life-threatening danger. Only then did Hui Gu look back at Yang Kai, who was approaching him one step at a time, and solemnly asked, “Are you going to kill me?”
Yang Kai stopped and stood 30 metres away from Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch. Tilting his head to the side, he said lightly, “That will depend on whether you wish to live or die.”
“What if I choose to live?” Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch asked. Who would willingly choose to die if the option to live existed? Unfortunately, he did not have the confidence to defeat such a terrifying opponent. If it came down to a fight, the fate that awaited him would be no different from what happened to Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch.
*Pa…* An ancient book was thrown at his feet.
“Use your Blood Essence to write down your name. Then, you can live!”
“This is…” Hui Gu frowned deeply and picked up the ancient book. Flipping through it, he saw that each page contained the name of a different person written in blood. There were six people whose names were written in total, while the book itself had nine pages in all. Seeing as there were six people’s names written in the book so far, there were only three pages left blank.
The first three names were nothing special, so Hui Gu was not too bothered by them; however, the dried bloodstains that made up the last three names clearly revealed the residual aura of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. In other words, the last three people who wrote down their names were also in the Sixth Order like himself!
“May I ask a question? The six people whose names are written in this book… Are they still alive?” He looked up at Yang Kai.
“They’re alive and well. It’s just that the moment you write your name down in that book, your life or death will be under my control!”
“So, it is the Loyalty List!” A look of understanding flashed through Hui Gu’s eyes. He had a slight guess when he first saw this item and his conjecture had just been confirmed.
“Oh? You know about the Loyalty List?” Yang Kai looked at Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch in surprise.
“It is rumoured that an ancient Master known as Loyalty Demon refined the skin, flesh, and bones of Xie Zhi to produce this item. I have only heard of it and have never seen it for myself. So, this is what it looks like.”
Yang Kai grinned, “Since you already know about it, then that saves me the effort of explaining how it works. Choose. Do you submit or meet your death!?”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch sighed, “The winner is the King and the loser is the villain. Do I really have a choice?”
While saying so, he decisively turned to the seventh page. He then bit the tip of his tongue and forced out his Blood Essence before leaving his name on the page.
Yang Kai immediately felt a vague connection forming between himself and Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch; thus, he immediately broke out into a big smile, “A wise man will submit to the circumstances. A talented person chooses his Master. Hui Gu, you will not regret the decision you made today.”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch remained silent. Although he had been captured and thrown into the Prison Star, he was still free to a certain extent. As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, there was nobody who could force him to submit in this place. At most, there were some who were slightly stronger than him. Now though, his life lay in the hands of another. This feeling was very difficult to accept in such a short time.
Bai Mo, who had been smacked to the ground earlier, crawled up and ran over to Yang Kai, speaking with a flattering smile, “Sir, this one is also willing to write his name down in the book. I will serve you faithfully from now on!”
His Master had been subdued by the other party, so he didn’t really have much of a choice.
Yang Kai glanced at Bai Mo coldly and put the Loyalty List away, “You are not qualified.”
There were only nine pages in the Loyalty List and he had used up seven of them. The pages contained the names of Chen Tian Fei, Hei He, Yun Xing Hua, Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, Zhou Ya, and the newly subdued Hui Gu. Hence, there were only two pages left. There was no way Yang Kai was going to waste one of the pages on someone only in the Fourth Order.
Bai Mo’s face paled and he quickly began to beg for his life, “Sir, have mercy! Please have mercy, Sir!”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch spoke up from the side, “Sir, Bai Mo is loyal to me. His cultivation might be on the weaker side, but it is better than nothing. I hope you will show him some mercy.”
The fundamental essence of the Dao Theory Assembly was to hunt. It did not matter whether it was the criminals on the Prison Star or the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly, both parties considered the other’s existence to be worth a certain amount of stars. Therefore, Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch was worried that Yang Kai might kill Bai Mo for those points.
Yang Kai replied lightly, “Since you’ve said as much, then he can continue working by your side.”
Bai Mo was overjoyed and quickly said, “Many thanks, Sir!”
He hurriedly ran to stand beside Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch, gazing at Yang Kai with awe. He had watched Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch being killed with his own eyes. For a man who could effortlessly kill such a powerful figure, a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like himself was probably no different from an ant.
“Wait here for me,” Yang Kai said before he vanished from the spot with a flash.
“This is…” Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s expression suddenly became focused. He carefully perceived his surroundings and exclaimed in understanding, “A Space Secret Technique! So, that’s how it is!”
No wonder he was overtaken by the other party, it turned out this extraordinary young man was proficient in the Dao of Space! His loss was truly not undeserved.
Yang Kai returned a short while later with Lu Jing, whom he left behind at Ju Xian’s Palace earlier.
Lu Jing couldn’t help feeling shocked to see Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch standing there. When he heard how Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch addressed Yang Kai, his shock grew even greater. He simply could not understand what had happened during the short time he separated from Yang Kai that could make a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master submit to another one so easily.
On the other hand, Bai Mo cheerfully walked over to greet Lu Jing. He probably wanted to create a good relationship with the latter.
“Sir, where are we going now?” Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch asked.
Yang Kai replied, “We’ll return to your tree cave.”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s expression scrunched in confusion as he asked, “Return to my tree cave?”
Yang Kai asked, “You’ve been on the Prison Star for a long time, right? How many of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters here do you know?”
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch answered, “I know seven or eight of them. The rest live too far away, so I don’t have much contact with them.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Send a message to them saying that you and Ju Xian are discussing countermeasures for the Dao Theory Assembly. Invite them to come over and join you.”
“Sir, are you planning to lure them into a trap?” Hui Gu’s expression changed when he realised what Yang Kai planned to do.
In the beginning, he had not understood why Yang Kai had let him go free or why Yang Kai had specially used the Loyalty List to subdue him. It had to be said that the power Yang Kai displayed was such that no Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master on the Prison Star could be his opponent. Furthermore, Hui Gu’s very existence undoubtedly represented a sizable chunk of achievement in his eyes.
It was only at this moment that Hui Gu understood the reason why Yang Kai had subdued him. Yang Kai wanted to use his connections.
“It’s too much trouble to go searching for them one by one. There’s nothing more enjoyable than for them to walk to their deaths on their own accord!” Yang Kai grinned.
“I understand.” Hui Gu lowered his head, “But, Sir, the ones that I am acquainted with don’t always live in the same place. Some of them like to wander around while some of them are even more secretive about their whereabouts. I might not be able to get in touch with all of them.”
“Just do your best!” Yang Kai said.
If not for this, he would have no reason to subdue Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was worth five stars to him after all. It was just that the information in the jade slip given to him by Qu Hua Shang had mentioned the same thing, most of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on the Prison Star did not have fixed residences and were extremely difficult to find as a result. Hence, he subdued Hui Gu as part of his plan to use him to lure the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters into his trap.
Hui Gu immediately began making arrangements. It was not easy to communicate with the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Although many of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters occasionally interacted with each other on the Prison Star, only a few of them could be considered friends. He sent Bai Mo along with his Faith Token to some of the places he knew in order to pass the message to those Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, inviting them to his secluded home to discuss countermeasures for the Dao Theory Assembly.
Bai Mo’s loyalty to Hui Gu was unquestionable. He even had the guts to stand up against Yang Kai so that he could create an opportunity for Hui Gu to escape. For that reason, there was no need to worry about their secrets leaking out if he was the one to handle the communications.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai took Lu Jing with him and returned to the forest tree cave with Hui Gu in tow.
The forest had been badly burned by the Golden Crow’s True Fire; therefore, Hui Gu needed to fix up the Spirit Array, lest the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters noticed that something was wrong.
On the other hand, Yang Kai cultivated in retreat inside the tree cave while refining Open Heaven Pills.
After waiting for a few days, the criminals on the Prison Star began to enter the dense forest in a steady stream, though the ones who came were not just the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. There were also Third-Order, Fourth-Order, and Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who either came alone or in small groups of three to five. It was thanks to Bai Mo, who loudly announced that his Master had joined forces with Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch to resist the participants of the Dao Theory Assembly whenever he came across others while on his way to deliver the original messages.
Many of the criminals on the Prison Star were currently operating without proper leadership, so learning that many foreign Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were going to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly had filled them with apprehension. Hence, they quickly came to join the undertaking upon hearing that two Sixth-Order Heavenly Monarchs were willing to lead the fight against the invaders from the various Cave-Heavens and Paradises. Unfortunately, their trip here was akin to a journey to the Yellow Springs!
Yang Kai didn’t even need to lift a finger as Hui Gu did all the work for him. Anybody who entered the forest was captured and brought to him alive before they were killed on the spot. It didn’t take more than a few days for more stars to appear on Yang Kai’s wristband. Moreover, the number of criminals who came to the forest increased as time passed and his gains increased accordingly.
Lu Jing couldn’t help feeling envious at the sight.
Right now, Yang Kai simply needed to sit on his hands and do nothing for the criminals to voluntarily arrive here and become part of his achievements. It was easy and convenient.
Even so, Lu Jing knew that there was nothing to be envious of. The only reason Yang Kai could harvest such gains so easily was thanks to his overwhelming strength. Without that strength backing him up, everything was just empty talk.
Half a month later, as many as 15 stars had lit up on the golden wristband. Excluding the five stars contributed by Ju Xian, the rest were obtained by killing criminals below the Sixth Order.
It had only been less than a month since the Dao Theory Assembly began, but Yang Kai had already obtained such astounding results. Lu Jing simply could not imagine who else could compete with Yang Kai at this rate. Even if the other participants sought out and killed criminals without pause, they still would not be as fast as Yang Kai.
This was all thanks to the huge effect of subduing Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch. Compared to killing him directly, it was undoubtedly more beneficial to make use of his connections and reputation.
On this day, Yang Kai was refining Open Heaven Pills inside the tree cave while Lu Jing quietly sat to the side. All of a sudden, they heard a loud roar coming from the outside, “Hui Gu, Ju Xian! This Monarch is here! Why haven’t you come out to greet me!?”
Yang Kai slowly opened his eyes, his eyes glinting with anticipation. [A big fish finally took the bait!]
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch’s figure appeared inside the tree cave and cupped his fist, “Sir!”
“I know,” Yang Kai stood up slowly, “Who is here? How strong is he?”
Hui Gu replied, “The one who came is Shen Luo, also known as Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch. In terms of cultivation, he is a little weaker than me and Ju Xian, but not by much. Of course, he could never compare with you, Sir.”
Those words were not flattery. Having seen Yang Kai’s true strength, Hui Gu truly believed that nobody in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm could match up to Yang Kai. Only those in the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm could suppress his monstrous strength.
“But, Shen Luo did not come alone. He brought many subordinates with him.”
There was a Spirit Array set up in this forest, which allowed him to observe the situation as long as another person entered its range.
“That’s perfect!” Yang Kai licked his lips and got to his feet, “I’ll leave the small fries to you. Shen Luo is mine.”
“Yes!” Hui Gu replied grimly.
Inside the Grand Array, the tall and bulky Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch shouted impatiently, “Hui Gu, Ju Xian, are you all deaf!? This Monarch came here on your invitation to discuss important matters! Why are you avoiding me!? What’s the meaning of this!?”
A Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master beside Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch furrowed his eyebrows deeply before whispering softly with a vigilant look on his face, “Sir, be careful. Something seems to be wrong here!”
Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch frowned at those words. He had not paid much attention earlier; after all, Hui Gu and Ju Xian were gathered here. Who would dare to be so blind as to cause trouble with two Sixth-Order Masters watching? Nevertheless, he immediately noticed that something was indeed wrong after being warned by his subordinate. This place seemed to be a little too quiet.
It wouldn’t have been strange if it was just Hui Gu as he didn’t have many subordinates in the first place. His only aid was Bai Mo, who was out delivering the messages; however, Ju Xian had quite a few subordinates under him.
[Why is there nobody around?] Just as that thought crossed Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch’s mind, two figures suddenly appeared in front of him with a whooshing sound.
He looked up and frowned before interrogating, “Hui Gu, what the Hell are you doing? Who is this guy? Where is Ju Xian?”
The unfamiliar young man looked down at him condescendingly. Those eyes contained an intriguing look that revealed a strong sense of aggression, which made Shen Luo feel very uncomfortable.
Hui Gu only said lightly, “Sorry!”
“What?” Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch was puzzled.
Yang Kai grinned at Shen Luo and answered, “Ju Xian is dead, but don’t worry, I’ll send you to meet him soon!”
Saying so, he suddenly appeared in front of Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch. They were so close that he was practically touching the Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch’s face.
Shocked, Shen Luo punched out on instinct. All the strength in his body was condensed in his fist and the World Force of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master erupted out!
Yang Kai also punched out in defence.
There was a loud explosion. Following the shockwaves of World Force, Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch felt as though a storm had blasted through his Small Universe, causing it to rock and tumble uncontrollably while his entire being was violently thrown out.
“Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master!?” His expression changed drastically, “Are you from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises!?”
There were only 20 or so Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on the Prison Star, and all of them at least knew each other even if there was no friendship between them. However, Shen Luo had never seen this young man in front of him before.
There was only one explanation for the current situation. This young man was not one of the criminals from the Prison Star but one of the participants from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises!
“Hui Gu, how dare you collude with the Cave-Heavens and Paradises to destroy us!?” Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch roared furiously.
Hui Gu lowered his eyes, “I had no choice. Shen Luo, it’s every man for himself.”
Yang Kai laughed, “Forget that nonsense! Eat my fist!”
Another punch blasted out, causing Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch to stagger backwards. After exchanging just two blows, he had gotten a rough estimate of Yang Kai’s heritage. The World Force of the other party’s Small Universe was much stronger than his own.
[Didn’t they say that all the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters participating in the Dao Theory Assembly are newly advanced with less than 100 years of experience!? How can a newly-advanced brat have such overwhelming strength!? Just where did this shitty piece of information come from!?] While those thoughts ran through his mind, a barrage of fist shadows entered his vision. Shen Luo did not dare to underestimate these attacks and could only defend himself desperately.
*Hong hong hong…*
Explosions burst out one after another and his figure was steadily forced backwards. He was suppressed so badly that he could only defend himself without any ability to counterattack. When he turned to look at the side, he saw that the subordinates he brought with him were being indiscriminately bombarded with attacks from Hui Gu.
Although some of his subordinates were in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, it was impossible for them to resist against an established Sixth-Order Master. It was only a matter of time before they lost the battle and died.
[I can’t continue staying in this treacherous place! Once Hui Gu frees up his hands, he will surely join together with this young man. I might not escape alive if it turns into a two-on-one battle!] Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch frantically punched out as soon as that thought crossed his mind. Ignoring the lives of his subordinates, he forced Yang Kai back before turning to flee.
“Trying to run?” Yang Kai shouted and Space Principles fluctuated madly, turning the surrounding space viscous. At the same time, he activated Near Distant Horizon and the space around Shen Luo stretched out infinitely.
They were both Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, so Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch would not be completely suppressed by Yang Kai’s Space Techniques, but even so, his speed was greatly affected.
An overwhelming sense of crisis loomed over Shen Luo from behind, and with no other choice, he could only turn around to defend himself.
A series of explosions rang out again as Shen Luo felt a heavy blow striking his Small Universe World with every clash. The impact made all the vitality in his body roil violently and he felt dizzy as a result.
When another punch was thrown at him, he pulled back and hurriedly retreated. He looked down and saw that all the bones in his fists were showing in a bloody mess. Moreover, he could not suppress the uncontrollable trembling in his arms.
On the opposite side, the young man looked at Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch calmly. His leisurely manner seemed to indicate that he had not even used his full strength yet.
Spirit Collector Heavenly Monarch felt his heart sinking at the sight! He had a vague feeling in his heart that things would end badly for him today!
“If that’s all the strength you have, then… please die!” While Yang Kai was speaking, he reached out and summoned the Azure Dragon Spear into his grip. Lifting his spear, he thrust it out wildly.
By the time Hui Gu finished dealing with the subordinates that Shen Luo brought and looked up, he saw that the latter was in critical danger. Spear shadows filled the sky and transformed into a violent storm that enveloped Shen Luo from above; moreover, his body was covered in wounds of all shapes and sizes that were bleeding profusely
Hui Gu’s eyes narrowed slightly. Even though he had already seen Yang Kai killing another Sixth-Order Heavenly Monarch before, witnessing the same scene all over again still gave him a huge shock.
It had to be said that Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were only one step away from entering the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm. They were considered extremely powerful existences across the entire 3,000 Worlds. They could even serve as Outer Elders in the Cave-Heavens and Paradises. Even so, such Masters seemed completely helpless in front of Yang Kai.
Shen Luo was not weak, only slightly weaker than Ju Xian; however, even Ju Xian was not Yang Kai’s opponent, so how could Shen Luo possibly defeat Yang Kai?
Knowing that it was time to show his value, Hui Gu did not hesitate. He joined the battle with a flash of his figure and cooperated with Yang Kai to besiege Shen Luo.
Shen Luo’s complexion immediately turned ashen. He was already in a life-threatening predicament just facing Yang Kai, and it was only a matter of time before he lost the battle and subsequently his life. Now that Hui Gu had joined in, his situation was becoming worse and worse.
“Damn you, Hui Gu!”
The entire process only took about a quarter-hour in total. Following Yang Kai’s furious roar, the Azure Dragon Spear stabbed into Shen Luo’s head and caused it to explode. Fresh blood and brains splattered everywhere and a new headless corpse twitched violently before falling straight down.
A black light rushed out from Shen Luo’s wrist and plunged into Yang Kai’s golden wristband. Five new stars lit up instantly as Yang Kai looked down at his achievements and nodded in satisfaction.
Standing in front of Shen Luo’s corpse, Hui Gu stared at it silently with extremely complicated feelings. At this moment, he felt a little shaken. He was starting to doubt his own years of perseverance and cultivation.
The subordinates that Shen Luo brought had not been killed as Hui Gu had simply captured them alive and imprisoned them nearby. Yang Kai walked over and killed each person with a stab of his spear, gaining more achievements as a result. In this way, as many as 24 stars lit up the golden wristband.
“Clean up. I’m going back into retreat!” Yang Kai instructed as he put his spear away and returned to the tree cave.
Hui Gu silently cleaned up the battlefield. All traces of the battle here had to be removed completely, lest the next group of victims notice any clues that something was wrong. There was also the Spirit Array in the forest that needed to be repaired.
Lu Jing ran over to help. Fighting was not his forte, but something as trivial as this was well within his means.
Over the next two months, Yang Kai continued to linger in the tree cave. He refined Open Heaven Pills to enhance the heritage of his Small Universe while waiting for more fish to take the bait.
During this time, another three big fish were lured into the trap. These groups were all led by Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, and every one of them gave Yang Kai a bountiful harvest. In addition, there were many small fish that came too. At this point, Hui Gu’s forest home had become a bottomless pit where not the slightest trickle would leak out despite how many people were devoured.
At this point though, fewer and fewer people appeared in the forest. It was hard to say whether the strangeness in this place had finally been detected and people were becoming wary or whether Bai Mo failed to contact more criminals to lure in.
In any case, Yang Kai was feeling pretty good about his situation. The Dao Theory Assembly was said to be held over a one-year period, and while only three months had passed so far, he had already obtained nearly 60 stars. Among these 60 stars, 5 Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had contributed a total of 25. The rest of the stars were obtained from slaughtering those below the Sixth Order.
Even Lu Jing had managed to mooch off some of the achievements, filling up two stars on his golden wristband.
There were no more than 20 or so Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters throughout the entire Prison Star, but Yang Kai alone had annihilated 5 of them. It was an absolutely horrifying number. With such achievements, he was certain that nobody else could defeat him. It had to be said that 60 stars were equivalent to the lives of 60 Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters or 12 Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Regardless of how hard the others tried, it was practically impossible for them to obtain greater achievements than him.
Be that as it may, one should always take precautions against all possibilities. Yang Kai had made such a bold declaration in front of Xu Ling Gong, so he could not afford to lose the Dao Theory Assembly. He secretly decided to wait in this place for another two months, and if no more big fish fell for the bait, then he would take the initiative to attack instead.
As time passed, the criminals who came to the dense forest steadily dwindled in numbers.
On a certain day, Yang Kai and the two others were cultivating in retreat inside the secluded home when Hui Gu suddenly opened his eyes. He seemed to have sensed something and cast a Secret Technique to investigate the situation. Then, he raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Sir, somebody is here!”
“Somebody finally came.” Yang Kai opened his eyes and cracked his neck to the side. Over the past half month, not even small fish had shown up. He was so bored that he was about to start growing mushrooms; therefore, he immediately became spirited when he heard that somebody had arrived. He turned to the side and asked, “How many people are there?”
“There’s only one person!” Hui Gu’s expression was a little strange, “Moreover…”
“Moreover, what?”
“Sir, are women allowed to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly? Wasn’t the Dao Theory Assembly for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to choose a Husband for one of its Core Female Disciples?”
“A woman?” Yang Kai was astonished, but he immediately recalled something. Standing up, he strode out of the tree cave and it didn’t take long before he appeared in front of that person. With a big laugh, he called out, “Junior Sister Gu? What are you doing here?”
Not far away, a petite figure holding a paintbrush in her hand was studying her surroundings vigilantly. When Gu Pan turned to look at him, she immediately looked stunned, “Senior Brother Yang? Why are you here?”
Then, she glanced at Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch standing beside him and her expression became even more confused than before.
“It’s a long story. Why don’t you come inside first?” Yang Kai beckoned to her. He had a vague guess when he heard Hui Gu saying that their visitor was a woman; after all, Gu Pan was the only woman who joined the Dao Theory Assembly. Sure enough, it turned out to be her when Yang Kai came out to check on the situation.
A short while later, both host and guest were seated. Hui Gu served them some tea before taking a seat behind Yang Kai and next to Lu Jing, his demeanour completely subservient.
Yang Kai then briefly explained Hui Gu’s identity.
Gu Pan nodded, “You made a wise move, Heavenly Monarch. If Senior Brother Yang can take the top spot in the assembly, he might be able to make a request to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and bring you out of the Prison Star.”
Hui Gu became excited when he heard those words, “Really!?”
He had originally been forced to sign the Loyalty List; thus, he surrendered himself to Yang Kai without thinking too much into the matter. Nevertheless, a great hope suddenly blazed in his heart upon hearing what Gu Pan just said. If he could leave the Prison Star, this miserable and barren land, then it would indeed be a wise move to submit to Yang Kai.
“I’ll do my best! I cannot say whether Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will agree to my request.” Yang Kai nodded lightly. [Hui Gu is restricted by the Loyalty List, so there is no need to worry about being betrayed by him. It should not be a problem if I discuss this matter with Xu Ling Gong when the time comes.]
“Many thanks, Sir! It’s enough as long as you have the intent!” Hui Gu said excitedly.
Gu Pan said, “Senior Brother Yang, your current achievements should be enough to put you way ahead of everybody else. As long as you can keep up your current rate of progress, it will not be difficult for you to win.”
The densely packed stars on Yang Kai’s golden wristband were visible at a glance; hence, she had noticed it as soon as she arrived.
“Junior Sister, your harvest isn’t bad either.” Yang Kai glanced at her fair wrist and smiled slightly.
Needless to say, her achievements could not compare to his, but even so, Gu Pan had obtained about a dozen stars of her own. These stars probably came from slaughtering criminals below the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Based on her situation, the others were probably in a similar situation.
“Why did you come here, Junior Sister?” Yang Kai asked, changing the subject.
Gu Pan replied, “I overheard some of the criminals saying that something was strange about this place. Many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had entered this forest only to disappear without a trace. So, I came to investigate the situation. I didn’t expect you to be here, Senior Brother Yang.”
It would now seem that all the Sixth-Order criminals who entered this place and vanished without a trace had been reduced to the stars on his wrist.
“Oh? Has the news spread out that far?” Yang Kai raised his brow upon hearing this. It was no wonder nobody came here recently. His actions must have been too glaring, which caused the criminals outside to become wary of this place. Thinking so, Yang Kai realized he couldn’t just sit around here anymore. The fish had been alerted to what’s going on, so there would be no more harvest. If he wanted more stars, he had to stop being passive and start attacking.
Having made up his mind, Yang Kai asked Gu Pan about Zhang Ruo Xi. He had not seen her ever since the collapse of the Blood Monster Cave Heaven.
He learned from Gu Pan that the Elders of Lang Ya Paradise had taken their disciples back to the Sect after the collapse of the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. In addition, Zhang Ruo Xi was accepted by one of the Outer Elders as a Disciple and she was currently training hard to prepare for her future breakthrough to the Open Heaven Realm.
Upon learning that Zhang Ruo Xi was doing well, Yang Kai felt very relieved.
She would not suffer any grievances with Gu Pan taking care of her in Lang Ya Paradise; furthermore, Lang Ya Paradise was one of the 72 Paradises with a strong heritage. The fact that Zhang Ruo Xi’s ancestor was a Lang Ya Paradise disciple also gave her a sense of belonging there, so staying was not a bad choice for her.
Yang Kai then chatted with Gu Pan for a little longer before she left.
The reason Gu Pan participated in the Dao Theory Assembly was not to win a bride, but rather because she was the only Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master that Lang Ya Paradise brought along on this trip. With no other choice, she participated as a way to train herself.
Yang Kai did not stop her from leaving. Since she was here for training, then it would be better for her to travel alone. Besides, she was a Lang Ya Paradise disciple, so her methods and cultivation were both extraordinary. Even if she encountered an enemy in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm on the Prison Star, she would have no trouble escaping even if she couldn’t defeat her opponent. Her life would be in no danger in this place.
When he saw her off outside the dense forest, she suddenly looked back and said, “Good luck, Senior Brother!”
He nodded, “Be careful.”
She nodded, “You too, Senior Brother. The criminals on the Prison Star… are heinous people. Every one of them has blood on their hands. Don’t trust them too much.”
He knew that she was warning him to be careful of Hui Gu. Unfortunately, it was inconvenient for him to explain, so he just smiled in response, “I know.”
“Also, I’ve heard rumours that the criminals on the Prison Star have recently established a force called Prison League. Most of the criminals have joined Prison League to hunt and kill the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly. Many people have already died at their hands, so don’t be careless if you meet them, Senior Brother. There are many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Prison League and they are not people who newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like us can resist.”
“Prison League?” Yang Kai raised his brow, the news immediately piquing his interest.
After seeing Gu Pan off, Yang Kai turned to Hui Gu, looking him over so meticulously that the latter couldn’t help feeling spooked.
“What is it, Sir?” Hui Gu hurriedly asked.
“Did nobody invite you to join Prison League?” Yang Kai asked.
Startled, Hui Gu hurriedly explained, “This one has already submitted to you, Sir. I will always follow you, Sir! I will never join an evil force like Prison League willingly!”
“Relax!” Yang Kai patted Hui Gu on the shoulder and cheerfully said, “I know how loyal you are to me, but joining Prison League is not in conflict with your loyalty to me.”
“Sir, do you mean…” Hui Gu seemed to have caught on to Yang Kai’s intentions.
Yang Kai affirmed, “There are no more fish to catch here. As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, I’m sure you will obtain quite a high position if you join Prison League. At that time, we should work together from both inside and out…”
Hui Gu immediately understood, “A good idea, Sir!” He pondered in silence for a moment before he added, “Logically speaking, somebody should have invited this one to join when Prison League was established. Since I didn’t receive an invitation, it’s quite possible that the invitation bearer was killed by you, Sir!”
“Uh…” Yang Kai stiffened in surprise and nodded lightly, “That’s certainly possible.”
During the time he spent waiting in the tree cave, he had caught three large fish and many other small fries. There was a high possibility that the people sent by Prison League to deliver an invitation to Hui Gu had died at his hands.
“But, it’s not a problem. If I take the initiative to join Prison League, I believe those old farts won’t turn me away.” Hui Gu volunteered.
“Go, but be careful!” Yang Kai nodded.
They exchanged means to communicate with each other; then, Hui Gu immediately set off to search for the location of Prison League.
With the Loyalty List in his hand, Yang Kai had no need to fear that Hui Gu might betray him. As long as Hui Gu could join Prison League without issues, he could act as a spy for Yang Kai. In that way, Yang Kai would be the first to obtain news about Prison League’s movements.
One day after Hui Gu departed, Yang Kai set off with Lu Jing.
Four or five months had passed since the Dao Theory Assembly kicked off and the situation on the Prison Star that started off as a chaotic mess had gradually settled. The weak had chosen to huddle together to stay warm, desperately seeking shelter and protection from other Masters as a result. That was how Prison League was born.
The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on the Prison Star were powerful existences with a deep heritage from the long years of accumulation since their advancement. In a one-on-one battle, the participants from the major Cave-Heavens and Paradises would be no match for them; however, the strength of the veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would become lacking if it turned into a two-on-one battle.
Of course, while the newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises knew how to work together, so did the veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Prison Star.
Since Prison League came into being, it had madly absorbed all the criminals on the Prison Star and became an enormous behemoth in a very short time frame. Throughout the existence of the Prison Star, this was the first time the criminals had ever been so united.
The process on Hui Gu’s side went very smoothly. He was one of the Masters that Prison League had wanted to invite from the start, so now that he took the initiative to join them, it was only natural that he was taken in quickly and given the role of a Protector.
Prison League’s Headquarters was located on a piece of barren land called the Yellow Spring Cave. It was originally the secluded home of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master by the name of Huang Quan, also known as Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch, but this place had been transformed into the Headquarters of Prison League out of necessity.
With Huang Quan’s strength, he could be considered a first-class existence on the Prison Star. Even the jade slip that Qu Hua Shang gave to Yang Kai had specially flagged this person along with a handful of other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to warn Yang Kai to be careful if he encountered them.
That was because these Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were existences on the verge of advancing into the Seventh-Order. It could be said that they had reached the peak of the Sixth Order. As a result, they were existences on the same level as Yang Kai’s subordinate, Mao Zhe. Even after being imprisoned on the Prison Star for so many years, their strength would not have decreased by much.
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch had established Prison League and proclaimed himself as Prison League’s Master. There were two Vice League Masters and six Protectors serving under him, all of whom were in the Sixth Order.
It could be said that Prison League had nine Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as their strongest combat force. Now that Hui Gu had joined them, that number reached an incredible ten Sixth-Order Masters.
Besides the five Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters killed by Yang Kai, Prison League had gathered almost all of the remaining Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters under its banner. Even if some were missing, there were not many of them.
This was only taking into account the Sixth-Order Masters. There were countless more with cultivations below the Sixth Order.
This information was what Hui Gu secretly passed to Yang Kai after he joined Prison League.
The criminals had huddled together to keep warm, resulting in the establishment of a powerful great force like Prison League. In turn, the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly began bemoaning their misfortune.
In the previous months, they were able to hunt down some of the criminals and reap some achievements. Although many of them also died as a result, in general, there was a balance of losses and gains.
However, it became extremely difficult to find and kill any lone criminals since Prison League was established. The criminals of Prison League would move about in groups whenever they travelled anywhere; moreover, these groups were always led by Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters at the very least.
Five made up a Small Team; ten formed a Medium Team; and twenty or more formed a Large Team. If the lone cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly ran into these groups, their strength would not be enough for them to resist. The only fate waiting for them was death. As such, the number of fatalities among the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly increased sharply.
The establishment of Prison League also forced the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly to form their own groups. It was just that there was no rallying call for unification. Not to mention, they were scattered all over the Prison Star. Their groups simply consisted of good friends or general acquaintances temporarily travelling together, which did not improve their safety by much.
With the help of Hui Gu acting as a spy, Yang Kai gained a lot of benefits. Hui Gu was one of the seven Protectors of Prison League, so it was only natural that he had access to inside information, which he quietly passed on to Yang Kai, allowing the latter to enjoy success again and again.
Yang Kai and Lu Jing both sat down cross-legged in an extremely dry and hot cave located in the belly of a barren mountain about 150 kilometres away from Yellow Spring Cave.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai’s expression changed. He took out and examined the communication bead, then he slowly got to his feet.
Sensing movement, Lu Jing quickly opened his eyes “Senior Brother, are you going out?”
Yang Kai nodded, “This trip might be a little dangerous. Wait here for me!”
Lu Jing was aware that his strength was lacking. The last few times Yang Kai had made a move, he could only watch from afar with no means of participating in the battle at all. Thus, he nodded at those words, “Take care, Senior Brother.”
Yang Kai smiled and strode out, his figure rapidly becoming a blur on the horizon.
An hour later, Yang Kai quietly laid in ambush on top of a barren mountain while concealing his aura. According to the information from Hui Gu, Prison League had arranged a large deployment this time. If everything went well, he would be able to reap a great harvest.
It didn’t take long before numerous figures approached quickly from a distance. There were many people, as many as a dozen or so. In addition, they were led by three Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Such a line-up could be considered a very powerful Medium Team. Most cultivators would be powerless against them. Be that as it may, this group of people was nothing more than an abundant harvest to Yang Kai!
These people landed on the barren mountain, seemingly with a clear goal in mind. They immediately began searching the area with a fine-toothed comb. Their Divine Senses surged turbulently as they probed their surroundings. Although it was vague, they seemed to have formed a simple Formation between them that connected their auras with one another. The amplification might not be large, but it was enough to enhance their respective auras slightly.
Yang Kai remained hidden in the shadows, concealing his aura. With his cultivation in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, he was not afraid of being discovered by this group.
After waiting for a short while, Yang Kai abruptly summoned the Azure Dragon Spear when the enemy group entered a suitable range and swept out with his weapon.
Caught off guard, the dozen or so people were thrown off their feet, with a number of them exploding into blood mist on the spot. Black light burst forth and plunged into Yang Kai’s golden wristband shortly after.
Horrified screams rang out as those who were lucky enough to survive did not hesitate to act. They quickly used their respective Secret Techniques and artifacts to bombard Yang Kai indiscriminately.
Yang Kai’s spear danced. Drawing upon his strength as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he defended against this barrage of attacks before carrying forward his momentum to thrust out his spear again.
At this moment, five people suddenly emerged in a ghostly manner, each one of them possessing a powerful aura. The two people standing in the lead were both in the Sixth Order. One of them was a fair-faced man. It was none other than Hui Gu. The other person was a tall and dignified middle-aged man with greying hair.
As soon as they appeared, they activated their power at the same time to cover Yang Kai from above. It was obvious that they were prepared in advance. The middle-aged man shouted, “We’ve been waiting a long time for you!”
Yang Kai ‘paled in shock’ and raised his spear to block.
*Hong…*
His body was shaken badly and Golden Blood spurted out of his mouth. His expression immediately fell and he staggered backwards by a significant distance. Barely able to steady his figure, he raised his head to look at them with an uncertain and fearful expression, “Who are you!?”
Hui Gu’s brow twitched at the sight. He took a careful look at the blood trickling out of Yang Kai’s mouth and thought to himself, [Sir sure has great acting skills. If I had not known the truth, I would have been fooled by his performance.]
Still, stepping forward, he announced lightly, “This Monarch is Hui Gu!”
The middle-aged man held a pale blue longsword in his hand, one that flashed slightly as he coldly snorted, “This Monarch is Void Mind Heavenly Monarch, Wu Nian!”
“Two Heavenly Monarchs!?” Yang Kai wiped at the blood at the corners of his mouth, his expression becoming extremely solemn. Coldly observing the many Open Heaven Realm Masters that were forming an encirclement around him, he snorted softly to himself, “Prison League sure is giving me great respect. I can’t believe they dispatched two Heavenly Monarchs to ambush this King!”
Wu Nian ground his teeth, “You’ve ambushed and killed 36 members from Prison League. Did you really think we would be so easily bullied!? I don’t care which Cave-Heaven or Paradise you come from. This place will be your burial ground today!”
With the help of the information provided by Hui Gu, Yang Kai had attacked Prison League three times recently and killed many of its members, including a number in the Fifth Order. As a result, he naturally caught the attention of Prison League’s leaders.
After investigating the three battlefields, Prison League determined that it was the work of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; moreover, this Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was acting alone. They could not remain indifferent to the culprit behind these attacks; hence, Hui Gu suggested a plan to lure out the culprit.
Sure enough, the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who secretly attacked from the shadows had made his move again, but this time, two of Prison League’s Protectors were hidden nearby to finally put an end to this menace.
“Huh?” Wu Nian suddenly noticed the dense stars covering the golden wristband on Yang Kai’s wrist and couldn’t help feeling shocked. [Just how many people did this guy kill in the short span of six months? How did he accumulate such horrifying achievements!?]
In addition to the shock Wu Nian felt, his expression was filled with greed, [If I succeed in killing this brat, then all the stars on his wrist will be transferred to me! Even if I have to divide the spoils of war with Hui Gu, it will still be quite a considerable gain.]
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven announced a long time ago that anybody from the Prison Star who obtained great achievements in the Dao Theory Assembly would be set free. As one of the 36 Cave-Heavens, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s promise was extremely credible.
Although Wu Nian did not know how many stars were needed to buy his freedom, he was certain it could not be too many. In other words, both he and Hui Gu would regain their freedom as long as they could kill the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in front of them.
“Attack!” He shouted and swung his longsword, lunging straight towards Yang Kai.
At the same time, the many Open Heaven Realm Masters surrounding Yang Kai quickly launched their respective Secret Techniques in unison.
*Hong hong hong…*
The surrounding space around Yang Kai was filled with chaotic energy and his World Force became turbulent. Standing there, he resembled a lone wooden canoe in the middle of a storm. He swayed unsteadily and his figure instantly became drenched in blood.
After trying to defend against the attacks for some time, he turned around and fled.
“Where are you trying to run!?” Wu Nian roared. Such a good opportunity was right in front of him. If he did not seize this opportunity, then he might be trapped on the Prison Star for the rest of his life. While speaking, he raised his sword and stabbed at Yang Kai’s back with eyes filled with great excitement.
At that moment though, a sudden pain erupted from his back. It felt as though an entire world had slammed right into him. The Small Universe in his body became turbulent as a burst of stars danced in his vision and blood mist sprayed out of his mouth. He hastily turned back to look and saw Hui Gu, who had been following close behind him all this while, slowly retracting a palm with a cold and indifferent expression.
“You…” His eyes were filled with disbelief. He never imagined that Hui Gu would attack him from behind. [Why!? Could it be that he wants to devour all of that guy’s achievements himself!? But, can he guarantee that he can defeat this guy alone!? Besides, this guy has accumulated so many achievements! There’s more than enough to divide among ourselves! Why does he need to hog everything for himself!?]
Before Wu Nian could sort through his muddled thoughts, Yang Kai abruptly turned around even though he had been fleeing just now and thrust his spear out. The panicked expression from before had vanished without a trace and was replaced with a savage grin.
A sudden possibility struck Wu Nian. Looking horrified, he shouted, “Hui Gu, how dare you collude with outsiders!?”
Yang Kai burst out laughing, “What do you mean by colluding!? Hui Gu has been working for me all along!”
Wu Nian’s complexion instantly turned ashen! In the next moment, he was caught in a pincer between Hui Gu and Yang Kai. Not to mention, he was already severely injured from Hui Gu’s sneak attack earlier. How could he be an opponent in a two-against-one battle? It only took three breaths before he was beaten so badly that he was on the verge of death. Blood splattered wildly and his injuries became increasingly severe.
The Open Heaven Realm Masters who were surrounding Yang Kai earlier were dumbfounded at this sight. It was supposed to be a trap set up by Prison League to lure out their prey. Everything had been going well, so how did the situation turn around so quickly? It was very difficult for anybody to understand just what had happened.
The words that came out of Yang Kai’s mouth made their expressions change drastically though.
Void Mind Heavenly Monarch was currently stuck in a precarious situation. Seeing that he could lose his life at any moment, they did not dare to remain idle. They hurriedly scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing in all directions.
“Stand right there! Whoever runs will die!” Yang Kai raised his spear to bombard Wu Nian indiscriminately with a barrage of attacks. At the same time, he gave a loud roar and surged his Space Principles.
Nobody heeded Yang Kai’s words of course. If they did not escape now, they would simply be waiting to die; however, the space around them thickened and made them feel as though they were stuck in a quagmire. It was now difficult to take even a single step forward!
“Go!” Yang Kai ordered Hui Gu.
Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch immediately nodded, and with a shift of his body, he charged towards the fleeing Open Heaven Realm Masters. He was well-aware of Yang Kai’s abilities, so forget about the heavily injured Wu Nian, even if the latter had been in peak condition, he would still be no match for Yang Kai. There was nothing to be worried about. Besides, his cooperation with Yang Kai could not be exposed; otherwise, they would not have another chance to perform something like this again.
By the time Hui Gu captured all of the fleeing Open Heaven Realm Masters and sealed their cultivations, Yang Kai had stabbed more than ten gaping holes in Wu Nian’s body. Fresh blood and innards flowed out all over the ground. In addition, the pitch-black Golden Crow’s True Fire burned all over those wounds.
Wu Nian was doomed!
Hui Gu knew in his heart that it was impossible for anybody to recover from such injuries, even if an Open Heaven Realm Masters had great vitality. Logically speaking, it was impossible for a winner to be decided so quickly in a battle between Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Even if one party was no match for the other, the other party might be helpless if the former was determined to flee.
There were two reasons for this situation to occur. The first reason was that Wu Nian had been severely injured by Hui Gu in a sneak attack. The second reason was that Yang Kai’s strength was beyond the limits of those in the same Order. Wu Nian had no hope of escaping at all.
“Cough. Cough. Cough. Cough…” Wu Nian coughed violently and fell to one knee on the ground. Gripping the longsword in his hand, he forcefully propped himself up to prevent himself from falling down. He raised his eyes and glared at Hui Gu furiously, “Back-stabbing bastard! I will be waiting for you on the road to Hell!”
He sincerely believed that he would not have had such a tragic ending if Hui Gu had not attacked him from behind.
Hui Gu just stared back at Wu Nian indifferently and said nothing.
“Things are over here. You can head back first,” Yang Kai waved a hand at Hui Gu to dismiss the latter.
Wu Nian no longer had any strength left to resist. His vitality was slowly dispersing and he would die soon even if Yang Kai left him alone. On the other hand, the remaining Open Heaven Realm Masters had been imprisoned nearby by Hui Gu. They could not move a single muscle, so it was time to reap the harvest.
“I’m afraid I can’t go back like this,” Hui Gu said.
Yang Kai was taken aback by those words, but he understood immediately, “I was negligent.”
Yang Kai raised a hand and struck his palm towards Hui Gu. Hui Gu did not resist and just stood there to take the attack. His figure staggered unsteadily and blood spurted out of his mouth. After stabilising himself, he spoke with a pale complexion, “Sir, I’ll be leaving first!”
Yang Kai nodded and Hui Gu immediately soared into the sky and fled towards the place where he came from.
Wu Nian watched coldly, his expression forlorn. He simply could not understand why a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like Hui Gu would be so respectful towards a participant of the Dao Theory Assembly from the outside!
“Now… I’ll send you all to Hell!” Yang Kai grinned. Lifting his spear, he was about to land the killing blow when he suddenly turned to look in a certain direction and shouted, “Who goes there!?”
Ripples spread out through the surrounding space in that direction and four figures slowly emerged.
Yang Kai looked up, and his expression turned grim at the sight. That couldn’t be helped as he recognised two among these four people. Moreover, these two people held deep grudges towards him. They were Yin Xin Zhao from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Pei Wen Xuan from Myriad Demons Heaven!
[I can’t believe that they’re here!] Yang Kai was furious. He had been so focused on his fight with Wu Nian just now that he failed to notice anybody approaching this place, and it was too late by the time he did. [I wonder how long they’ve been here…]
These two had teamed up somehow, most likely due to the pressure from Prison League. Acting alone at this point was not safe, so they decided to cooperate with each other.
Aside from the two familiar faces, there were another two that Yang Kai didn’t recognize. One of them was covered in rich Demon Qi, so it was easy to see that he was a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple at a glance. The other person showed no noticeable characteristics, but was probably a disciple from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven.
Before Yang Kai revealed himself, only Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were supposed to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly, so both Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven or Myriad Demons Heaven had each registered a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm disciple for the Dao Theory Assembly.
However, the sudden appearance of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yang Kai had muddied the waters. Only after his presence was revealed did the Cave-Heavens and Paradises adjust their strategies and register the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm disciples they brought along for the Dao Theory Assembly at the last moment.
Judging from the current situation, the other two were probably in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. They were most likely the original candidates chosen by Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Myriad Demons Heaven to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly!
The Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven disciple was unfamiliar to Yang Kai, so Yang Kai had probably never met him before.
On the other hand, the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from Myriad Demons Heaven seemed slightly familiar to Yang Kai. He had the vague feeling that he had met this person somewhere before. His memory was very good, so it only took him a moment of thought for him to recall where he had seen this person.
This Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had followed Ti Zheng to Shattered Heaven back then. Many Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises had joined forces to fight Zhu Jiu Yin outside Shadowless Cave Heaven, and this guy was one of them.
[Didn’t they say that Ti Zheng died in an unexpected accident? Why is this guy still alive?] Yang Kai was a little puzzled. Even so, he did not think too much about it. His current strength was so extraordinary that a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was not worth his attention.
On the contrary, that person smiled at Yang Kai, causing him to frown slightly at the sight.
“Oh, it’s you two.” Yang Kai coldly snorted, “How can I help you?”
He was secretly calculating what kind of consequences he would face if he went on a massacre in this place. With his current strength, it was not difficult for him to kill these four. Be it Yin Xin Zhao or Pei Wen Xuan, both of them had only advanced into the Open Heaven Realm recently, so they had probably only just stabilised their cultivations. As a result, they could not be considered strong amongst Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Unfortunately, it would probably be extremely hard to deal with the aftermath if he killed them. These two were Core Disciples of two Cave-Heavens after all.
Xu Ling Gong had claimed that the Dao Theory Assembly did not shy away from killing, so there should be no resentment even if disciples of the Cave-Heavens and Paradises died in this place.
That being said, the Cave-Heavens and Paradises would not leave the matter alone if the disciples belonging to them were to die. They might not do anything during the Dao Theory Assembly out of respect for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, but they would definitely settle their grievances after it ended.
[What’s more, there’s no saying what kind of secret trump cards these two have on them. I might not get another chance if I fail to kill them in one attack.] As these thoughts flitted through Yang Kai’s mind, he gave up on the idea of killing them. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling inwardly resentful. His actions were often hampered and obstructed without the backing of a powerful great force.
“I only planned to come over and watch the excitement when I heard the commotion, but I didn’t expect to enjoy such a good show!” Yin Xin Zhao clapped his hands softly with a meaningful expression on his face.
“A good show?” Yang Kai coldly snorted, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Yin Xin Zhao chuckled, “Are you still trying to hide the truth at this point?”
Yang Kai was indifferent to those words, but he knew that Hui Gu’s identity had been exposed. These four had probably been here for a while now, so they witnessed everything that happened just now. An aggressive light involuntarily flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes as he felt the urge to silence the witnesses to his crime slowly rising.
“Cooperate with us and we’ll let you live!” Yin Xin Zhao’s expression suddenly sank. He looked at Yang Kai coldly and continued, “You should know that you won’t survive in your current state if I join forces with Senior Brother Pei. But, we are willing to let you live for the time being since you’re useful.”
“Cooperate? How do we cooperate?” Yang Kai asked.
Yin Xin Zhao glanced at the golden wristband on Yang Kai’s wrist with a gloomy expression, “You sure have a lot of stars!”
When Yang Kai left the dense forest tree cave with Hui Gu, he had nearly 60 stars. Furthermore, he carried out ambushes three times in a row and killed more than 30 members of Prison League recently. Having obtained even more achievements, there were close to 70 stars now. The densely-packed stars twinkled at a glance.
On the contrary, there was not a single star on the golden wristband around Yin Xin Zhao’s wrist.
Yang Kai had failed to notice this fact at the beginning and couldn’t help feeling taken aback at the sight. Then, he looked over and realised that the same held true for Pei Wen Xuan.
This clearly did not make sense. Both of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so it was impossible for them to have zero achievements after entering the Prison Star for so long. Nevertheless, he immediately understood the situation when he looked at the two Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
The Fifth-Order Master of Myriad Demons Heaven only had a few stars on his wristband, which was hardly note-worthy.
On the other hand, the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven standing behind Yin Xin Zhao had nearly 30 stars!
Judging from the situation, the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven had been tasked with dealing the killing blow for all the enemies that these four had defeated to absorb the achievements. In this way, they might succeed in pushing this person into the top position and ultimately win the Dao Theory Assembly.
When killing the criminals, the others would not receive a share of the achievements as long as they stood outside a 300 metres range. It was obvious that Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan had continuously captured and imprisoned the criminals they encountered, then let the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven disciple deal the killing blow. That was how the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven disciple obtained so many stars.
As for how the two had secretly reached this agreement where Myriad Demons Heaven represented by Pei Wen Xuan willingly gave up their qualification in the Dao Theory Assembly, it was not something Yang Kai could guess.
In this way, even if the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven won the Dao Theory Assembly, he could enter Yin-Yang Cave Heaven without any worries. All Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven would lose was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, which was their original plan.
They originally thought that this achievement was enough for them to stand out from the crowd, and it was not until they met Yang Kai that they realised how great the difference was. It was almost two times the difference. Moreover, it had to be said that the four of them had been working together while Yang Kai was working alone.
Combining everything they had witnessed earlier, Yin Xin Zhao couldn’t help admiring Yang Kai’s intelligence. It was clearly much more convenient to have somebody on the inside of Prison League. Although he did not know why a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was acting in complicity with Yang Kai, it was only natural that he made good use of the weakness that he discovered; otherwise, it would be a huge waste of such a great opportunity.
“You have quite a lot yourselves,” Yang Kai said lightly with a pointed glance at the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven.
“Stop wasting time on nonsense. Right now, you only have two options to choose from,” Yin Xin Zhao looked confident that he had Yang Kai in the palm of his hand, so he simply declared, “First, I join forces with Brother Pei and kill you.”
Yang Kai’s expression darkened, “Where do you get your confidence from?”
Yin Xin Zhao chuckled, “It has not been long since we all advanced into the Open Heaven Realm. Nobody is stronger than the other by much. How long do you think you can hold out if Brother Pei and I work together to take you down? If we kill you, all the stars that you possess will become ours.”
The two of them were confident that they could kill Yang Kai if it really came down to a fight, but they would have to pay quite a heavy price to do so. He might even severely injure one of them during the process. The risk was too great.
Besides, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was not an easy opponent to contend with in a life-and-death battle. They could not guarantee that the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven could obtain all of the achievements on Yang Kai’s wrist alone.
The most likely outcome was that he and Pei Wen Xuan would be forced to deal a killing blow, leading to Yang Kai’s death. If that was the case, the achievements on Yang Kai’s wrist would be evenly split between them. It would not benefit the overall situation; after all, they had to make sure that the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven came out on top.
Yang Kai’s expression was solemn and his eyes were filled with rage and resentment. A fierce energy lingered around his body, as though he was going to attack at any time.
Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao stepped forward together. One of them was sneering while murderous intent surged in the other’s eyes. Both of their auras were locked firmly on Yang Kai.
There seemed to be an invisible collision of the World Force which shook the surrounding space, causing the Void around them to ripple unstably.
A long time passed before Yang Kai suddenly turned pale. Clutching at his chest, he staggered backwards and coldly snorted, “What’s the second option?”
Yin Xin Zhao slowly shook his head, “Since you refused a toast, you must drink a loss. Why do this? The second option is obviously to cooperate with us. We will carry out a massacre with the help of your spy in Prison League!”
Yang Kai’s expression became ugly, “It looks like I don’t really have a choice.”
Yin Xin Zhao smiled and nodded, “A wise man submits to his circumstances!”
“I can cooperate with you, but I will need compensation,” Yang Kai said.
“Compensation? You want compensation?” Yin Xin Zhao frowned deeply and looked at Yang Kai strangely.
“You want to make use of my spy and take all the merits from me. Why shouldn’t I get some compensation?” Yang Kai coldly snorted, “If you won’t agree, then we might as well fight to the death here. We will see who has the last laugh.”
Yin Xin Zhao looked a little taken aback, “What do you want as compensation?”
He secretly decided that he would immediately kill Yang Kai if his demands went overboard. In any case, with their current achievements, there was probably nobody else who could surpass them. It would be easy for them to obtain the top position as long as they killed Yang Kai.
“Anything!” Yang Kai coldly snorted.
Yin Xin Zhao was startled for a moment. Only then did he understand something. [Yang Kai is giving himself a way out! Why else will he say something like that? We are Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters after all. Who would want to be embarrassed in public?]
Failing to stifle his laughter, Yin Xin Zhao casually fiddled around with his Space Ring before tossing a spare ring towards Yang Kai.
Yang Kai caught the Space Ring and stuffed the ring into his pocket without even looking at the contents.
“It’s okay now, right?” Yin Xin Zhao asked impatiently.
Yang Kai remained silent and did not reply.
Yin Xin Zhao turned and shot a look at the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master beside him, “Zhuang Wei, do it!”
The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master called Zhuang Wei immediately nodded in response, “Yes, Senior Brother!”
Striding forward, he walked until he came to stand in front of Yang Kai and stretched out his hand, “Please move aside!”
Yang Kai glanced at Zhuang Wei. How could he not know what Zhuang Wei wanted to do? Annoyed, he coldly snorted and moved a thousand metres away with a flash of his body.
Zhuang Wei came to stand in front of Wu Nian and stared at the other party greedily. He had been under the protection of two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters all this while, so he was practically invincible in this place. Even so, he had never killed a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master before. It was a stroke of luck that he gained this opportunity for free today, so he had to fully enjoy the feeling of killing a stronger opponent with such ease.
Wu Nian had one last dying breath left in him. Glaring fiercely at Zhuang Wei, he suddenly flicked the longsword in his hand to stab at him.
Zhuang Wei jumped in fright and hurriedly backed away only to realise that the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in front of him barely had any strength left. Even this last attack turned out to be very weak and feeble. Becoming angry out of shame, Zhuang Wei stepped forward and slapped a palm out.
Wu Nian didn’t even make a sound as his head was pounded straight into his chest cavity.
A black light flew out and plunged into the golden wristband around Zhuang Wei’s wrist, instantly lighting up five stars. Zhuang Wei was overjoyed. Afterwards, he walked towards the many Prison League members nearby who had been subdued and imprisoned by Hui Gu earlier.
Ignoring the begging cries for mercy from those people, he killed them all with a palm strike for each person. It was an easy harvest. Following that, the number of stars on his golden wristband soared by more than 10, causing him to smile happily.
He had more than 30 stars in the first place, so now that the number had gone up by more than ten, Zhuang Wei had a total of 40 stars on his wristband. Aside from Yang Kai, nobody else on the Prison Star could possibly have an achievement higher than his.
At present, the Dao Theory Assembly was only halfway through the one-year period. With the help of Yang Kai and the spy inside Prison League, it was only a matter of time before he took the top spot in the competition. His heart immediately burned with excitement when he imagined that he would have a wife like Qu Hua Shang in the future.
There was no denying that he was an outstanding talent in Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven; even so, he was a far cry from a Core Disciple like Yin Xin Zhao. Zhuang Wei would not have been dispatched to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly otherwise; after all, the Sects were fully prepared to part with the disciples dispatched to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly. To put it in more realistic terms, these people were dispensable existences to the great forces behind them.
The Young Master of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven… That position was much higher than Zhuang Wei’s current status; however, not everybody was qualified to become the Young Master of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Only the Husbands of the top Core Disciples in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven had this qualification.
…..
Hui Gu fled back to Prison League Headquarters at Yellow Spring Cave. He was drenched in blood and his aura was very weak.
The Vice League Master, Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch Jin Gang. was on duty at the time. Upon hearing the news, he was shocked and hurriedly came forward to investigate the situation. He examined Hui Gu’s injuries inside the secret room and asked solemnly, “What the Hell happened, Brother Hui Gu!? Where is Brother Wu Nian?”
Hui Gu immediately looked depressed, “I’m afraid Brother Wu Nian is gone… Vice League Master, we were ambushed! Not a single Brother survived. I’m the only one who managed to escape!”
“Ambushed?” Jin Gang’s eyes widened at those words, “Who did it?”
Hui Gu shook his head, “I don’t know which Cave-Heaven or Paradise they belonged to.”
Jin Gang said, “You and Wu Nian are both in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm; moreover, you brought so many others with you. To think they managed to defeat all of you… What’s more, even Wu Nian lost his life in this battle. Just how many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were there?”
“At least three, maybe more,” Hui Gu made up nonsense on the spot. Both he and Wu Nian were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm after all. It would not make sense if there were too few enemies.
Jin Gang’s expression became slightly more solemn than before, “This is a very important matter. You will come with me to meet the League Master and report this matter to him personally.”
Hui Gu couldn’t help feeling guilty, “Meet the League Master…”
“We can’t afford to delay any longer! Let’s go now!” Jin Gang did not allow Hui Gu to make any objections. Grabbing Hui Gu by the arm, he quickly departed.
A short while later, they met with Prison League’s League Master, Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch. Hui Gu repeated his prepared speech once more and lowered his head, “League Master, this Hui Gu failed his duties and caused Prison League to suffer severe losses. I ask that you punish me.”
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch was a famous figure and also the strongest Master on the Prison Star. If that was not the case, he could not have taken the position of League Master. He glanced at Hui Gu lightly and said, “I know what you and Wu Nian are capable of. The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who participated in the Dao Theory Assembly had only advanced recently. Even if they had the advantage in numbers, how did you lose so badly?”
Hui Gu lowered his head in response, “We were too careless.”
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch Huang Quan, looked at Hui Gu quietly with a gaze that was very deep. Hui Gu was stared at so intently that he became scared. [Could it be that he noticed something? If my identity is exposed here, then I’m a goner.]
He might be in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but he was weaker than both Huang Quan and Jin Gang. Not to mention, this was Prison League’s Headquarters. There were eight other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters gathered in this place, aside from him. If his identity was exposed, then only death would await him.
“Where were you ambushed? Bring me there.” Just as Hui Gu was worrying about his gains and losses, Huang Quan suddenly spoke up.
Hui Gu knew that he could not refuse, so he could only bite the bullet and agree.
A short while later, three figures rose into the sky and headed in a certain direction.
While leading the League Master and one of the Vice League Masters to investigate the remaining traces of the battlefield, Hui Gu tried to send a message to Yang Kai on multiple occasions but failed to make contact with him. He did not know whether Huang Quan could detect anything from the remaining traces of the battlefield. Nevertheless, he had the vague feeling that he was going to be in great trouble soon. He secretly decided to flee as soon as things turned south. That way, he might still have a chance of survival.
Half a day later, the three of them arrived at the previous battlefield and landed amidst the corpses. There was a patch of blood that had yet to dry staining the ground. The traces of a battle between Open Heaven Realm Masters remained in the surroundings; moreover, the corpses that had long lost their vitality were strewn everywhere.
Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch Jin Gang stepped forward and came to stand in front of a corpse. After a careful investigation, his expression became solemn, “Brother Wu Nian…”
This person was obviously the late Void Mind Heavenly Monarch. It was just that his head had been smashed into his chest cavity.
Meanwhile, Huang Quan did not say anything. He simply swept his gaze over the entire battlefield before he gently closed his eyes and quietly perceived his surroundings.
Hui Gu stood behind Huang Quan, his eyes shifting nervously. He secretly thought to himself, [If I attack Huang Quan right now, can I kill him on the spot…]
If he could kill Huang Quan, then only the Jin Gang would be left. Although he was no match for Jin Gang, he was confident that he could escape. Not all Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were as sickeningly powerful as Yang Kai. [But, if I fail to kill him in one move, then I will be stuck in between two top Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. In my current state, death is the most likely outcome!]
Just as Hui Gu was being indecisive, Huang Quan suddenly jerked open his eyes and spoke with a frown, “Three Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters left traces of their aura here!”
[Three?] Hui Gu couldn’t help being stunned. [What does he mean by three? Aside from Prison League, only Yang Kai was here earlier. Could it be that two others came by later? This is really helpful!]
Feeling considerably relieved, Hui Gu quickly followed Huang Quan’s lead and said, “At the time, one person held me back while the other two joined forces against Brother Wu Nan. In the end…”
A cold light flashed through Huang Quan’s eyes, “These people from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises are too presumptuous! How dare they bully us like this!? Do they think Prison League will take this lying down!?” He turned to look at Wu Nian’s corpse and quickly added, “Rest assured, Brother Wu Nian. Prison League will definitely avenge you!”
He instructed Jin Gang to carefully retrieve Wu Nian’s corpse. Afterwards, the three of them returned the way they came.
…..
Inside their hiding place, Lu Jing glanced curiously at the four people who entered together with Yang Kai. He might not recognise these people, but that did not prevent him from sensing their overwhelming strength. None of them were people he could afford to provoke, especially the two who were filled with abundant Demon Qi. He could tell that they were Myriad Demons Heaven disciples at a glance.
“Find a place to stay yourselves. I’ll notify you once I receive further news,” Yang Kai said before he headed towards his own room.
Yin Xin Zhao threatened darkly from behind, “Don’t make us wait for too long. We don’t have much patience.”
Yang Kai coldly snorted and ignored Yin Xin Zhao. Behind him came Yin Xin Zhao’s low laughter filled with pure delight.
“Mo Sheng, tidy up that area.” Pei Wen Xuan instructed.
“Yes, Senior Brother Pei!” The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who had been following closely behind Pei Wen Xuan all this while responded respectfully. He walked over to the side of the cave and wrapped his hands with Demon Qi. It didn’t take long before he built a simple cave mansion by the side.
On the other side, Yang Kai sat down cross-legged with a shocked and suspicious expression on his face. [The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who has been following behind Pei Wen Xuan is called Mo Sheng!? Did I mishear? Or, is it just a similar-sounding name?]
Great Demon God was also called Mo Sheng. It was just that Yang Kai and the other Great Emperors from the star Boundary had joined forces to kill him. In the end, Wu Kuang had used his Heaven Devouring Battle Law to devour Mo Sheng’s body and seized control of it. It could also be considered another method of possession. He later left the Star Boundary and there had been no news from him since then.
Wu Kuang was a man of great aptitude and talent. If not, he could not have single-handedly created a Heaven-defying Secret Art like the Heaven Devouring Battle Law all by himself. Back in the Star Boundary, he had been publicly acknowledged as the strongest Master in the Star Boundary’s history. Many Great Emperors had died at his hands during the Great Emperor War in the Shattered Star Sea.
Yang Kai naturally did not have a good impression of Wu Kuang as he was both cruel and brutal in both his temperament and methods. Wu Kuang was definitely not a compassionate man; hence, Yang Kai breathed a sigh of relief when he left the Star Boundary for the Outer Universe to seek a higher Martial Dao. The truth was that he would not have felt at ease if Wu Kuang had remained in the Star Boundary.
After leaving the Star Boundary, Yang Kai didn’t even bother to search for news about Wu Kuang. There wasn’t any friendship between them, so he did not care whether the other party was dead or alive.
[I can’t believe I ran into a guy called Mo Sheng in this place! Out of all the coincidences, he also turned out to be from Myriad Demons Heaven! But, his appearance is completely different from either Mo Sheng or Wu Kuang… Is he another person called Mo Sheng? Or, is he Wu Kuang in disguise?] Yang Kai suddenly recalled something else. [This guy went to Shattered Heaven with Ti Zheng. Ti Zheng died back then, so how did he survive?]
Yang Kai was unable to understand the situation, but he was in no position to recklessly investigate anything either. As such, he could only wallow in his questions.
Besides, he was currently stuck in an uncomfortable situation. Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan had learned the secret about his cooperation with Hui Gu, but he could not silence the witnesses to his crime. Since it was not convenient for him to take action, he could only try to murder them with a borrowed knife! There were many on the Prison Star who were capable of killing these two after all.
[I will need to borrow the strength of Prison League.] Immersing his mind into his thoughts, Yang Kai began to form a vague plan. If everything went well, then Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan would both die on the Prison Star before long.
As time passed, Yang Kai led Yin Xin Zhao, Pei Wen Xuan and the other two out to hunt several times according to the information that continued to come from Hui Gu. Needless to say, they obtained great benefits every time.
The stars on the golden wristband of the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master called Zhuang Wei increased steadily and soon reached a point where he was about to surpass Yang Kai. The smooth progress delighted him greatly. The four of them had spent a lot of effort over the past six months searching everywhere and eventually accumulating around 30 stars. However, ever since they met Yang Kai, he had gained the same amount of achievement from before in less than a month’s time. It was only recently that he understood how Yang Kai had obtained all those stars.
He secretly thought to himself, [If Senior Brother Yin and Senior Brother Pei kill that Yang Kai, then it’s a given that I will obtain the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly.]
With the great hope of winning the Dao Theory Assembly in his heart, Zhuang Wei was always the most enthusiastic of them all whenever they moved out.
While Zhuang Wei was making great progress, Yang Kai’s plan was slowly moving forward. There were less than five months left before the Dao Theory Assembly ended, but that was ample time. He had nothing to worry about yet.
On the other hand, Yang Kai tried numerous times to probe into the identity of the guy called Mo Sheng. Unfortunately, his efforts were fruitless. He could not figure out the other party’s identity and after multiple failed attempts, he decided to ignore Mo Sheng instead so as not to reveal anything.
On a certain day, Yang Kai received another message from Hui Gu. He had only just finished checking the message when Zhuang Wei’s figure appeared at the entrance of the cave and asked excitedly, “Did you receive new information again?”
“That’s right. A patrol will be dispatched from Prison League tomorrow. The team will be led by two Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and there will be twelve people in total!”
“That’s great!” Zhuang Wei grinned. Glancing at Yang Kai, he added in admiration, “You’re amazing too. Don’t worry. I will speak to Senior Brother Yin and Senior Brother Pei on your behalf when the Dao Theory Assembly ends. Disputes should be resolved rather than settled!”
“Many thanks,” Yang Kai chuckled.
Zhuang Wei nodded. When he turned around, a hint of coldness flashed through his eyes. He knew very well that Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan were simply making use of Yang Kai’s inside connection for the time being. Those two were waiting until the Dao Theory Assembly was about to end to kill Yang Kai; after all, Yang Kai’s spy would no longer be useful at that time. Not to mention, killing him meant that they would also obtain the considerable achievements that he accumulated.
Zhuang Wei’s words just now were only to appease Yang Kai. How could he possibly upset Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan for the sake of an outsider?
The next day, the four of them walked out of their hiding spot and headed in a certain direction under Yang Kai’s guidance.
Hui Gu was currently serving as one of the Protectors of the Prison League. It was a high-level position that came with great authority; hence, it was easy for him to investigate and even influence the route of Prison League’s patrols.
It was only possible for Yang Kai and the others to kill all those Prison League members previously thanks to the information that Hui Gu provided. The Prison Star was so vast after all, so Yang Kai would have no idea where to find these people otherwise.
Yang Kai landed in a mountain valley surrounded on all sides a short time later.
“Is it here?” Zhuang Wei asked.
“The patrol will pass this place in an hour. Get ready.” Yang Kai did not bother to explain further.
Having experienced this situation countless times by now, they were naturally familiar with this situation. They each used their respective Secret Techniques to conceal their auras and hid in the shadows to quietly lie in wait.
…..
In Prison League’s Headquarters, Hui Gu was on duty when he suddenly heard the gloomy tolling of a bell resounding throughout the Yellow Spring Cave.
The tolling of this bell meant that the League Master had issued a summoning order. More importantly, the bell would not be rung unless it was an urgent matter. This was the first time Hui Gu heard the bells ever since he joined the Prison League.
Instructing his subordinate to take over his duties, Hui Gu rushed towards the Main Conference Hall. He glanced around upon reaching the hall and saw that many people were gathered here. There were as many as four Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who arrived and League Master Huang Quan sat in the main seat. To the left and right sides below him sat the two Vice League Masters, Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch and Blue Flame Heavenly Monarch, Cang Yan.
Hui Gu bowed to the League Master and the Vice League Masters before he went to his seat and sat down. For some reason, he felt extremely uneasy, as if something very bad was about to happen.
A short while later, five more Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters arrived one after another to sit on both sides of the hall.
There were a total of ten Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Prison League. After Wu Nian was killed, only nine were left. It could be said that all the strongest Masters in Prison League were gathered here at this moment.
Hui Gu couldn’t help feeling apprehensive. It was his first time seeing such a large-scale force ever since he first joined Prison League. There had never been a time when all the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Prison League gathered together before.
There was only one thing that could make Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch summon all the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. It was obvious that Prison League was planning something very big.
Thus, Hui Gu sat in his seat and observed the situation. He soon discovered that most of the people present did not know why the League Master had summoned them. Divine Senses continuously fluctuated across the Grand Hall as everybody quietly communicated with each other. All of a sudden, somebody stood up and cupped his fist, “League Master, why did you summon us?”
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch nodded at that person lightly and said, “Don’t be impatient. You will find out soon. Since everybody is here, then follow me.”
He stood up while speaking and walked down from his seat. The rest did not dare to neglect and quickly followed suit. When they came outside, they saw a huge group of Prison League members gathered, numbering at least 100. Moreover, every one of these people was a Fourth-Order Master or above. Everyone was waiting quietly in formation.
“Greetings, League Master!” As soon as Huang Quan appeared, they shouted at the top of their voices, seemingly shaking the sky as they roared.
Huang Quan nodded lightly and waved his large hand, “Let’s go!”
After a few moments, countless streams of light rose from Yellow Spring Cave and rushed towards a certain direction.
At this moment, almost all of the Prison League’s forces had been mobilised. Although some people remained behind, they were all below the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Their nest was practically empty. If any Masters were to raid them at this moment, Yellow Spring Cave would be razed to the ground in the blink of an eye.
Hui Gu was becoming more and more nervous with every passing moment. That was because the Prison League was heading towards the place where Yang Kai was lying in ambush! Unless something unexpected happened, they would encounter each other in a matter of moments.
Yang Kai might be powerful, but all the elites of the Prison League had been mobilised this time. From the League Master, Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch, to the many Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters below him, it was impossible for Yang Kai to stop this raging torrent no matter how powerful he was.
It was foreseeable that Yang Kai would suffer a tragic ending once both parties encountered each other. At present, Hui Gu’s life was tied to Yang Kai’s, so if something were to happen to the latter, he would also have a hard time protecting himself.
[I need to get a message out!] The thought flashed through Hui Gu’s mind, but just as he was about to send a warning to Yang Kai, he noticed two people approaching him from left and right. He turned to the side only to see the two Prison League Vice League Masters. Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch and Blue Flame Heavenly Monarch drew close to him from both sides.
When their gazes met, Blue Flame Heavenly Monarch smiled at Hui Gu. On the other hand, Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch lightly commented, “Brother Hui Gu, you seem rather nervous.”
Hui Gu forced a smile, “You must be joking, Vice League Master. I’m just worried about Yellow Spring Cave. What is League Master planning to do? All the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters have been mobilised. If any strong enemies were to invade the Headquarters, the remaining members would be powerless to resist.”
Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch shook his head, “League Master knows what he is doing. Since he won’t explain, then it is not our place to ask. We only need to obey his orders.”
Hui Gu was astonished, “Even the Vice League Masters don’t know what League Master is planning?”
Jin Gang said, “Why don’t you go and ask, Brother Hui Gu?”
Hui Gu glanced at Huang Quan leading at the forefront and shook his head, “Forget it. Since League Master has a plan, it’s useless to ask.”
Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch chuckled and patted Hui Gu on the shoulders, “Relax. Yellow Spring Cave might be our Headquarters, but it’s nothing special. It doesn’t matter even if it were destroyed. Besides, the Prison Star is vast. As long as we remain, we can rebuild again anywhere.”
“You’re right, Vice League Master,” Hui Gu nodded.
They did not continue the conversation. Whilst travelling with Huang Quan in the lead, Hui Gu tried multiple times to escape Jin Gang and Cang Ya; however, his efforts were in vain. Those two stuck to his sides like glue and he felt his heart sinking into the abyss while the ominous feelings he had only grew stronger and stronger.
..…
In the mountain valley where the ambush was set up, Yang Kai and the others waited for approximately an hour. Sure enough, a Prison League patrol consisting of a team of twelve passed through the mountain valley right on schedule. It was perfectly in line with the information that Yang Kai received.
Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao were well-prepared, so as soon as the twelve-man team stepped into the ambush range, they were struck by a sneak attack. The leader of this patrol was only in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, so how could they stand up against two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters?
Yang Kai didn’t even need to do anything as the twelve men were quickly captured.
Zhuang Wei excitedly rushed forward with a longsword in his hand. Ignoring the bitter pleading and vicious cursing of those twelve people, he killed each one of them with a stab of his sword. Numerous black lights flew out from the wrists of those Prison League members to plunge into the golden wristband around his wrist, lighting up four stars in an instant.
“Hahaha!” He roared with laughter as the number of stars on his wrist had almost caught up with Yang Kai’s before this ambush. Now, he surpassed him!
He turned around to cup his fist and bow to Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan, “Many thanks, Senior Brothers!”
Yin Xin Zhao smiled and nodded. Then, he patted Zhuang Wei on the shoulder, “Don’t forget this Senior Brother when you marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in the future!”
Zhuang Wei sincerely said, “This Junior Brother will never forget the kindness you showed me today, Senior Brother!”
Yang Kai was watching coldly from the side when all of a sudden, he turned his head to look in a certain direction. An exclamation of surprise escaped his lips.
“What’s wrong?” Pei Wen Xuan followed Yang Kai’s gaze, then his expression changed drastically, “This is bad! Let’s go!”
Along the horizon, a dense stream of lights was charging at them in an aggressive manner.
The strongest great force on the Prison Star was undoubtedly Prison League! Furthermore, the only organisation that could mobilise so many people at once was also the Prison League!
Yang Kai felt a twinge of fear in his heart. He had long planned to kill Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan with a borrowed knife, and to that end, he had been trying to figure out an opportunity to expose their whereabouts so that Prison League members could get rid of these two on his behalf. Contrary to his expectations though, Prison League took action before he could even implement his plan.
[How did Prison League learn of our whereabouts? Unless… Hui Gu spilled the secret? But Hui Gu is restricted by the Loyalty List, he wouldn’t do something that would dig himself into the grave like this unless he was prepared to lose his life. In that case, there is only one possibility! Hui Gu’s identity has been exposed! Prison League turned the tables on us!]
Yang Kai secretly sighed in amazement. Although this was somewhat different from what he originally planned, the end results weren’t too dissimilar. Be that as it may, Prison League’s League Master, Huang Quan, sure was cold and ruthless to use the lives of twelve people in a patrol as bait to lure them out.
All sorts of thoughts rolled around in Yang Kai’s head in an instant; then, he turned around and fled. To his surprise though, four figures suddenly appeared ahead of him, each one a Sixth-Order Master.
The person in the lead was dressed in a python robe, which gave him a menacing appearance. He lightly slapped his palm down over the crowd, saying, “Since you’re already here, you should stay!”
The overwhelming power of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master flooded out as the other three Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters attacked in unison.
Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan’s expressions changed drastically!
The four Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who appeared behind them displayed an extremely powerful and pure World Force, so it was obvious that many years had passed since these four broke through to their current realm. Newly-advanced cultivators like them were utterly incomparable.
Having advanced directly into the Sixth Order, their starting point was generally higher than others, but even so, that advantage was not enough to make up for the difference formed from the accumulation of thousands of years. Hence, they were no match for any one of these four Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in a one-on-one battle, much less if these four joined forces against them.
The two of them desperately used their Divine Abilities to break out of the encirclement, but unsurprisingly, they were blocked by the people who came.
*Shua shua shua…*
One after another, the sound of something slicing through the air rang out. They had missed the only chance they had to escape. Numerous figures landed in all directions, surrounding Yang Kai and the others tightly!
Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan both looked furious while Zhuang Wei shivered in fear. On the other hand, Mo Sheng looked contemplative as he quietly watched from the side.
Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan swept their Divine Senses out before they felt their hearts sinking into the abyss.
The people surrounding them were displaying their respective strengths without the slightest reservation, so it was easy to tell that there were nine Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Prison League gathered in this place. In addition, there were more than a hundred cultivators below the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm but above the Fourth-Order. Such a line-up could be said to be inescapable!
“Yang Kai, how dare you betray us!?” Yin Xin Zhao turned to glare at Yang Kai. In such a short time, countless possibilities had crossed his mind and the most likely one was that Yang Kai had betrayed them.
Yang Kai glared at Yin Xin Zhao coldly, “Idiot!”
While it was true that he had this plan in mind and had been making some quiet moves to accomplish it, the current situation was completely unrelated to him. The Prison League had dispatched so many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, which went to show their determination. Even he was powerless against such a force. If he wanted to survive, then his only option was to escape.
It was just that he could not confirm whether Hui Gu’s identity had been compromised or not; otherwise, he would have escaped before this encirclement was formed. There were as many Prison League Masters as there were clouds in the sky at the moment, and Yang Kai was certainly not their opponent, but even the Prison League could not hope to stop him if he wanted to flee.
Yang Kai glanced surreptitiously at Hui Gu and immediately furrowed his brow at the sight. With his eyesight, how could he not realise that Hui Gu was being closely guarded by two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters? Hui Gu didn’t have the slightest freedom at all!
[No wonder Hui Gu didn’t even send a single message even though the Prison League was carrying out such a large-scale operation. It was not that he didn’t want to but that he couldn’t. It looks like my guess is correct. Hui Gu’s identity has been exposed. The current situation is all part of Prison League’s retaliation.]
“Prison League’s Huang Quan greets little friends!” The man in the phyton robe blocking the path from behind gave a slight nod in greeting.
“So it is Brother Huang Quan, I have long admired you!” Yin Xin Zhao forced himself to remain calm on the surface even though his heart was pounding. [This guy is the Prison League’s League Master!]
Huang Quan smiled, “My reputation is nothing more than floating clouds. You are too polite, little friend.”
“You have certainly come from afar, Heavenly Monarch. How can I help you?” Yin Xin Zhao asked with a frown. They were currently stuck in a precarious situation where the slightest mishap could lead to their deaths. The criminals on the Prison Star were heinous and cruel after all, so they would not bat an eye at killing others. Yin Xin Zhao might be in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm and boast great strength, but a newly-advanced Sixth-Order Master could barely make a ripple under the current circumstances.
“Little friends, you’ve killed so many people from my Prison League. As League Master, it’s only natural that I give the people under me a suitable explanation.” Huang Quan was cheerful and amicable, but the friendlier he appeared, the more terrifying he seemed.
Yin Xin Zhao quickly asked, “What explanation are you looking for, Heavenly Monarch?”
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch, Huang Quan, smiled without saying anything.
*Pu…*
A soft sound rang out suddenly, mixed with a muffled grunt. Hui Gu spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground weakly without warning. A huge gaping hole appeared in his abdomen. Standing in front of him, one could clearly see the scenery on the other side through the hole in his body.
In the sky, Jin Gang slowly retracted his bloody fist.
“You…” Hui Gu lifted his head to look at Jin Gang with horror in his eyes.
Many of the Prison League’s Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were in an uproar and turned to look at Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch in confusion. They did not understand why the Vice League Master attacked one of their own out of the blue, much less severely injuring Hui Gu in a single attack.
“This is the consequence of colluding with the enemy and bringing harm to our comrades!” Jin Gang coldly snorted, “Hui Gu, you’re doomed. Nobody can save you today.”
Hui Gu clutched at his chest and tried to circulate his strength to stabilize his wounds. His complexion was pale and he said nothing.
A Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Protector who generally had a good relationship with Hui Gu asked in a deep voice, “Vice League Master, what is the meaning of this?”
The sudden attack on Hui Gu made him very uneasy; after all, he too was one of the Prison League’s Protectors. If he did not get to the bottom of this matter, something like this might even befall him in the future.
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch smiled and answered the question, “Don’t panic. His actions are in line with this Monarch’s intentions. Hui Gu is a despicable and cunning man. He is a secret chess piece that these participants inserted into the Prison League!”
A blanket of silence fell over the scene. All the Protectors looked at Hui Gu in disbelief. The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Protector who spoke up earlier also looked absolutely shocked.
Hui Gu gritted his teeth, “What do you mean, League Master? This Hui does not understand.” [I cannot admit to anything here, or else I will really be killed.]
Huang Quan smiled, “At first, this Monarch was only slightly suspicious and could not be certain; after all, there were traces of your interference every time a patrol was dispatched. You might have concealed your tracks well, but there are no walls that are truly airtight. If this Monarch failed to notice something as simple as this, then this Monarch would not be worthy of being Prison League’s League Master.
“Nevertheless, it was not until Wu Nian died and you escaped alone that this Monarch truly became suspicious. In order to verify my conjecture, this Monarch tested you again and again.” At this point of his speech, his expression fell. He pointed at the severed limbs and scattered corpses around him, “Apart from this Monarch and the two Vice League Masters, you were the only other person who knew the whereabouts of the patrol that was dispatched today. Even so, they were intercepted at this spot within an hour of being sent out. If you weren’t the one to tip off the enemy, then who else could it be!?”
Hui Gu shook his head, “League Master, please understand! I have no knowledge of this matter!”
Jin Gang smiled deviously, “If it was not you, then are you implying that it was me or Cang Yan? Hui Gu, oh, Hui Gu… You truly disappoint me. What benefits did these participants promise you to make you turn your back on your old friends of countless years?”
Nearby, Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan exchanged a glance with each other. They initially thought that Yang Kai had sold them out, but based on the current situation, it would seem that the people from the Prison League had figured out Hui Gu’s identity and used their plan against them. Be that as it may, the current situation was very worrying. They couldn’t help being racked by anxiety.
Hui Gu looked sorrowful as he slowly sneered, “One never lacks a reason to make false accusations!”
“How dare you quibble with me!?” Huang Quan’s expression turned frosty, “I initially thought that this would be a chance for you to redeem yourself for your crimes, but it would now seem that you’re determined to make enemies of the Prison League! In that case, I will let you die with full understanding!” He shouted with a wave of his hand, “Bring him!”
Somebody immediately walked out from the side with a bloody figure in his grip. When Hui Gu looked in that direction, his eyes immediately widened in shock and he blurted out, “Bai Mo!”
The bloody figure turned out to be his one and only subordinate whom he sent out on errands previously, Bai Mo.
At this moment, it was difficult to tell whether or not Bai Mo was even still alive. He was dishevelled and filthy and it was easy to see that he had been greatly tormented. Strange tendrils of energy weaved in and out of his body like Spirit Snakes and his vitality was extremely dim.
Ever since the day Bai Mo was sent on that initial errand, three other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had received the message and brought their subordinates with them to the dense forest tree cave and became Yang Kai’s achievement.
Afterwards, the Prison League was formed and Yang Kai finally came out of hiding when he ran out of fish to bait.
During this time, Hui Gu had tried to ask around for information on Bai Mo, but his efforts had been fruitless. Only now did he learn that Bai Mo had fallen into the Huang Quan’s hands at some point.
Seeming to hear Hui Gu’s voice, the dying Bai Mo flinched. He raised his lowered head, revealing a face that was so swollen that he looked like he had been soaked in water for several years. It was a mess of rotten meat and turbid blood. A small gap suddenly opened in his swollen eyelids. Carefully looking in Hui Gu’s direction for a while, he cried out in a miserable voice, “Master, Bai Mo is sorry!”
“What else do you have to say for yourself?” Huang Quan stared at Hui Gu coldly.
Hui Gu’s complexion was ashen. He knew that it was useless to try and talk his way out of this. Bai Mo was only in the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm after all. It was a pity that he fell into the hands of somebody like Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch. It was only natural that Huang Quan had ways to make him divulge the truth no matter how loyal he was.
“It looks like you have nothing more to say,” Huang Quan coldly snorted and exerted some strength into his hand. Bai Mo exploded into a cloud of blood mist, leaving nothing behind!
The reason why Huang Quan went to so much trouble to prove that Hui Gu was colluding with the enemy was to pacify and reassure the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Protectors; otherwise, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Protector could not be killed so easily.
Hui Gu’s eyes immediately widened at the sight.
After dealing with Hui Gu, Huang Quan finally turned to look at Yin Xin Zhao and the others, “Little friends, where are you from?”
Yin Xin Zhao gloomily said, “Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven!”
“And, you must be a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple.” Huang Quan turned to look at Pei Wen Xuan with a smile.
The people from Myriad Demons Heaven were the easiest to recognise; after all, the unique characteristics of Demon Qi were too obvious to miss. It was like walking around with a glaring billboard wherever they went.
“What about you?” He looked towards Yang Kai.
“Void Land!” Yang Kai replied flippantly; however, his mind was focused on Hui Gu’s situation as he seemed to be in an abnormal state after Bai Mo was killed right in front of him.
Huang Quan frowned, “Perhaps I’ve become a bit ignorant and uninformed after all the years. I’m afraid I didn’t know about the existence of a Void Paradise.”
“It’s Void Land!” Yang Kai reiterated.
Huang Quan seemed to understand something and nodded lightly, “So, that’s how it is.”
He was secretly confused. [Didn’t they say that the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters participating in the Dao Theory Assembly are all newly advanced Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave-Heavens and Paradises? Why is this person from Void Land here?]
Too lazy to think too much into this matter, he gave a light wave of his hand and spat out a single but extremely chilling word, “Kill!”
Hui Gu, who had reached some kind of critical limit, suddenly attacked at the same time. Charging directly at the Huang Quan, he let out a ferocious roar, “Huang Quan, suffer death!”
Huang Quan looked over coldly but did not move.
Jin Gang and Cang Ya attacked Hui Gu from both sides and sent him flying backward with just a single move. Hui Gu coughed up a mouthful of blood and stumbled weakly. He had been heavily injured by the Jin Gang earlier, so he was no match for the two Vice League Masters at the moment.
In the meantime, the World Force in the surroundings fluctuated chaotically as the power of various Secret Techniques and artifacts loomed over Yang Kai and the others.
Yang Kai, Yin Xin Zhao, and Pei Wen Xuan roared furiously. They knew that they were in an extremely precarious situation; thus, they did not dare to hesitate and quickly used various means to defend against the barrage of attacks.
*Hong hong hong…*
Following a series of explosions, the three of them were shaken badly and their respective Small Universes were in turmoil. The difference in numbers was simply too great, so the outcome of this battle was determined before it even began.
[This place is too dangerous. I can’t stay here for long.] Yang Kai made a feint and retreated backwards, leaving Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan to fight against the many Open Heaven Realm Masters from Prison League on their own, with a flicker, he rushed towards Hui Gu.
He was fast, but surprisingly somebody else was even faster than him.
Mo Sheng, the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who had been following behind Pei Wen Xuan all this time, had already arrived next to Hui Gu at some point, grabbed his arm, and dragged the latter towards Yang Kai with all speed. The attacks from Jin Gang and Cang Ya that came from behind him caused him to cough up blood and his Demon Qi to churn violently.
“Go!” Mo Sheng roared at Yang Kai who was rushing towards him.
Yang Kai was dumbstruck, but still surged his Space Principles to wrap up Mo Sheng and Hui Gu, preparing to escape this place.
Jin Gang was following closely behind and his expression turned grim at the sight, “Hm? A Space Secret Technique? Don’t even think about escaping!”
Taking a deep breath, he let out a deep roar. An invisible sound wave spread out into the surroundings, causing the local space to shatter like a broken mirror.
The figures of Yang Kai and the others that had been fading away abruptly solidified once more. His Instantaneous Movement had been interrupted.
Cang Ya and Huang Quan quickly swooped in from both sides when they saw this complication. The World Forces of the two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, like two separate Worlds, were barrelling in this direction.
“Break!” Yang Kai raised his hand and summoned the Azure Dragon Spear. As soon as the spear thrust out, a Golden Dragon Head flashed behind him and a Dragon Roar shook the skies. The Azure Dragon Spear in his hands suddenly transformed into a 1,500-metre-long Great Dragon that shook its head and flicked its tail as it charged forward recklessly.
A gap suddenly appeared in the oppressive auras of the two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Yang Kai activated Space Principles once more and fled through the gap with a flash as the sounds of explosions and attacks rang out endlessly from behind him. In addition, the rampaging World Force threatened to shatter the Void once more.
By the time Jin Gang broke through the explosions and rushed over, Yang Kai along with Hui Gu and Mo Sheng were nowhere to be seen.
“Space Secret Techniques!” Huang Quan scowled deeply and spread out his Divine Sense into the surroundings; however, Yang Kai was long gone without a trace.
“He sure escaped quickly!” Likewise, Jin Gang looked furious. He had interrupted Yang Kai’s Space Secret Technique as soon as he noticed that something was not right, but unfortunately, his efforts were in vain. It was said that people who were proficient in the Dao of Space were unparalleled when it came to escaping, and judging from the current situation, those rumours were not unfounded.
“We were too careless!” Cang Ya sighed. If they had known that there was somebody proficient in the Dao of Space, they would have created a Heaven Sealing Earth Locking Array or Formation at the beginning so that the other party could not escape.
“It’s fine.” Huang Quan slowly shook his head, “It’s not like we don’t have any gains.”
He looked back at the battlefield where three disciples from two Cave-Heavens were trapped. Although two of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, they were both newly promoted, so their heritage was a far cry compared to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Prison League. Moreover, there was a huge disparity in numbers, so it was only a matter of time before those three died.
On the battlefield, both Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan were red with rage. Their figures swayed unsteadily, seeming to be at risk of dying at any moment. As Core Disciples of Cave-Heavens, they had various items in their possession to protect themselves; nevertheless, the continuous use of these items was merely a futile dying struggle that delayed the time of their deaths.
[Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!] Yin Xin Zhao roared inwardly. He originally wanted to make use of Yang Kai’s spy in the Prison League to easily obtain the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly. Who could have known that he would be besieged by the enemy in this place instead? It would seem that he was doomed to die today.
*Chi…*
A soft sound suddenly came from behind him. He quickly turned to look back before a look of extreme panic appeared on his face.
Not far away, the Prison League’s League Master, Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch, Huang Quan, was holding a sharp longsword in his hand. The longsword had pierced right through Zhuang Wei’s heart. Following a violent burst of World Force, the impact turned Zhuang Wei’s body into a bloody mess with all his internal organs destroyed.
“Senior Brother Yin… Sa… Save me!” Zhuang Wei stuttered, spewing fragments of his organs out of his mouth as his vitality swiftly dissipated.
Huang Quan withdrew his sword and with the flash of a sword light, Zhuang Wei’s head flew into the sky and blood gushed out from his neck like a fountain.
Dazzling golden light flew out of the golden wristband around Zhuang Wei’s wrist and plunged into Huang Quan’s wrist. The black band around Huang Quan’s wrist was originally empty, but now dozens of stars instantly lit up after the golden light poured into his wrist. All of Zhuang Wei’s achievements during this period had been transferred over to him.
Flicking off the blood on his long sword, Huang Quan smiled lightly and asked, “How would you like to die, little friends?”
Both Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan felt chills running down their bodies upon hearing those words.
…..
*Pu…*
Yang Kai coughed up fresh blood and stumbled to the ground weakly. Although he had managed to break through the Void and escape at the last moment, the attacks from numerous Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had followed him across space. Even if his flesh and skin were tough, he was still hit so badly that he coughed up blood continuously.
Similarly, Mo Sheng collapsed headfirst to the ground next to him, his aura fluctuating unsteadily. Hui Gu, whom he had been carrying this while, rolled out of his arms and lay to the side motionlessly.
Hui Gu’s aura might be weak, but he was not dead. He was the most severely wounded among them all; however, the vitality of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was so strong that he would not die so quickly.
“Wu Kuang!” Yang Kai gritted his teeth and looked at the guy named Mo Sheng in front of him.
“Who?” Mo Sheng grinned and sat cross-legged on the ground, surging his strength to heal his wounds.
“You still want to pretend!?” Yang Kai gnashed his teeth.
He would not have dared to confirm that this person in front of him was Wu Kuang if the other party’s actions had not exposed him at the last moment. Be it in terms of appearance or even aura, this person was completely different from the Wu Kuang in his memories. Nevertheless, only people who were very familiar with Yang Kai would have known that his mastery over the Dao of Space was their only hope of escape in that dire situation.
Without question or hesitation, this Mo Sheng immediately dragged Hui Gu over to Yang Kai, so it was obvious that he wanted Yang Kai to bring him along. He would never have done that if he were an actual Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivator from Myriad Demons Heaven; after all, the only person a real Myriad Demons Heaven disciple could rely on at that time would have been Pei Wen Xuan.
“Do you dare to deny it?” Yang Kai pointed his spear at the other party, “Do you believe I won’t stab you to death with my spear!”
Mo Sheng calmly stared at Yang Kai for a while before he reached out, pushed the Azure Dragon Spear away, and chuckled lightly, “If you’re so sure, then why do you keep trying to sound me out with your words?”
Yang Kai was stunned, “So, it really is you.”
Although he was quite sure that the person in front of him was Wu Kuang, he still couldn’t help feeling incredulous when the other party personally confirmed the fact; after all, the perception of his Divine Sense indicated that this person did not contain the slightest bit of Wu Kuang’s aura.
“I guess it’s true that good people don’t live long while a scourge lasts a thousand years!” Yang Kai clicked his tongue.
“It takes one to know one. You’re not much better yourself,” Wu Kuang sneered softly.
The two of them looked at each other for a moment before they broke out into laughter, only for Wu Kuang to suddenly stop laughing and comment, “Alright enough. If you laugh any longer, this guy is going to die.”
Yang Kai slapped his forehead lightly in response. Hurrying over to Hui Gu, he examined the latter’s wounds and furrowed his brow tightly. Hui Gu was badly injured. He might not be in danger of dying at the moment, but he would die tragically if his injuries were left untreated much longer.
Yang Kai quickly took out some healing pills and stuffed them into Hui Gu’s mouth. Afterwards, he summoned his Towering Evergreen Divine Manifestation. An ancient tree immediately appeared behind his back, its branches hanging low as wisps of green light filled with vitality flitted about its leaves.
After advancing into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, Yang Kai’s control over this Wood Element Divine Manifestation became more and more effortless. The ancient tree behind him was not that large, only big enough to cover the three of them, making it more convenient for them to heal from their wounds.
Wu Kuang opened his eyes and took a look, but didn’t pay any more attention to the phenomenon a moment later.
However, Yang Kai soon noticed something strange. Judging by the power leaking out from Wu Kuang’s body, he was not a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but a Sixth-Order one!
Yang Kai was absolutely dumbfounded!
It was not Wu Kuang’s advancement into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm that was shocking to him of course as Wu Kuang was supremely talented and many years had passed since he left the Star Boundary. Furthermore, Wu Kuang entered one of the top great forces like Myriad Demons Heaven. What was shocking was how he managed to conceal his cultivation!
Prior to this, Yang Kai had clearly sensed that the fluctuations from Wu Kuang’s attacks were only in the Fifth Order. Not to mention that Myriad Demons Heaven had allowed him to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly, which could only mean that he was nothing more than a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in the eyes of the Myriad Demons Heaven Elders. Hence, he was a dispensable pawn!
[Wu Kuang must have an extremely top-notch method or artifact; otherwise, he would have been exposed a long time ago.]
An incense stick later, Yang Kai stood up after helping to stabilize Hui Gu’s injuries, “Help me watch him. I’m going to get Lu Jing.”
Hui Gu’s identity had been exposed, so their previous hiding place was no longer safe. If the Prison League headed towards their hiding place, Lu Jing would be in danger. A Sixth-Order Yang Element treasure was at stake, so Yang Kai could not simply ignore Lu Jing.
Wu Kuang opened his eyes to look at Yang Kai but did not speak. Seeing as he did not say a word, that could only mean he had no objections.
Yang Kai left in a flash, taking less than an hour to arrive at their previous hiding place. After confirming that there were no ambushes nearby, he carefully brought Lu Jing out and returned to their new hiding place.
Lu Jing was startled to see Hui Gu with such a weak aura and covered in blood.
On the other hand, Wu Kuang was nowhere to be seen. All he left behind was a single jade slip.
Yang Kai picked up the jade slip and checked the contents. The contents immediately set his teeth itching with hatred! He initially hoped to inquire about the mystery behind Wu Kuang’s hidden cultivation after he brought Lu Jing over, but how could he have known that Wu Kuang would flee in advance?
He had the vague feeling that Wu Kuang did not want to expose the relationship between them in front of others. With no other choice, he could only give up on his intentions. In any case, he now knew that Wu Kuang was in Myriad Demons Heaven, so it would not be too late to search for another opportunity to contact him in the future.
…..
A couple hundred thousand kilometres away, a black cloud churned violently and landed among a small group of six to reveal Wu Kuang’s figure.
The six-man team consisted of two Fifth-Order and four Fourth-Order Masters. They couldn’t help feeling shocked when they noticed somebody blocking their path. Then, they took a good look at the other party. The person blocking their path was drenched in blood and had a very pale complexion. It was obvious to see that he was badly injured; therefore, they simply looked at each other in confusion.
The Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in the lead cupped his fist in greeting, “So it is a Senior Brother from Myriad Demons Heaven. Dare I ask how we may help you, Senior Brother?”
Judging from the energy fluctuations coming from the Demon Qi Cloud earlier, this person was most likely in the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm. That was why this team of participants were not too apprehensive despite recognising Wu Kuang as a member of Myriad Demons Heaven. They had two Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on their side after all.
Wu Kuang greedily swept his gaze over the six people and chuckled softly, “I’ve been restrained for so long. I’m finally free now.”
“What did you say, Senior Brother?” The leading Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master scowled deeply. The stare Wu Kuang gave him made him feel extremely uncomfortable, it was like being stared at by a starving beast which had found a mouth-watering meal.
“The end of life is just the beginning of reincarnation, and death is not the only ending.”
“Senior Brother?” The leading Fifth-Order Open Heaven frowned even more, shooting a warning look at his companions as he spoke.
“Instead of struggling and suffering in the midst of all living beings, it is better to die and be liberated.”
All six people were speechless and gazed at Wu Kuang strangely, [Is this guy insane? What is he muttering to himself?]
“You are very lucky to have met this King. Now, become one with me! I will grant you immortality!” Wu Kuang opened his arms and the Demon Cloud behind his back transformed into a black screen that covered the sky.
The World fell silent.
A short while later, the Demon Cloud began to converge again to reveal Wu Kuang’s figure while the six people from before were gone. He licked his lips, a hint of colour appearing in his pale complexion. Turning around, he looked in another direction before his body transformed into a black cloud once more and vanished into the distance.
…..
Inside the new hiding place, Hui Gu slowly woke up. He couldn’t help coughing slightly. As his chaotic thoughts slowly cleared up, he recalled everything that transpired earlier. He looked up to see Yang Kai sitting beside him and looking at him in concern.
“Sir!” He struggled to get out of bed.
Yang Kai pressed him down again, “Your injuries are very serious. Focus on recovering. Don’t move about recklessly for the time being.”
“Many thanks, Sir.” Hui Gu coughed a few more times before he continued with a look of regret, “Sir, please forgive me. I failed to carry out my duties properly.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “That Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch is not a simple man. This is not your fault. It’s a pity about what happened to Bai Mo!”
“Bai Mo…” Hui Gu’s expression was heavy. He spoke through gritted teeth, “I will personally avenge Bai Mo’s death one day.”
Yang Kai nodded, “It’s good if you can think that way. This place is relatively safe for the time being, so you can rest and recuperate here. I need to go out for a bit.” After saying that, he stood up and patted Lu Jing on the shoulder, “Help me take care of Hui Gu. I’ll be back soon.”
Lu Jing nodded. He knew that a Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him had no role to play on the Prison Star; thus, he would only become a burden if he followed Yang Kai around. At present, his only wish was to leave the Prison Star alive.
A few hours later, Yang Kai returned to the mountain valley where he had been ambushed before. Several days might have passed, but the traces of the battle in this place remained clearly visible.
There was a lot of blood on the ground, but not a single corpse. Judging by the situation from before where they were surrounded on all sides, it would have been impossible for Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan to escape death. Even Yang Kai could only hope to escape under those circumstances, so what need be said about others?
Yang Kai was overjoyed!
Both Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan held deep grudges against him, so his greatest wish in this place was for them to die at the hands of the Prison League. The process might have been a little different from what he initially planned, but the results were the same. It could be said that he had successfully carried out a murder with a borrowed knife!
In addition, Zhuang Wei, who had obtained more stars than himself earlier, was dead. With his current achievement, it was obvious that none of the Dao Theory Assembly participants could compare with him. As long as he could hold on to his achievements, it should not be a problem for him to win first place.
Inside the palace outside the Prison Star was an enormous sand table which displayed the landscape of the entire Universe World. Moreover, there were many golden and black lights moving about. Each golden light represented one of the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly while each black light represented one of the criminals on the Prison Star.
Furthermore, the brightness of these golden and black lights varied slightly depending on their respective cultivation. The brightest lights among the golden and black lights were undoubtedly the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on both sides. There were not many of them, only 20 to 30 in total.
The Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Elders of the various Cave-Heavens and Paradises who brought their disciples here did not remain idle. They took turns to stay around the sand table to monitor the progress of the assembly.
Half a year had gone by and the Dao Theory Assembly was moving along smoothly. They occasionally observed numerous golden and black lights vanishing from the sand table, which represented the deaths of the participating cultivators or criminals.
However, what interested most of the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters was one of the golden lights. Judging by the brightness of the light, that person was undoubtedly in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. He had joined up with one of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm criminals on the Prison Star from the beginning of the Dao Theory Assembly and had been almost inseparable since, killing countless people together.
It was not until the establishment of the Prison League that these two finally went their separate ways. The black light that represented the criminal had joined the Prison League; meanwhile, the golden light did not settle down for long before he joined another group of four participants. Nobody knew the exact identity of those four, but it was certain that these four were disciples of the Cave-Heavens and Paradises. That was because two of them were in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Although there was no way to see what was actually happening on the Prison Star, all of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters monitoring the sand table were experienced veterans, so how could they not have some guesses after seeing the current situation?
The biggest possibility was that one of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm criminals on the Prison Star had been incited to defect and became an agent for one of the participants. With the help of this spy, that participant repeatedly attacked and successfully killed a number of Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm criminals to obtain an amazing number of achievements.
While the Elders looked approving, they also couldn’t help being curious as to which Cave-Heaven or Paradise this person belonged to. Such methods and skills would really make his Sect proud. It had to be said that it was not an easy feat to incite a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm criminal to defect. What kind of benefits were promised to make an enemy turn into an ally?
During their discussion, some of them even went to ask Xu Ling Gong about this matter. The sand table was created by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven after all, so just because the others did not know who the lights represented did not mean that Xu Ling Gong did not. Unexpectedly, the old ghost claimed that he did not know the situation on the Prison Star either. Everybody had no choice but to wait patiently; after all, everything would eventually become clear when the Dao Theory Assembly ended.
On this day, however, the Elders gathered around the sand table were arguing fiercely in front of Xu Ling Gong.
This couldn’t be helped as the little ones working together had accidentally fallen into Prison League’s trap. As a result, a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had been killed on the spot. Although two had managed to escape, the remaining two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters seemed to have been captured alive. There was a high possibility that they would die if they were not rescued soon.
The Prison League had deployed nine Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in this ambush, so the little ones were practically powerless to resist.
More importantly, none of the Elders knew which Sect those two captured Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters belonged to. What if they belonged to their own Sect?
Disciples who directly broke through to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were geniuses that only appeared once every thousand years even for a Cave Heaven or Paradise and would eventually become future pillars of their respective great forces. They could not be allowed to die during this Dao Theory Assembly. For that reason, the Elders of the dozen or so Cave-Heavens and Paradises joined together to pressure Xu Ling Gong to open the Prison Star Grand Array so that they could rescue their Disciples.
When Xu Ling Gong completely ignored their demands, the scene became a huge chaotic mess as a huge battle threatened to break out among them.
“Xu Ling Gong, are you going to open the Prison Star Grand Array or not?” Duan Rui Shan of Clear Mind Heaven glared at Xu Ling Gong with a vicious expression.
“The Dao Theory Assembly lasts for one year. Nobody can intervene until it ends.” Xu Ling Gong looked at Duan Rui Shan coldly.
“Brother Xu, we understand that you are in a difficult position, but there has been such a huge change in the Dao Theory Assembly. You have to be accommodating. All the most elite Core Disciples of our Sects are inside. What if something goes wrong…” Lu Zhen Yang of Azure Nether Paradise tried to be understanding.
“That is their fate!” Xu Ling Gong coldly snorted, “Before the Dao Theory Assembly began, this Monarch warned that this assembly was a matter of life and death. The participants had to bear the consequences themselves. Since they chose to participate in this event, then they should have prepared themselves for the possibility of death!”
“Brother Xu, the Prison Star Grand Array might be excellent, but it cannot stop so many of us,” Zhuo Bu Qun of Asura Heaven looked at Xu Ling Gong.
Xu Ling Gong turned to look in his direction and coldly snorted, “Are you trying to threaten me? This Old Master fears no man! If you plan to marry this Xu Ling Gong’s Disciple, then you have to bring out the best of your abilities! If they die during the Dao Theory Assembly, then that means they are not qualified enough! Let’s see who dares to break through the Prison Star Grand Array! If any of you dare to interfere in the Dao Theory Assembly, then don’t blame this Old Master for opposing you!”
“Brother Xu, are you really going to be so unaccommodating!?”
“I dare you to come!” He snarled back, “Send a message to the Ancestor! Tell him that our ‘guests’ are looking to cause trouble in the Dao Theory Assembly. This Old Master alone is not their opponent, so he must beseech the Ancestor to come forward and preside over the situation! Also, activate the Prison Star Grand Array’s defences to their limit and place disciples to stand guard outside it! Anybody who dares to invade is to be killed without mercy!”
“This Disciple obeys!” Behind him, Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui cupped their fists before they turned around and rushed into the depths of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
All the Elders of the major Cave-Heavens and Paradises went pale…
Ancestors and Supreme Elders of Cave-Heavens were Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. There were more than a dozen Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters present, but they might not be an Ancestor’s opponent even if they all worked together.
“Old Xu, why disturb the Ancestor over such a trivial matter?” Somebody stood forward to try and smooth things over.
Xu Ling Gong stubbornly refused to back down, “You forced my hand!”
That person sighed and shook his head, “You won’t have any friends if you act like this.”
“Friends!?” Xu Ling Gong sneered coldly and swept his gaze over the crowd, “If you thought of this Old Master as a friend, then you wouldn’t have tried so hard to marry those incompetent wastes of yours to this Old Master’s Disciple! Aren’t you the ones who didn’t give this Old Master any face at all!?”
He smashed his fist into the sand table while speaking. There was a loud crash, then the sand table cracked into pieces, “Get out! Their lives are in the hands of fate! Regardless of whose disciples die inside, you will simply have to accept the losses! The Dao Theory Assembly is for this Old Master to choose a Husband for his Disciple, not for your incompetent disciples to play house!”
…..
Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui headed into the depths of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven while Qing Kui scratched his head and asked, “Are we really going to inform the Ancestor?”
“Are you stupid?” Su Ying Xue rolled her eyes at him, “Honoured Master didn’t mean those words. Did you really take them for the truth?”
“Then, what are we…”
She explained, “We don’t need to inform the Ancestor, but we do need to drag out the disciples remaining in the Sect to put on a show. Otherwise, it would be very embarrassing for Honoured Master after everything he said.”
Qing Kui showed a look of understanding.
A short while later, many Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples flew over and surrounded the Prison Star.
The Elders felt their facial muscles twitching at the sight, but nobody clamoured to enter the Prison Star to check on the situation again. None of them knew whether one of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Supreme Elders was watching from the shadows, so they were afraid of causing big trouble if they forced their way into the Prison Star.
…..
Inside the Prison Star, Yang Kai was refining Open Heaven Pills in his new hiding place leisurely while Hui Gu was still recovering from his injuries.
The Dao Theory Assembly now only had three or four months left until it ended, and Yang Kai had accumulated more than enough achievements by now, so he was no longer eager to act.
Besides, he was not too worried that somebody might overtake his achievements. With the establishment of Prison League, all the criminals on the Prison Star were now huddling together to keep warm. The others would have a hard time killing many criminals even if they wanted to. It could be said that it was very unlikely for anybody to surpass his achievements.
The days slipped by just like that, and regardless of the situation outside, the place where Yang Kai and the two others were hiding was very peaceful.
On this day, Yang Kai suddenly sensed something and abruptly opened his eyes; then, his figure instantly vanished from the spot.
300 kilometres away, Yang Kai reappeared in the middle of the sky where a stream of light was rushing straight at him. The stream of light seemed startled to see someone blocking their way all of a sudden. Following that, the wooden sword in the other party’s hand danced lightly to form a mysterious pattern in the air before slashing down at him. The pattern contained a peculiar energy that was as gentle as the wind, belying its shockingly destructive force it contained.
Yang Kai dodged the attack lightly and shouted, “As expected, it’s Senior Brother Ning! For a moment, I thought I perceived wrongly.”
The stream of light charging towards Yang Kai paused for a moment before the brightness dissipated to reveal a figure. It was Ning Dao Ran of Free and Unfettered Paradise!
“Junior Brother Yang?” Ning Dao Ran looked astonished. He spun the wooden sword in his hand to hold his sword behind his back before he exhaled deeply in relief, “I thought the people from the Prison League caught up to me.”
“Are you injured, Senior Brother Ning?” Yang Kai glanced at Ning Dao Ran’s chest where there was a patch of blood that was still wet.
Ning Dao Ran’s expression changed drastically, “Junior Brother Yang, we need to go! I have pursuers behind me!”
“Come!” Yang Kai rushed over to grab Ning Dao Ran. Manipulating Space Principles, he returned to his hiding place with a flicker of his figure. At the same time, his Divine Sense surged to isolate the auras inside.
A short while later, the sound of people flying through the air passed over their heads and disappeared into the distance.
Inside the hiding place, Ning Dao Ran breathed a sigh of relief and glanced suspiciously at Hui Gu, who was sitting nearby, “This is…”
“This is Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch. The Heavenly Monarch has repented for his mistakes and turned over a new leaf. He has helped me greatly during this time.”
Ning Dao Ran nodded, “Every man has his faults, but the ability to repent for one’s mistakes is admirable! Ning Dao Ran of Free and Unfettered Paradise greets you, Senior Brother Hui Gu!”
Hui Gu returned the greeting, “You are too polite, Junior Brother Ning.”
Lu Jing also came over to introduce himself. He might be the Young League Master of the Gathering Yuan Union, but there was a huge gap between his status and the status of somebody like Ning Dao Ran; hence, he wanted to use this opportunity to become acquainted. Who could say whether this connection might come in handy in the future?
“Senior Brother Ning, who injured you?” Yang Kai asked in concern.
Ning Dao Ran gave a bitter laugh, “Have you heard of the Prison League?”
Yang Kai and Hui Gu exchanged a wry glance with each other as Prison League could not be more familiar to them.
Ning Dao Ran explained, “There is a man known as Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch on the Prison Star, who established the Prison League and recruited all the surviving criminals under his banner. He presently has seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters under his command, which gives him an advantage in numbers. They are currently actively eliminating the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly. I accidentally exposed my whereabouts, so…”
Yang Kai understood the situation.
All the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who participated in the Dao Theory Assembly this time around had broken through to that realm within the last 100 years. It had only been a few years since Ning Dao Ran himself advanced into the Open Heaven Realm, so how could he be a match for the veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Prison League? Injuries were inevitable if he were to encounter them.
“The Prison League has become very powerful under the leadership of its League Master, Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch. He has seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters under his command and hundreds of criminals moving in unity. There is no place for participating cultivators like us wherever we go.” Ning Dao Ran shook his head with a sigh. Before participating in the Dao Theory Assembly, nobody could have expected a situation like this to take place on the Prison Star.
With eight Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and hundreds of criminals moving as one in Prison League, the participating cultivators stood no chance at all. Death was the only fate waiting for the participating cultivators following an encounter with the Prison League.
“Prison League is acting so overbearing?” Yang Kai was secretly shocked by Huang Quan’s boldness.
When the Prison League was first established, they had fortified themselves in Yellow Spring Cave in an effort to huddle together to stay warm, but now they had decided to come out with a bang. How could the participating cultivators resist them under these circumstances? It would not take long before the participating cultivators were wiped out completely.
Ning Dao Ran had accidentally exposed his whereabouts and was pursued by several Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters as a result; thankfully, he was one of the Core Disciples of Free and Unfettered Paradise, so he had many artifacts to protect himself and help him escape. Otherwise, he could not have survived long enough for him to meet Yang Kai.
“Now that the Prison Star criminals have rallied together, the participating cultivators have also done the same. If we don’t join forces, we will be completely powerless to resist and survive for the remaining three months of the Dao Theory Assembly.” Ning Dao Ran smiled wryly and continued, “I have received news that Lin Feng and several other Fellow Brothers have gathered together and are preparing to deal with the Prison League. Junior Brother Yang, why don’t you come with me? The greater our numbers, the greater our strength.”
Yang Kai frowned slightly. After pondering for a while, he slowly shook his head, “No. I…”
Before he could finish his sentence though, a violent force suddenly came from above. There was a series of rumblings as the ground cracked open and their hiding place collapsed around them. A cold sneer rang out, “Let’s see how much longer you can continue hiding!”
*Shua Shua Shua…*
Amidst the falling dirt, several figures rose into the sky. Yang Kai carried Lu Jing while Hui Gu and Ning Dao Ran stood beside him. Looking around, his expression changed slightly. Unbeknownst to him, the people of the Prison League had surrounded this place at some point. There were eight figures around them, forming a tight encirclement.
Yang Kai’s expression turned grim as it was only at this moment that he realised that Ning Dao Ran’s whereabouts had long been exposed. Flying past their head earlier was only to buy some time and numb Ning Dao Ran’s sense of danger.
Judging by the current situation, it was just as Ning Dao Ran had mentioned earlier. The Prison League was moving in unity; otherwise, it was impossible for eight Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Prison League to appear in this place all at once.
“It’s you!” Firm Gold Heavenly Monarch’s eyes widened.
On the other hand, Blue Flame Heavenly Monarch, Cang Yan, shouted, “This is bad! Quickly form a Heaven Sealing Earth Locking Formation!”
They never imagined that Yang Kai would appear here. They assumed that Ning Dao Ran had been alone, but it was too late to set up a Formation by the time they realised their mistake.
Before they could complete the Formation, Yang Kai had already urged his Space Principles to wrap around Ning Dao Ran, Hui Gu, and Lu Jing and vanish out of sight.
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch reached out and grabbed at them only to come up empty-handed, causing him to gnash his teeth furiously, “Damn that brat!”
If not for Yang Kai, Ning Dao Ran would never have escaped.
Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch formed a set of hand seals before turning to look in a certain direction and shouting, “Give chase!”
His figure shifted and he took the lead, with the seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters quickly following behind.
Several hundred kilometres away, four figures emerged from the Void and Yang Kai began examining Ning Dao Ran carefully, puzzling the latter.
“Senior Brother Ning, check your body carefully to see if there is anything unusual!” Yang Kai reminded the other party. He believed that his concealment earlier had been perfect, so there was no reason for their whereabouts to be discovered so easily.
Ning Dao Ran’s expression changed. How could he not know what Yang Kai meant? Thus, he quickly surged his Divine Sense to carefully examine every part of his body. A short while later, his expression changed slightly, “There’s a strange Mark on my body. When…”
If not for Yang Kai, he would not have made such a careful search of his body, nor would he have found this Mark on his body.
“Can you remove it?” Yang Kai asked.
“I’ll try!” Ning Dao Ran nodded solemnly and focused on controlling his power in an attempt to disperse the Mark.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai continued to wrap his power around the other three and escaped into the distance.
The eight Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters hurriedly gave chase, but not long after, Huang Quan, who had been leading them, stopped in his tracks with a furious expression. The seven people behind him looked in his direction.
Huang Quan grunted, “The Soul Tracing Mark is gone. They must have found it.”
“What a pity! All our efforts were all in vain!” Jin Gang sighed as he couldn’t help cursing the little brat who was proficient in the Dao of Space under his breath. That boy had ruined Prison League’s plans twice now.
“It’s fine. We might have failed this time, but we will have other opportunities in the future!” Surprisingly, Huang Quan was rather optimistic about the situation. He gently gave a flick of his sleeves and turned around to head back.
10,000 kilometres away, Yang Kai, Ning Dao Ran, and the others flew forward as swiftly as the wind.
Ning Dao Ran said, “It’s best if you can rethink your decision, Junior Brother. Many changes have taken place on the Prison Star recently. I’m afraid the Elders never expected this to occur during the Dao Theory Assembly. All we can do is work together and support each other until this is all over so that we can escape this place safely.”
After experiencing the incident just now, Yang Kai decided to follow Ning Dao Ran to find Lin Feng and others. Just as Ning Dao Ran mentioned, the Prison League was so powerful that nobody could fight back against them alone. The participating cultivators had to follow their example and huddle together to stay warm.
Yang Kai had his Space Secret Techniques, so he could escape even if he could not win; however, he also had to take care of Lu Jing. He was not sure if he could protect the latter if they fell into critical danger.
They travelled for two whole days before Ning Dao Ran landed on a barren mountain. He checked the surrounding topography and confirmed his position before he took out an incense and lit it.
After a short while, a figure suddenly flew over from not far away and landed directly in front of them. He glanced around at Yang Kai and the others only frowning slightly before he turned to Ning Dao Ran and cupped his fist, “Greetings, Senior Brother Ning!”
Ning Dao Ran nodded, “Did Brother Lin send you here?”
“That’s right. Senior Brother asked me to pick you up.”
“Lead the way,” Ning Dao Ran nodded lightly.
That person glanced at Yang Kai and the others again. Although he found their presence strange, he did not say anything and led the way without hesitation.
It didn’t take long before they entered a cave in the belly of a mountain. The cave was extremely dry and there was no strange smell in the air. Moreover, the surrounding cave walls were decorated with strange stones that emitted fluorescent light and illuminated the passage of the cave.
They followed the man as he took several twists and turns inside the cave. There was no saying how many kilometres they walked before their vision suddenly brightened in front of them and a large karst cave came into view.
At least a hundred people were gathered in this place. In addition, there was a group of nine people standing side-by-side at the forefront. They were clearly waiting for Ning Dao Ran’s arrival. The leader of the group was Lin Feng.
“Senior Brothers, Senior Brother Ning is here,” said the cultivator who led the way earlier.
Lin Feng’s gaze shifted to look behind Ning Dao Ran, then he exclaimed in surprise, “Yang Kai?”
Ning Dao Ran said, “I met Junior Brother Yang on the way and invited him to come here with me.”
Yang Kai smiled slightly, “Your reaction seems to say that I’m not very welcome here, Brother Lin.”
Lin Feng coldly snorted, “You’re already here. Are you going to leave even if I don’t welcome you?’
Yang Kai smiled, “Since I’m already here, of course I won’t leave.”
Gu Pan nodded at him lightly from beside Lin Feng. On the other hand, the others were unfamiliar faces to Yang Kai. He did not know which Cave-Heaven or Paradise they belonged to, but that was no surprise since he had never encountered them before.
The others were also looking at him curiously. Many of them appeared unhappy, but this couldn’t be helped. The reason for their participation in the Dao Theory Assembly was that Yang Kai had muddied the waters in the first place. They only followed their respective Masters on this trip to see the world and increase their experience. They were only forced to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly when a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yang Kai suddenly appeared.
As a result, things turned sour for them. At this point of the Dao Theory Assembly, the Prison League was running rampant and forcing all of them into hiding. It was a miserable situation, but fortunately, they had gathered a large force now. There were seven or eight Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters among them, though it would still be difficult for them to compete with the veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Prison League.
It would be more strange for them to look friendly upon seeing the main culprit behind the entire situation at this moment.
Inside the dim cave, the densely-packed stars on Yang Kai’s wrist twinkled brightly, making them very eye-catching. A group of people stared at his wrist with a mixture of shock and astonishment.
The best among them only had 30 or 40 stars at most, which was only half of what Yang Kai had accumulated. Unfortunately, it was difficult to hunt another lone criminal under the current circumstances. In other words, the total achievements that they accumulated so far would basically determine their final rankings in the Dao Theory Assembly.
Several people looked at each other with a shocked look in their eyes.
One of the slender youths seemed to mull over something for a while before he stepped forward and asked, “Brother Lin, are you acquainted with Brother Yang?”
Lin Feng responded with a look of disgust, “We’ve met before.”
That person nodded, “So that’s how it is.” Then, he turned to look at Hui Gu who was standing behind Yang Kai, “And, what is with him? If my guess is correct, he is one of the Prison Star’s criminals, right? Why is he here?”
The black ring around Hui Gu’s wrist was completely different from the golden one the other cultivators wore.
Ning Dao Ran explained, “This is Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch. He has pledged his loyalty to Junior Brother Yang. There’s no need to concern yourselves over him.”
That person frowned, “That being said, there’s always a chance… Every single criminal on the Prison Star is heinous and sly. We must always be on our guard!”
“Brother Zhao is right. This is our hiding place. It would not benefit anybody if the news leaks out and attracts the Prison League. You are welcome to join us, Brother Ning, but Brother Yang and Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch…” Another person slowly shook his head. The meaning behind his words was as clear as could be.
Hui Gu lowered his eyes and said, “Huang Quan killed my only loyal subordinate. This Monarch cannot live under the same sky as him! Also, this Monarch previously snuck into the Prison League under Sir Yang’s orders, but my actions were later exposed, so this Monarch is nothing but a traitor in the eyes of the Prison League.”
Zhao Xing shook his head slowly, “Are we supposed to take your word for it? Brother Lin, the stakes are very high. It’s better not to accept these two into our midst lest they cause trouble for us. It will be too late for regrets by then.”
Ning Dao Ran’s expression darkened and he stepped forward and said, “Aren’t you making too much out of a small matter? I believe in Brother Yang’s character. If not for Brother Yang’s help, this Ning would have died at the hands of the Prison League! I would not be alive to stand here today!”
Zhao Xing shook his head, “Brother Ning, it’s not that I’m trying to make trouble. It’s just better to be safe than sorry. There’s nothing wrong with being cautious. What do you think, Brother Lin?”
Zhao Xing turned to look at Lin Feng, clearly trying to force Lin Feng into taking a side; after all, Lin Feng was a huge factor behind the reason why everybody was gathered in this place. He had the most say in the organisation formed against the Prison League.
Lin Feng quietly said, “Yang Kai and I share a life-and-death friendship.”
Zhao Xing and the others were stunned by Lin Feng’s answer. After seeing the uncongenial interaction between Lin Feng and Yang Kai earlier, they mistakenly assumed that there was some animosity between those two. Who could have expected this answer from Lin Feng?
Although it was not a direct answer, Lin Feng’s meaning was obvious enough. He trusted Yang Kai. Unable to imagine what kind of experience those two had gone through together, their expressions were rather ugly.
“Alright then. Let’s vote on whether Brother Yang and Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch should remain. There are hundreds of our comrades standing behind me after all. This is related to everybody’s safety. This is no small matter, so they should also have the right to express their opinions,” Zhao Xing suggested.
“No need.” Yang Kai waved his hand dismissively, “I only came here to escort Brother Ning to this place. Since I’ve brought him here, I’ll be taking my leave now!”
Cupping his fist slightly, he turned around and walked out. Since the people here did not welcome him, then there was no point in staying. The Prison League might be powerful, but he had nothing to worry about thanks to his Space Secret Techniques.
Hui Gu and Lu Jing naturally immediately followed.
Ning Dao Ran sighed, “Why do so many people in the world only care about profits and try to cheat each other?” After saying that, he cupped his fist at Lin Feng and turned around to leave.
Before Zhao Xing and the others had time to reveal their shock, a petite figure slipped past them. It turned out that Gu Pan had run forward. She didn’t take many steps before she turned back to look at Lin Feng, “What about you, Senior Brother Lin?”
“You go first!” Lin Feng nodded lightly.
Gu Pan understood and rushed out without another word.
“Are you satisfied now?” Lin Feng looked at Zhao Xing and the others coldly.
“What do you mean?” The expressions of Zhao Xing and the others were extremely ugly. They only wanted to chase Yang Kai and Hui Gu away, how could they have known that Ning Dao Ran and Gu Pan would leave with Yang Kai?
[Do those two have such a good relationship with Yang Kai?]
Lin Feng coldly snorted, “You’re on your own. This Lin is leaving too!”
After saying that, he strode out with his hands behind his back.
Zhao Xing inquired, “Brother Lin, where are you going?”
However, there was no response.
Yang Kai led Hui Gu and Lu Jing back the way they came and it only took a short while for them to arrive on the surface.
Yang Kai was just getting his bearings when he heard Ning Dao Ran shouting from behind him, “Brother Yang, wait for me!”
He turned to look behind him in surprise, “Brother Ning, you…”
Ning Dao Ran smiled, “The values of those short-sighted people are not in line with my own.” He looked behind him and added, “I’m not the only one.”
Gu Pan came out from behind and nodded lightly at the two of them.
Yang Kai couldn’t help chuckling, but before he could say a word to her, he saw Lin Feng appearing behind her.
“What’s with that look?” Lin Feng glared at Yang Kai scornfully, “Did you think this Lin is an ungrateful person?”
Yang Kai restrained the look of surprise in his eyes and laughed softly, “This is great. Other than Senior Sister Qu and Brother Xu, we’ve all gathered together again.”
Lin Feng replied lightly, “In any case, we’re leaving it all to you for the next three months. If we encounter anybody from the Prison League, you’re responsible for our escape!”
The others might not know about Yang Kai’s methods, but they knew his abilities very well. Back in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, he had escaped the pursuit of dozens of Divine Spirits even though he was only in the Emperor Realm at the time. Now that he was in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, it would be impossible for something as trivial as the Prison League to capture him.
Yang Kai roared with laughter, “Rest assured! I will guarantee your safety!”
“Let’s go. We need to find a new hiding place so that we can wait out the last three months in peace.” Lin Feng suggested.
Gu Pan chimed in, “I know a place that is very well hidden. We can head there.”
“Then, we shall trouble you to lead the way, Junior Sister,” Ning Dao Ran stretched out his hand in a polite gesture.
…..
There was a huge uproar back inside the karst cave. In particular, those below the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm were at a loss for what to do. When they started huddling together, a total of nine Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had gathered. It had not been long since these Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters advanced into the Open Heaven Realm, but their numbers were not few. It was just enough to defend against the Prison League so that they stood a fighting chance even if they encountered the enemy.
Unfortunately, things had taken a sharp turn. Two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had left all at once, leaving only seven behind. Even Lin Feng, one of the people responsible for organizing this group, had left. It was only natural that the people were unsettled.
Most people did not know what happened just now. All they knew was that a group of outsiders had arrived. Following that, the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters seemed to have disagreed about something and caused this situation.
Whispered discussions and countless Divine Sense conversations spread out throughout the cave.
“Why are you all chattering away!? Shut up!” Zhao Xing shouted furiously, his complexion red with rage.
He never imagined that things would end up in this situation either. His original intention was only to force Yang Kai and Hui Gu to leave. Who could have known that Lin Feng and Gu Pan would leave too? It was humiliating that his actions had caused the strength of his faction to weaken considerably.
The other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were all looking at him, some of them clearly having a measure of blame in their eyes, which only made his anger flare higher. He looked up and coldly snorted, “Don’t think I don’t know what kind of ideas were going through your heads. You were planning to force Yang Kai to leave and then find an opportunity to kill him to obtain the achievements that he had accumulated! Now that things have gone sour, you’re turning around to blame me instead. How is that reasonable!?”
All the people who spoke up to reject Yang Kai earlier looked embarrassed when he exposed their initial plans. They might not have communicated with each other, but it was undeniable that some of them were eager to act after seeing the abundant number of stars on Yang Kai’s wrist.
If Yang Kai hailed from one of the Cave-Heavens or Paradises, they would never have had such thoughts; however, Yang Kai was from Void Land, so what consequences would befall them even if they actually killed him?
“Brother Zhao, there’s no point talking about this now. We should think about what to do in the future. Now that Brother Lin and Junior Sister Gu have left, we no longer have enough strength to completely resist the Prison League. Don’t forget; the Prison League has eight veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters!” Somebody said.
“That’s right! Why don’t we ask Brother Lin and Junior Sister Gu to come back? As for Yang Kai and Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch, there isn’t a big problem with them joining,” Somebody proposed.
If they allowed Yang Kai and Hui Gu to join them, then they would have twelve Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on their side, including Ning Dao Ran. They would have strength comparable to the Prison League even if they encountered their enemies.
A dark light flashed through Zhao Xing’s eyes as he coldly said, “So what if you invite them back? It’s not like you didn’t see the achievements that Yang Kai has accumulated so far. If my guess is correct, he will definitely win the Dao Theory Assembly. If that happens, what would happen to the pride of the Cave-Heavens and Paradises?”
“Brother Zhao, do you mean…”
He grimaced for a moment before he ruthlessly said, “In for a copper, in for a gold…”
All of them were astonished. They never imagined that Zhao Xing would be so ruthless; however, thinking about it again, there didn’t seem to be a better solution to their problems. If they could get rid of Yang Kai, then the winner of the Dao Theory Assembly would definitely be one of them. If that was the case, it was acceptable no matter who won the Dao Theory Assembly.
“But, in this case, we will have to confront Brother Lin and the others,” somebody said worriedly.
“This matter is related to the pride of the Cave-Heavens and Paradises. Brother Lin and the others will understand! We cannot afford to delay in this matter. We have to move now, or else it will be too late. After we succeed in this matter, we will find a place to hide. The Prison League might be powerful, but the Prison Star is vast. Moreover, the Dao Theory Assembly will end in three months. We only need to hole up until then!”
Even the people who hesitated earlier were tempted by his words. The seven of them quickly came to an agreement. Following that, they hurriedly set off together.
Outside the cave, Zhao Xing quietly studied the traces left behind in the surroundings before turning to look in a certain direction. After that, he took to the sky, “This way!”
The other six quickly followed him.
An hour later, Yang Kai was following Gu Pan to her hiding place when he suddenly frowned. He looked back and saw numerous figures wrapped in light chasing after them from behind.
Likewise, Lin Feng and Ning Dao Ran soon noticed and turned to look back, surprised by what they saw.
“What do they want?” Lin Feng frowned. Although they were still quite far apart, he was very familiar with those figures. It was obvious that they were his former comrades. They were the newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of the Cave-Heavens and Paradises.
“Brother Lin, please wait! Everything just now was a misunderstanding! Please listen to our explanation,” Zhao Xing, who was in the lead, shouted loudly.
Lin Feng did not doubt Zhao Xing; thus, he stopped and turned to look back.
When he stood there motionless, Yang Kai and the others had no choice but to stop as well.
Behind them, Zhao Xing and the others were overjoyed at the sight. They exchanged glances with each other and put more effort into rushing over. As the distance between both parties closed, their Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm auras climbed steadily.
Ning Dao Ran furrowed his eyebrows slightly, “Something’s wrong…”
Even Lin Feng had noticed that something was strange. It felt like these people came chasing after them for a fight, not to make peace. Before he could ask them anything though, he heard a shout from the leader, Zhao Xing, “Attack!”
In an instant, those seven people turned into seven separate streams of lights. They acted in accordance with the strategy they discussed before, rushing towards Yang Kai and the others. Before they even arrived, the power of various Secret Techniques and artifacts blasted out in front of them.
*Hong hong hong…*
Figures shuttled about and the power of their Small Universes collided with each other. A moment later, the violent forces died down abruptly, almost as though everything earlier was nothing but an illusion. However, the chaotic situation immediately became apparent. The twelve Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the two sides had been separated into five different battlefields.
Lin Feng, Gu Pan, and Ning Dao Ran were each held up by one person in a face-to-face confrontation. On the other hand, two people blocked Hui Gu from left and right.
Similarly, there were two people standing in front of Yang Kai. One was Zhao Xing and the other was a young man with a jade-like complexion.
Although everybody remained motionless as the auras of their respective Small Universes flared. Their auras silently collided and suppressed each other, causing the surrounding space to become slightly distorted.
As for Lu Jing, he was thrown 1,000 kilometres away by Yang Kai and was now watching the battle from afar, shivering in fear.
“What is the meaning of this!?” Lin Feng looked around with an ugly expression.
“Senior Brother Lin, please stay out of this!” The young man confronting him quickly said, “Otherwise, this Junior Brother will be very troubled.”
Like Lin Feng, he was a Core Disciple from one of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. As an existence who also advanced directly into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, his strength was on par with Lin Feng’s; hence, they would be evenly matched if it came down to a fight. Neither could defeat the other. Moreover, their actions would simply harm the peace between them.
It was not just Lin Feng. Ning Dao Ran and Gu Pan were in similar situations. Only Yang Kai and Hui Gu were each facing two newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters on their own.
Upon seeing this situation, how could Lin Feng not know what Zhao Xing and the others were planning?
Hui Gu was a veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. The cultivators who came to intercept them knew that they were not his opponents on their own; therefore, they assigned two people to stop him
On the other hand, there were also two people surrounding Yang Kai…
It would seem that the real target of Zhao Xing and the others was Yang Kai. They were all newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters with less than 100 years of experience, so it was impossible for Yang Kai to come out on top in a two-on-one battle. As long as they eliminated Yang Kai, Zhao Xing and the other guy would be free to assist in getting rid of Hui Gu. Even Hui Gu would be in danger if he had to face four enemies at once.
As for Lin Feng, Ning Dao Ran, and Gu Pan… Lin Feng was not worried. With their forces behind them, Zhao Xing and the others would never kill them unless they wanted to start a war between their respective Sects.
But… were two trivial newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters enough to defeat Yang Kai?
Zhao Xing turned to look at Lin Feng, “Brother Lin, please don’t be impatient. Just wait by the side for a bit. This Zhao will apologise to you after finishing up here!”
“You don’t understand anything.” Lin Feng slowly shook his head, “Stop doing something pointless. Let’s end this incident here.”
Yang Kai was a master of the Dao of Space, so such obstructions were simply child’s play to him. The truth was that he was perfectly capable of escaping at any time. Unfortunately, Zhao Xing and the others were completely oblivious to that fact and foolishly believed that victory was within their grasp.
Zhao Xing replied, “Brother Lin, please have some self-respect! Don’t harm the relationship between us fellow brothers!” After saying that, he turned to look at Yang Kai and smiled, “Thousand Cranes Paradise Zhao Xing!”
The other young man with a jade-like appearance also bowed his head and introduced himself, “Huang An Yi of Pure Yang Cave Heaven!”
Yang Kai looked at them with an indifferent and expressionless look on his face.
Zhao Xing continued smiling as he asked, “Are you going to kill yourself, or do you want Senior Brother Huang and I to kill you instead? If you choose to kill yourself, you can choose a comfortable way to die. You will get to keep a whole corpse and I guarantee that your body will be brought back and delivered to Void Land for burial. But, if Senior Brother Huang and I take action, I cannot guarantee how much of your corpse will be left.”
Huang An Yi followed up, “I do not wish to attack you either, not unless there is no other choice. We might all be Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, but we are from the Cave Heavens and Paradises. It will be bad for our reputation if word spreads that we killed you in a two-on-one fight. It’s a pity…”
He glanced at the stars on Yang Kai’s wrist and slowly shook his head, “The tree which rises too far above the forest is bound to be destroyed by the wind!”
“Hah!” Yang Kai looked up at the sky and let out a soft sigh. His expression seemed rather annoyed, “How irritating!”
Zhao Xing and Huang An Yi were stunned to hear those words. Zhao Xing laughed, “You’re right. There are certainly many troublesome matters in the world. Grievances, fame, and fortune entangle people’s hearts. Only death will liberate you from them. Since you’ve already understood this point, then why do you still hesitate? Do you want to force Senior Brother Huang and I to take action?”
“You are seriously annoying!” Yang Kai lowered his head and furrowed his brow deeply, looking bitter and resentful.
Zhao Xing’s expression darkened slightly, “Yang Kai, don’t refuse our kindness and force our hand. We are being considerate of your identity as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, which is why we don’t want to make things too difficult for you. Don’t sully the magnanimity that Senior Brother Huang and I are showing you. Kill yourself quickly; otherwise, Senior Brother Huang and I will be taking action.”
“You’re all so damn annoying!” Yang Kai let out a low growl. Abruptly stepping forward, he suddenly lifted his lowered head and a horrifying light burst out of his eyes, almost as blinding as two suns. He looked very aggressive and at the same time, an indescribable hostility mixed with murderous intent poured out of him, “I never wanted to make things difficult for you people from the Cave Heavens and Paradises. So why must you force me?”
Zhao Xing’s expression changed slightly as he shouted through gritted teeth, “Stubborn fool! Attack!”
As soon as those words left his mouth, he took the lead and charged towards Yang Kai. Huang An Yi did not hesitate either and quickly followed Zhao Xing’s example. They might come from different Sects, but their cultivations were both equally profound. At this moment, they cooperated flawlessly. Their figures were like two spinning tops as they crossed and flowed around each other. One person slammed a palm out while the other blasted out with a punch. The World Force of two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters surged from their attacks and loomed down upon Yang Kai.
Their attacks were merciless, showing their ruthless intent to kill. The truth was that they could not afford to hold back either. It had not been long since their advancement, so they were not too familiar with controlling their strength; as a result, whenever they attacked, they could only attack with all their strength.
Yang Kai let out a low roar and the power of his Small Universe erupted. Both his hands turned into a barrage of fist shadows that flew into the sky to meet their attacks.
*Hong hong hong…*
World Force collided and exploded into turmoil. Even with the suppression of the Prison Star Grand Array, the surrounding space shattered like a broken mirror. One could only imagine how much more violent the situation would be without the suppression of the Grand Array.
Immediately after that, two figures were sent flying backwards like paper kites while simultaneously coughing up blood in mid-air.
All but one present was shocked by the sight! Staring blankly at the two people who had been sent flying, they wondered if there was something wrong with their eyes. They originally thought that the cooperation between Zhao Xing and Huang An Yi was bound to defeat Yang Kai.
After all, everybody had only just advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Nobody should be much stronger than the other. If two people joined forces, then it was impossible for a lone person to be their opponent. However, reality turned out to be very difficult for them to accept. The ones who were sent flying and spitting up blood turned out to be Zhao Xing and Huang An Yi instead!
Lin Feng’s eyes bulged while Gu Pan and Ning Dao Ran stared in shock!
Only Hui Gu, who was stuck between two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, seemed to have expected this outcome and slowly shook his head, “The young and ignorant are truly fearless!”
He had personally witnessed how Yang Kai killed Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch. Even a veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Giant Clam Heavenly Monarch had failed to last more than a few breaths against Yang Kai before dying miserably; therefore, he simply could not understand where these young and newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises got their confidence to attack this freak. Were they just sick of living?
It was precisely because Hui Gu had already anticipated this outcome that he had not been worried seeing Yang Kai being besieged by two newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
“How… is this possible!?” Zhao Xing looked absolutely shocked. Blood spurted out of his mouth and the Small Universe in his body shook violently. Just now, he had exchanged hundreds of blows with Yang Kai, and he had suffered a loss every single time. Moreover, his Small Universe had suffered a heavy shock with every single blow.
There was only one possibility for such an outcome to occur, the heritage of Yang Kai’s Small Universe was vastly superior to his own. That was the only reason for such a one-sided outcome.
A veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch might have been able to achieve an effect to this level, but Yang Kai… he had only advanced to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm recently. Moreover, Yang Kai’s time since his advancement should be shorter than his own since Zhao Xing had at least ten years since he broke through.
Before the thought finished forming in Zhao Xing’s head, he felt his vision going hazy for a moment. Then, he looked up and felt his soul nearly leap out from his body. Yang Kai had appeared right in front of him at some point. They were so close that their faces were practically touching.
“Why… must you force me!?” Scorching hot air blew out of Yang Kai’s nostrils.
“You…” Zhao Xing’s pupils contracted to the size of a needle. Without the slightest hesitation, he threw a punch in Yang Kai’s direction with all his strength. Unfortunately, the exchange just now had thrown his Small Universe into turmoil. Not only was he completely powerless to attack at this moment, but he could barely even draw out any World Force from his Small Universe.
*Pa…*
Yang Kai grabbed Zhao Xing by the fist. Standing in front of Zhao Xing, he shouted fiercely, “Are you going to continue forcing me!?”
While speaking, he punched forward and hit Zhao Xing squarely in the chest.
*Kacha…*
The sound of Zhao Xing’s ribs breaking echoed through the air. The clothes on his back exploded apart and a portion of his back bulged outward. The flow of blood coming out of his mouth became increasingly heavy as stars danced in his vision. It felt as though an extremely brutal force had slammed right into his Small Universe and nearly shaken it apart.
[I’m not his opponent! I’m not his opponent at all!] Zhao Xing started to panic. The heritage of the other party’s Small Universe was countless times stronger than his own, and if things continue at this rate, he would surely die!
Raising his hand, he beckoned at something behind Yang Kai.
“I guess you won’t regret your actions unless you see your coffin. If that’s the case, I will show you what true terror means! I will show you what real strength is!” Yang Kai’s fists transformed into a flurry of fist shadows that slammed into Zhao Xing’s chest.
Zhao Xing’s hand remained held high in the air as he shouted at Huang An Yi, who stood dumbfounded behind Yang Kai, “Save… Save me!”
“Brother Yang, show mercy!” Lin Feng shouted, his expression changing drastically.
Ning Dao Ran also came back to his senses and hurriedly yelled, “Brother Yang, don’t be impulsive!”
Everything had happened too quickly. They initially thought that Yang Kai would have no choice but to flee with Zhao Xing and Huang An Yi teaming up against him. Who could have known that he would simply crush them in a head on clash? With just a few kicks and punches, Yang Kai had already completely destroyed his two opponents’ ability to resist, which was why it took them some time to recover from their shock.
Seeing that the situation was turning dire, they quickly began shouting to stop Yang Kai.
Zhao Xing was a Core Disciple of Thousand Cranes Paradise, so his status was equal to their own. There would be huge trouble if Yang Kai killed him here; after all, the murder of a Paradise’s Core Disciple would surely cause huge consequences and great upheaval.
Yang Kai stopped, his scalding fists raised before him. His expression was fierce and brutal. When he looked behind him, he saw Huang An Yi looking pale with shock. Then, he glanced at Zhao Xing’s raised arm and quietly asked, “You were asking for help? You should have said so sooner, I thought you were still trying to fight back!”
*Pu…*
Zhao Xing vomited up blood and his aura weakened abruptly.
“Pathetic weakling!” Yang Kai cast a sideways glance at Zhao Xing and slowly drifted backwards before lowering his head to look at his fists with a sorrowful expression, “This is all so annoying!”
[I’ve created another grudge with somebody else again.] Back then, Yang Kai had been forced into a corner and had no choice but to break through to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm in front of the four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. His actions finally allowed him to escape the eyes of the Cave Heavens and Paradises that had been targeting him. But now, he had thrashed a Core Disciple from Thousand Cranes Paradise, which would probably generate a new grudge.
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling deeply distressed. He hadn’t wanted to make a move against anybody, but there was always somebody forcing his hand.
The newly advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who flew over to kill Yang Kai were all frozen in shock. They made a foolproof plan before they departed. Three people were assigned to stop Lin Feng Gu Pan, Ning Dao Ran, and Gu Pan, while two others were assigned to suppress Hui Gu.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xing and Huang An Yi were tasked with dealing with Yang Kai. Once they killed Yang Kai, they would then kill Hui Gu. Once they were done, they would successfully complete their mission. Afterwards, they planned to find a hiding place to conceal themselves for the next three months until the Dao Theory Assembly ended.
It was just that the situation in front of them right now was completely different from what they had imagined and they were at a loss for what to do.
“Move!” Lin Feng shoved the sluggish young man blocking his way aside and rushed over to Zhao Xing. He helped Zhao Xing up and reached out to examine his aura quickly before his expression changed drastically.
Ning Dao Ran also came over hurriedly and asked nervously, “How is he?”
Lin Feng’s expression was grim as he swiftly took out a bottle of Spirit Pills. He opened the bottle and pried Zhao Xing’s mouth open before pouring the entire bottle into his mouth. Be that as it may, blood continued to gush out of Zhao Xing’s mouth. He couldn’t even swallow the Spirit Pills. Lin Feng tried multiple times, but his attempts were all unsuccessful.
All of a sudden, Zhao Xing’s turbid eyes shone with a horrifying light. He grabbed Lin Feng by the arm and sputtered, “Avenge… me!”
After saying that, something seemed to escape his body rapidly. His body might not have changed much, but the scene resembled a balloon that had been popped.
A dense World Force swept throughout their surroundings! All the rest of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises turned pale at the sight.
“His Small Universe collapsed…” Not far away, Huang An Yi murmured in a daze.
They might not have witnessed something like this before, but that did not stop them from recognising the phenomenon. The Small Universe in Zhao Xing’s body had collapsed. That was the only reason for this phenomenon where the World Force had dissipated so violently to occur. Since the root of an Open Heaven Realm Master lay in their Small Universe, the only ending following its collapse… was death!
The escaping World Force slowly calmed down. When they looked over again, Zhao Xing was completely devoid of life. His two eyes were glaring forward furiously. Embers of hatred remained burning in his pale orbs, seemingly not yet extinguished.
Zhao Xing had died! A Core Disciple of Thousand Cranes Paradise, Zhao Xing, was dead! In a direct clash with Yang Kai, it had taken less than a dozen breaths for him to be beaten so badly that his Small Universe collapsed and he died!
Lin Feng and Ning Dao Ran looked at each other and saw the deep worry in each other’s eyes.
Even Yang Kai was stunned. He never imagined that the other party would be so weak as to succumb to a few punches. It was not like he had planned to kill anybody, but it seemed he used a little too much strength…
In reality, since his advancement into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm until now, Yang Kai had fought many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, but all of them had been veterans like Mao Zhe and Ju Xian, so their Small Universes were far more robust. They might be no match for him, but they could still exchange a few hundred blows with him at least.
[Are all newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters… so weak?] Upon further consideration, Yang Kai realised that the Small Universes in the bodies of these newly-advanced Open Heaven Realm Master weren’t even stable yet, so it was certainly easy for them to collapse under a violent bombardment.
This was all a big accident, but now that things had reached this point… Yang Kai’s gaze turned solemn as he shot a look at Hui Gu.
Hui Gu immediately felt his heart clench at the sight as he understood Yang Kai’s intentions. He wanted to silence all the witnesses!
Lin Feng immediately noticed the spike in Yang Kai’s murderous intent. Seeing the look on Yang Kai’s, his expression changed drastically and he shouted to the crowd, “Why are you still standing there!?”
Ning Dao Ran also quickly reacted. Still in a state of shock, he stood in front of Yang Kai and blocked his sight while shouting, “Brother Yang, please calm yourself!”
“Move!” Yang Kai glared at Ning Dao Ran aggressively.
A faint sheen of sweat oozed out of Ning Dao Ran’s forehead, but he did not budge as he earnestly said, “Brother Yang, don’t be impulsive. If you really do this, then everything will be over!”
The newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters around them were still in a state of shock after witnessing Zhao Xing’s death. None of them could recover so quickly.
Lin Feng was both furious and anxious as he yelled, “Do you all want to die!? Why are you still standing there!?” While speaking, he tossed Zhao Xing’s Corpse at Huang An Yi and urged them desperately, “Scram!”
Huang An Yi hurriedly caught Zhao Xing’s corpse and finally returned to his senses as he felt Yang Kai’s murderous intent locked firmly onto him. It was difficult not to notice; hence, his expression changed immediately. Carrying Zhao Xing’s corpse in his arms, he hurriedly escaped.
Only then did the rest of the newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters snap back to the present, each of them transforming into a stream of light that swiftly escaped.
Lin Feng stood up and walked over to Yang Kai. Stopping next to Ning Dao Ran, he stared straight into Yang Kai’s eyes and declared, “Brother Yang, if you really wish to silence the witnesses, then please start with Brother Ning and I. Rest assured, we will not resist. Since we left the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, we have both owed you our lives. We will just be repaying our life debt to you.”
Yang Kai glared at Lin Feng coldly as the latter returned his stare without revealing any weaknesses.
After a while, Yang Kai closed his eyes and took a deep breath. By the time he opened his eyes again, the sharp light in them had faded and only a sea of warmth remained. Smiling, he shook his head and spoke, “What nonsense are you two thinking?”
Lin Feng breathed out a sigh of relief, “I’m glad you reconsidered.”
While Lin Feng looked calm, he could still feel cold sweat dripping down his back. Judging from the way Yang Kai killed Zhao Xing just now, both he and Ning Dao Ran would definitely not be able to stop Yang Kai even if they worked together.
Lin Feng sighed once more before speaking earnestly, “Please don’t blame us. We were only acting in your best interests. Killing Zhao Xing might not be a trivial matter, but there could still be room for manoeuvre if he is the only one. On the other hand, there will be no going back if you actually slaughtered the rest.”
“I know,” Yang Kai nodded lightly. Xu Ling Gong had announced that deaths would not be questioned during the Dao Theory Assembly and that there was to be no resentment no matter who died on the Prison Star. Be that as it may, those words were mere words. If any of the Cave Heavens and Paradises Core Disciples were to die, the great forces behind them would never let the matter go.
Zhao Xing was a Core Disciple of Thousand Cranes Paradise and a genius who advanced directly to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Given enough time, he could have become one of the pillars of Thousand Cranes Paradise; however, he died at Yang Kai’s hands. The grudge that formed between them was bound to run deep.
This was an accident as Yang Kai never intended to kill Zhao Xing, but what was done was done.
Yang Kai looked down at his wrist and saw nearly 80 stars. He originally had close to 70 stars while Zhao Xing had approximately 30. Following Zhao Xing’s death, his achievements had been transferred to the others who were close by. Yang Kai was not the only person standing next to Zhao Xing earlier, so both Lin Feng and Ning Dao Ran gained an equal share.
Such great achievements would basically guarantee Yang Kai the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly; hence, there was nothing else he needed to do now. All that was left was to sit back and wait.
“Let’s go,” Yang Kai composed his emotions and gathered the others.
Killing Zhao Xing might have been an accident, but he was destined to have a feud with Thousand Cranes Paradise now. He could not imagine how powerful the heritage of a Paradise would be; however, it was a little crazy to think that he could stop them with his current cultivation as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
[Strength! I need even greater strength!] Unfortunately, what Yang Kai needed at his level of cultivation in order to get stronger was time. Refining Open Heaven Pills and resources of various Orders all required great amounts of time. He couldn’t accomplish much overnight.
The hidden place Gu Pan mentioned was located in the middle of a mountain range. There was a hidden cave at the foot of a certain mountain, one that was almost impossible to notice unless one was searching carefully.
After entering the cave and walking for several kilometres, they arrived at a kind of utopia. The scenery in this place was extremely beautiful and peaceful; therefore, they settled in and quietly waited for the Dao Theory Assembly to end.
As time passed, Yang Kai and the others would occasionally gather together to drink tea or discuss the Dao or exchange various Secret Techniques. Regardless of the changes in the outside world, they lived in peace.
They were all newly-advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, so it was only natural that they had many common topics to discuss. Besides, exchanging their respective cultivation experiences allowed everybody to gain something from each other.
Hui Gu was a veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master and the amount of time he spent in this Realm was several times longer than the rest of them combined, so he naturally had far more say when it came to matters of cultivation in this Realm. His occasional guidance would also give Yang Kai and the others flashes of inspiration.
Although Yang Kai was much stronger than Lin Feng and the others, they came from various Cave Heavens and Paradises; hence, they had come into contact with many things that he had never heard of before. Yang Kai learned many interesting things over the months of their interaction.
On a certain day, the people chatting away happily suddenly stiffened in surprise and looked down at their golden wristbands. A distinct wave of Spiritual Energy was now pulsing from these wristbands.
They lowered their heads to perceive the phenomenon and immediately realized they had received a Divine Sense message.
“The Dao Theory Assembly is finally ending.” Lin Feng slowly got to his feet, “There’s another half a month’s time before the exit opens, but we should start making preparations.”
Needless to say, nobody had any objections. As there was nothing to pack, they simply prepared to set off on their journey a short while later.
Hui Gu sent them off as he had no way to follow them on this trip since he was still considered a Prison Star criminal. Nevertheless, he had written his name down on the Loyalty List so he believed that Yang Kai would not ignore him.
“Wait here for a while. I will talk to the people of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven later to negotiate your freedom,” Yang Kai instructed.
“I will obey your orders, Sir!” Hui Gu responded with a bow.
Lin Feng, Ning Dao Ran, and Gu Pan watched quietly from the side. If they had not witnessed Yang Kai’s strength for themselves, it would have been difficult for them to understand why a veteran Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would be so obedient towards him.
At first, they believed that Hui Gu had struck up a deal with Yang Kai to cooperate with each other in exchange for something. It was not until later that they realised the truth. These two had a Master-Servant relationship between them.
“Let’s go,” Yang Kai called out. Wrapping his energy around Lu Jing before he rose into the sky.
Su Ying Xue mentioned that the Prison Star Grand Array’s exit would open once more when the one-year period was up. Moreover, the location of the exit was specified in the Divine Sense Message from earlier. For that reason, what they needed to do was to rush to the location and arrive within the time limit.
They set off half a month in advance, so there was no urgency in terms of time. As they soared across the sky, the small group saw some of the cultivators participating in the Dao Theory Assembly flying out from their hiding places to follow behind them.
These participating cultivators had remained in hiding all this while, probably to avoid Prison League’s hunt. It was only natural for them to quickly follow along when they noticed several Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters leading the way forward. Joining this powerful group would give them a sense of security; otherwise, they basically had no power to resist if they encountered the Prison League along the way.
Yang Kai and the others ignored these people since they were only following at a distance and did not dare to approach too closely.
More than ten days later, Yang Kai’s group finally arrived at the specified location. There was a large rock that had been cut smooth to form something similar to a platform there and it seemed the exit would appear above it.
It was just that there was not a single person around at a glance. However, it was revealed that many people were hiding nearby when they scanned the area. It was obvious that many people had arrived in advance, but they did not dare to reveal themselves easily, choosing to remain in hiding.
Yang Kai and the others landed directly on the platform. Then, they each found a spot and sat down cross-legged. Their arrival could be considered early; after all, there were still three days left until the return passage opened.
As time passed, more and more cultivators arrived, most of them in small groups that simply decided to wait nearby. Meanwhile, the cultivators who came early and concealed their presences gradually revealed themselves.
At first, Yang Kai was vigilant as to whether the Prison League would make a move, but in the end and to his surprise, they did not show up. Even Huang An Yi and the rest were nowhere to be seen. There was no saying where they were hiding.
Three days later, the entire Prison Star rumbled noticeably. Everybody looked up to see a rainbow bridge swiftly spreading out across the sky. One end of the rainbow bridge connected to the depths of the void while the other end extended above the platform.
Yang Kai, Lin Feng, and the others glanced at each other and nodded lightly.
“It’s finally over,” Yang Kai stood up and, bringing Lu Jing with him, he was the first to step onto the rainbow bridge. Just like when he was first transported into the Prison Star, he immediately felt the world spinning around him. His vision distorted and changed rapidly, and by the time he recovered, he had already appeared in the palace square where he first departed from.
There were a dozen or so chairs lined up on the stage above the palace square. Moreover, there was a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master from the various Cave Heavens and Paradises sitting in each chair. The one sitting in the centre was none other than Xu Ling Gong.
“Oh?” Xu Ling Gong couldn’t help looking surprised to see that the first person to return was Yang Kai. Although being the first to return did not represent anything, being the first to step on the rainbow bridge, under those circumstances, was undoubtedly a symbol of strength.
[This brat’s performance… seems to be rather unexpected!] Xu Ling Gong nodded lightly. Speaking of which, he might have forced Yang Kai to enter the Dao Theory Assembly, but he had not expected much from him. He simply did not want to wrong his own Disciple. Qu Hua Shang was a Core Disciple who advanced directly into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm after all. Even if she married somewhere else, she had to marry a young handsome man whose aptitude was equal to hers. How could those old men whose lifetime limit was the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm dare to covet her?
The purpose of making special arrangements for Yang Kai was to disrupt the plans of the other Cave Heavens and Paradises. Xu Ling Gong wanted to force them into a position where they had to dispatch their Core Disciples to participate in the event, and his plan had worked perfectly. After those rising stars participated in the event, the level and quality of the Dao Theory Assembly immediately increased by a large margin. At the same time, Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s pride was also protected.
The only thing that remained uncertain was who would win the top spot in this event!
Lin Feng, Ning Dao Ran, and Gu Pan emerged closely behind Yang Kai. Afterwards, numerous figures appeared. They were all cultivators who participated in the Dao Theory Assembly. Soon, the square was filled with people.
Divine Senses surged as the Elders of the great forces quietly questioned their Juniors about the results of this event and whether or not their Juniors sustained any injuries…
On the other hand, the Elders whose Juniors and disciples did not appear couldn’t help feeling anxious and worried. The Prison Star was not a forgiving place, and every single criminal locked up inside was heinous and evil. If anything were to happen in that place, the outcome would most likely be death.
For the next hour, more than 100 people gathered in the square. At this point, the number of cultivators returning from the Prison Star had obviously reduced to an infrequent trickle. There was even a long period where not a single person came back.
Many Elders who led their disciples here became increasingly solemn. If their Juniors failed to appear after so long, then it could only mean that they were dead. The manner in which the Dao Theory Assembly was conducted had been completely out of their expectations. If they had known that the Dao Theory Assembly would be held on the Prison Star, they would never have brought their Juniors here. It was a pity that Xu Ling Gong’s last-moment changes to the Dao Theory Assembly were something that nobody could have predicted.
Not only were many of the Elders of the Second-Class great forces who led their teams here looking grim, but even the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters sitting in the dozen or so chairs above the square were starting to look solemn. This couldn’t be helped though as out of more than dozen or so Core Disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises, only three had come out so far. The others were nowhere to be seen.
[This doesn’t make any sense!] Xu Ling Gong maintained a smile on the surface, but his heart was pounding like a beating drum inside.
He had mentioned that the Dao Theory Assembly was not a game and that the participants would be responsible for their own lives. Nevertheless, he would be held partially responsible for this incident due to his position as the organiser of the Dao Theory Assembly if so many Core Disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises had lost their lives on the Prison Star.
Just as he was hesitating over whether to send Su Ying Xue to question Yang Kai about the situation in the Prison Star, the rainbow bridge connecting to the Prison Star suddenly fluctuated again.
Xu Ling Gong was stunned by the sight! This phenomenon could only mean that somebody was returning from the Prison Star. In addition, there were quite a number of them.
In the next moment, numerous figures appeared in the square, as many as 100 of them in total.
Most of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were filled with a slight sense of relief and their nerves finally relaxed when they saw their Core Disciples.
On the contrary, one of them stood up abruptly. His eyes widened as he looked down with an expression of disbelief. Then, he rushed into the crowd with a shift of his figure. The aura of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master spread out unchecked and the participating cultivators who just returned were immediately pushed off-balance by the impact. Those who were slightly weaker went pale and blood leaked out of the corner of their mouths.
“Martial Uncle Zuo…” Huang An Yi called out sorrowfully. The elderly man in front of him was somebody he recognised as an Inner Elder of Thousand Cranes Paradise, as well as Zhao Xing’s Honoured Master.
Zuo Quan Hui stared blankly at the corpse in Huang An Yi’s arms, and after reaching out to check for Zhao Xing’s aura, his body trembled slightly and his slightly short figure seemed to droop considerably.
“Who did this?” Although he asked lightly, Huang An Yi could sense the suppressed rage in Zuo Quan Hui’s voice. It felt like a volcano that was about to erupt was hidden in his chest.
“Void Land’s Yang Kai!” Huang An Yi pointed out Yang Kai in the crowd.
Zuo Quan Hui abruptly turned around, his eyes crimson. Like a wild beast that was about to devour its prey, his gaze crossed over the crowd to fix fiercely upon Yang Kai’s body. His gaze was so sharp that he could almost slice through space all by itself.
“Die!” Without any hesitation, he reached out his hand towards Yang Kai and roared.
Following a violent surge of the World Force, Huang An Yi, who had been standing beside Zuo Quan Hui, went pale with fright and was sent flying from the fallout.
Faced with the furious assault of a veteran Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Yang Kai simply stood there indifferently and did not bother to move a single muscle.
In contrast, Lin Feng, Ning Dao Ran, and Gu Pan swiftly came to stand in front of Yang Kai, surging their respective strength as they pushed their palms forward.
Lin Feng shouted, “Senior, please calm down!”
“Get out of my way, Juniors!” Zuo Quan Hui roared furiously. World Force flared and at the same time, he slammed his palm at Lin Feng and the others once each. His actions were as quick as lightning, but fortunately he was not completely blinded by his rage. His attacks might be overpowering but they were not meant to kill Lin Feng and the others.
*Hong hong hong…*
Lin Feng and the others quickly retreated backwards, their complexions deathly pale.
After repelling Lin Feng and the others, Zuo Quan Hui’s moves became much more violent. He reached out his large hand, like a claw that covered the entire sky.
At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in front of Yang Kai.
“This is Yin-Yang Cave Heaven…” Xu Ling Gong stood there like a mountain, his clothes flapping wildly as his hair that was tied behind his head flew about. He lightly clenched one fist and slowly pushed it out, “Why are you acting so presumptuously?”
*Hong…*
There was a loud explosion and Xu Ling Gong’s figure slumped slightly. On the other hand, Zuo Quan Hui was forced several metres back through the air. Both were Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who had advanced many years ago, so the difference in their strength was not very apparent. This exchange of blows had ended in a draw.
Zuo Quan Hui felt his rage surging. His most precious and prized Legacy Disciple had been killed; hence, his eyes were dyed red with rage. Even though Xu Ling Gong blocked his charge, he continued forward recklessly only to be stopped by Xu Ling Gong once more.
On the other hand, the Elders of Lin Feng and the other two received Divine Sense Messages from their Juniors. Although they were not certain about the exact situation inside the Prison Star, they could tell that these three were connected to Zhao Xing’s death. What’s more, the fact that Lin Feng and the others had stood up to stop Zuo Quan Hui made it difficult for them to remain on the sidelines.
Three Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters leaped forward and worked together with Xu Ling Gong to stop Zuo Quan Hui. One of them said, “Brother Zuo, calm down. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of the Juniors.”
“That’s right. Brother Zuo, stop for a moment. It’s not too late to act after getting the full story!”
Zuo Quan Hui was in a four-against-one situation, so how could he win? His several attempts were fruitless, so he was so furious that he roared. All of a sudden, his hostile gaze swept over Xu Ling Gong and the other three, “Are you all really going to stop me?”
Xu Ling Gong quickly said, “It is not that this Old Master wants to stop you, but rather that you are acting too outrageously! Don’t forget, this is Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, not Thousand Cranes Paradise!”
Zuo Quan Hui pointed at Yang Kai standing at the back, “That little bastard killed my Disciple!”
Xu Ling Gong snorted, “One is responsible for their own life during the Dao Theory Assembly! You should have been mentally prepared for Zhao Xing to be killed when you let him join!”
“Stop being a hypocrite! If your Disciple had been killed instead, you would not be spouting such nonsense!”
Xu Ling Gong replied,” My Disciple would not be such a waste!”
“You…” Zuo Quan Hui felt his rage ready to explode. The blood in his chest churned and a sweetness filled his throat, nearly causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood, “Xu Ling Gong, hand that brat to me and this Zuo will owe you a favour!”
Xu Ling Gong glanced back at Yang Kai, while Yang Kai just grinned back at him, looking so calm that it made his stomach sick. [Damn it! Isn’t this brat too good at causing trouble!? How could he dare to kill a Core Disciple of Thousand Cranes Paradise!? Who gave him the courage!? If you’re going to kill him, then you should have made sure it couldn’t be traced back to you! Don’t let somebody catch hold of your weakness! This matter just had to be exposed here…]
For a time, Xu Ling Gong was not sure whether arranging for Yang Kai to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly had been worth it now. Still, he turned back and declared, “He came to participate in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Dao Theory Assembly. His actions are within the rules of the Dao Theory Assembly, so Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will bear responsibility for the consequences!”
“You want to protect him, still?” Zuo Quan Hui shouted.
Xu Ling Gong glared at Zuo Quan Hui coldly, “You can’t touch him!”
Four eyes met as vague sparks filled the air.
After a long while, Zuo Quan Hui finally nodded, “Good. Let’s see how long you can protect him for then! I will remember this, boy. Sooner or later, this Monarch will twist your head off!”
While speaking, he came to Huang An Yi’s side and took Zhao Xing’s corpse with trembling hands. Following that, he soared into the sky and left. It was obvious that he did not wish to stay here for another moment longer.
Zuo Quan Hui’s Legacy Disciple had been killed, he had completely fallen out with Xu Ling Gong just now, and he was unable to kill his enemy who was right in front of him. It was no surprise that he was in no mood to stay.
Xu Ling Gong did not stop Zuo Quan Hui and simply watched until his figure disappeared out of sight before he coldly snorted, “Continue!”
With a leap of his figure, he returned to his seat. Likewise, the Elders of Lin Feng and the others also returned to their seats upon seeing that the situation had calmed down.
On the other hand, many participating cultivators in the palace square were looking at Yang Kai in horror. They might not have known what happened before, but how could they remain ignorant now? It turned out that Zhao Xing of Thousand Cranes Paradise had been killed.
Void Land’s Yang Kai… How could he be so bold?
Even the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters sitting on the stage were looking at Yang Kai with displeasure. Zhao Xing might be a member of Thousand Cranes Paradise, but throughout history, the Cave Heavens and Paradises had always been staunch allies. If Yang Kai dared to kill Zhao Xing, then it meant that he dared to kill anyone. It was only natural that they found a person like that displeasing.
Ignoring all the strange looks from the crowd, Yang Kai continued to stand there motionlessly.
Lin Feng and the other two approached him once more while Ning Dao Ran sent him a Divine Sense Message, “Brother Yang, you must be careful in the future. Zuo Quan Hui is Zhao Xing’s Honoured Master and he will never let this matter go.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “I know.”
It was precisely because of this that he wanted to silence the witnesses to his crime back then, but judging from the current situation, he might not have been able to kill every single one of them even if he attacked them at the time. These Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters all had their respective methods to protect themselves, so they were not that easy to kill and news would have leaked out eventually. Acting rashly would only have caused feuds with even more of the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Following the return of those 100 or so people, the rainbow bridge became quiet once more.
Nobody else returned after that.
As a result, Elder Zhuo Bu Qun of Myriad Demons Heaven, Elder Yu Huan of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, and Elder Lu Zhen Yang of Azure Nether Paradise looked very solemn.
This couldn’t be helped as more than a dozen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises had participated in the Dao Theory Assembly. Excluding Zhao Xing who was killed, all the others had basically returned except for the disciples of these three Sects.
The situation with Myriad Demons Heaven was not too bad as the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm disciple known as Mo Sheng had returned from the Prison Star and was currently standing quietly among the crowd.
Zhuo Bu Qun secretly sent a transmission and questioned Mo Sheng about the situation. Then, his expression became even more gloomy. He learned from Mo Sheng that Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao had been ambushed by many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Prison League and their fate was uncertain. Meanwhile, Mo Sheng was lucky enough to escape alive.
After waiting for another half an hour, Zhuo Bu Qun and the others could no longer sit still when they saw that nobody else was returning. The three of them pressured Xu Ling Gong to allow them to enter the Prison Star in person so that they could search for traces of Pei Wen Xuan, Yin Xin Zhao, and the others.
Xu Ling Gong reassured them repeatedly, all while murmuring to himself in his heart, [Those bastards on the Prison Star better not have been ignorant enough to dare to kill the Core Disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises!]
An unexpected incident had already occurred earlier, but only Zhao Xing had died in that incident. If Pei Wen Xuan and the others had died on the Prison Star as well, then the Dao Theory Assembly would turn into a huge disaster.
Xu Ling Gong could withstand the pressure from Thousand Cranes Paradise if it was alone, but if three more Sects were added things would become untenable. He would probably be punished by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven as a result.
He secretly regretted his actions as it seemed he had overplayed his hand in this Dao Theory Assembly!
In order to appease Zhuo Bu Qun and the other Elders, he quickly sent Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui to the Prison Star to inquire about the situation. Those two rushed into the rainbow bridge and returned together not long afterwards.
Su Ying Xue whispered something in Xu Ling Gong’s ear which caused him to nod lightly. With his expression relaxed considerably, Xu Ling Gong turned around and said something to Zhuo Bu Qun and the others. Only then did Zhuo Bu Qun and the others calm down.
“Good. The Dao Theory Assembly ends here. You’ve all worked hard for the past year, so it is now time to examine the results. Let’s see who obtained the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly!” Xu Ling Gong sat upright in his chair and after his speech, he gave a slight wave of his hand.
Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples who had been prepared in advance flew down immediately and landed in the square. They each cast Secret Techniques to remove the golden wristbands around the participants’ wrists and record their achievements.
Compared with their original number, the surviving participants had been reduced by more than half, with those missing almost certainly having died on the Prison Star.
The Elders who brought their Juniors to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly couldn’t help looking sad and gloomy. Most of the Second-Class great forces had originally hoped to ride on the coattails of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and soar straight to success. That was why they had brought the most elite cultivators from their respective Sects to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly.
With the number of people who died on the Prison Star though, it could be said that their losses were heavy. But, who could have known that Xu Ling Gong would play such tricks during the Dao Theory Assembly that was only held to choose a Husband for Qu Hua Shang? It was too late for regrets now.
An incense stick later, all the scores had been counted with the golden wristbands having been retrieved and placed on a table in front of many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.
The dozen or so High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters swept a glance over the golden wristbands and quickly noticed the one with the most stars. The main reason was that the number of stars on this golden wristband was so high that the others couldn’t even compare. There was no need to search carefully at all.
“It looks like the top spot belongs to this person!” Xu Ling Gong chuckled, turning to look around him, “I wonder which Sect this Junior belongs to!”
Many of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters smiled reservedly as one of them said, “We’ll know once we check.”
In their opinion, it was impossible for their disciples to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven even if they took the top spot. They were forced to send their Core Disciples to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly, but it was simply to preserve everybody’s face.
Core Disciples who advanced directly into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm were potential Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Who would willingly let go of such talents? As for how things would end if one of their Core Disciples obtained the top spot, it was bound to be an argument with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. In any case, they all had long lives, so bickering for several hundred or even thousands of years was not a problem. They could even use this kind of argument to relieve their boredom.
Xu Ling Gong smiled faintly. How could he not know what these people were thinking? Be that as it may, these Core Disciples had participated in the Dao Theory Assembly and would be named a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law if they won the top spot. How could he allow any objections or resistance? Even if he had to use force, he would make sure that the person remained here.
As such, he grabbed the golden wristband and looked inside it. Two large characters printed on the golden wristband entered his vision and the smile on his face abruptly stiffened.
[How… how can it be him?] Xu Ling Gong was absolutely stunned.
When the golden wristbands were being recovered, the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples in charge of recovering them were tasked with engraving the names of the participants onto them. Each golden wristband corresponded to only one person, so there could be no mistakes. In other words, the name and score recorded on this golden wristband was completely accurate.
“Brother Xu seems to have been met with quite a pleasant surprise.” The High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master who spoke up earlier couldn’t help making a joke when he saw the strange expression on Xu Ling Gong’s face. At the same time, he glanced at the golden wristband in Xu Ling Gong’s hand and immediately looked stunned at the result. The two large characters on the golden wristband shone so brightly with a golden light that he nearly couldn’t open his eyes.
“Who is it? Who took the top spot?” Somebody else looked over curiously.
Everybody who saw the results couldn’t help falling silent and wrinkling their brow.
The reason why they sent their Core Disciples to participate in the Dao Theory Assembly was to prevent this exact situation, but contrary to their expectations, their efforts proved fruitless even though more than a dozen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had participated.
Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui, who had been standing behind Xu Ling Gong all this time, saw the two large characters on the golden wristband from the beginning.
[Yang Kai!?] They couldn’t help feeling absolutely shocked!
Moreover, the number of stars on this golden wristband was almost twice that of the second place, so there was no comparison. This result was simply overwhelming!
[He took the top spot?] They exchanged a glance with each other, feeling a little incredulous.
Yang Kai might also be in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, but his background was nothing special. He did not have any Elders teaching him or providing him with resources, artifacts, or powerful techniques. Therefore, there should be a huge gap between him and the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Now, however, it seemed it was the disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises who were very far behind him…
When they allowed Yang Kai to enter the Dao Theory Assembly, neither Xu Ling Gong, Su Ying Xue, nor Qing Kui held many expectations for him. Xu Ling Gong’s original intention was only to muddy the waters of the Dao Theory Assembly with the help of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yang Kai. They never imagined that they would stumble upon such fortune!
Su Ying Xue came back to her senses and immediately sent a message to Qu Hua Shang, who was waiting for news. When she told Qu Hua Shang about the results, she could only imagine how happy her Junior Sister would be.
It was just that the current atmosphere was a little strange.
Many participants standing below, including the Elders of the great forces who led their teams here were eagerly waiting for Xu Ling Gong to announce the results. However, Xu Ling Gong and the dozen or so High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters fell into an eerie silence.
Nevertheless, Xu Ling Gong quickly came back to his senses. It might be unexpected, but the result that came out was not something he could not accept.
Holding up the golden wristband in his hand and revealing the two large characters to the crowd, he raised his voice and announced, “The winner of the Dao Theory Assembly is Void Land’s Yang Kai!”
As soon as that statement came out, everybody turned to look at Yang Kai, again.
Lin Feng cupped his fist, “Congratulations.”
Likewise, Ning Dao Ran and Gu Pan also congratulated Yang Kai.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was not sure how to respond. Although he knew that he would obtain the top spot with no issues, winning first place in the Dao Theory Assembly meant that he would become a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law. In other words, he would have to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
[But, I don’t want to marry into Yin-Yang Cave Heaven! Besides, how am I supposed to explain this to Su Yan and the others?] For a time, Yang Kai suffered a headache and gastric pains.
“Many thanks for coming from afar to participate in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Dao Theory Assembly. This event has ended on a successful note. In three days, this Monarch will hold a banquet. Please be sure to show up!” Xu Ling Gong announced.
The Open Heaven Realm Masters of the Second-Class great forces quickly responded to his invitation while one of the Elders from the Cave Heavens and Paradises stood up, “Brother Xu, there is something I need to attend to back in the Sect. I’m afraid I won’t be able to participate in the banquet. Let’s meet again in the future.”
After saying that, he summoned his disciples and soared into the sky.
Xu Ling Gong did not stop them.
Similarly, the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters slowly got up one after another to leave with their respective disciples. It did not take long before only the Elders of Myriad Demons Heaven, Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, and Azure Nether Paradise remained. They wanted to leave, but their disciples were still on the Prison Star, so they couldn’t depart even if they wanted to.
They glanced at each other with helpless expressions on their faces. The result of the Dao Theory Assembly could be said to have embarrassed all the Cave Heavens and Paradises. Outsiders would not think too much once the results of this event got out. All they would know was that Void Land’s Yang Kai had suppressed more than a dozen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises to come out on top and win the Dao Theory Assembly.
“Junior Brother Yang, please rest here for now. I need to help Honoured Master handle the rest of the Dao Theory Assembly, then I’ll come and speak with you.” After Qing Kui led Yang Kai to the reception hall on a certain Spirit Peak, he patted Yang Kai on the shoulder. His attitude was undoubtedly more affectionate compared to before.
Yang Kai had taken the top spot and could now be considered a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law. With this status set in stone, it was not strange that Qing Kui’s attitude would change with a connection like that. Qing Kui might not have imagined such an outcome at first, but it was what Qu Hua Shang had been hoping for, so as her Senior Brother, he was happy for her.
“Please go ahead, Senior Brother!” Yang Kai cupped his fist lightly.
Qing Kui winked at Yang Kai, “Don’t you dare mess around!”
“What?” Yang Kai was flabbergasted.
However, Qing Kui had already turned around and left.
Watching Qing Kui’s figure disappearing out of sight, Yang Kai finally shook his head before he turned around and walked towards the palace. There were maidservants elegantly bowing to him on both sides who all gave a crisp greeting, “Greetings, Young Master.”
These Yin-Yang Cave Heaven maidservants were all in the Emperor Realm; moreover, their figures and appearances were far above average. Their slim waists and ample peaks were very eye-catching.
Yang Kai gave a non-committal response, but just as he was about to enter the palace, his gaze suddenly landed on a certain maidservant and he failed to stifle his laughter, “Senior Sister Qu, what are you doing here?”
The ‘maidservant’ had her head lowered so that her hair covered her face, but even though she was trying hard to disguise herself, how could she hide from his keen eyes?
Qu Hua Shang looked up and smiled at him when he saw through her ruse and quipped, “Have I been discovered?”
While speaking, she walked over and reached out to hold his arm. Her ample bosom pressed against his arm without hesitation as she murmured sweetly, “You’ve worked hard, Junior Brother.”
He smiled, “It’s nothing.”
There was really nothing difficult about the Dao Theory Assembly for Yang Kai, as with his current strength, there was basically nothing on the Prison Star that could endanger him as long as he was not besieged by the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Prison League.
Qu Hua Sheng then instructed the rest of the maidservants, “My fiancé has worked hard for a whole year. Prepare the scented bath!”
“Yes!” The maidservants around them quickly responded.
A short while later, a huge bath was filled with warm water. Colourful flower petals floated on the surface while little waves made the water sparkle and steam permeated the air.
Yang Kai leaned against the wall of the bath and soaked his body in the water. This scented bath was probably filled with all sorts of expensive Spirit Herbs that had the effect of relieving fatigue and relaxing the spirit. There might not have been any danger on the Prison Star, but it was quite tiring after spending a year there; hence, his fatigue was greatly relieved at this moment.
Yang Kai was generally not one to enjoy such luxuries; however, he simply went with the flow since Qu Hua Shang had made these arrangements for him.
Suddenly, the sound of fine footsteps rang out. Yang Kai turned to look in that direction and saw several slender figures slowly walking towards him through the hazy steam filling the air.
Waving his hand dismissively, Yang Kai declared, “Stop. I don’t need your service!”
Those people ignored his instructions, however, and continued walking over. When they drew closer, Yang Kai discovered that these maidservants were only dressed in gauze that was as thin as a cicada’s wings. Their most precious places gleamed in and out of sight amidst the steam. They lowered their heads and entered the water lightly with slightly blushing faces. Disregarding whether he approved or not, they pressed against him from both sides and carefully helped to wash his body for him.
The situation left Yang Kai absolutely uncomfortable, and just as he was about to leap out, he suddenly heard a peal of giggling and charming laughter, “Junior Brother, are you feeling shy?”
The voice came from behind him, and leaning his head back, he looked up and saw Qu Hua Shang crouching in front of him, smiling down at him. The beautiful womanly scenery under her skirt was faintly discernible, so he could only withdraw his gaze speechlessly and mutter, “Senior Sister, what are you doing?”
Qu Hua Shang reached out her hand and made a light sliding movement. Slowly stroking her fingers over his firm chest, she murmured softly, “I heard you speak so eloquently about the Yin-Yang Union Cultivation in the past, so I thought you were a veteran of such matters. It turns out that you were just talking big.”
“Senior Sister, be careful when playing with fire, you might accidentally burn yourself. Most people won’t be able to withstand my passion once this Junior Brother gets started.” Yang Kai closed his eyes slightly and suddenly understood why Qing Kui told him not to mess around before leaving.
Qu Hua Shang giggled softly, “Go ahead and burn with passion. These girls can help you put out that fire if you’re willing.”
The maidservants helping him wash his body on both sides flushed even redder.
Meanwhile, Qu Hua Shang leaned down lightly and exhaled an orchid scent next to his ear, “Junior Brother, can you really hold yourself back? After this, I’m going to be cultivating in retreat for 100 years. You can devour every single person here if you want, including me.”
Yang Kai grabbed her small hands that were wandering across his chest and declared, “Senior Sister, stop fooling around.”
In response, she pouted, “How boring.”
Releasing her hand, he asked one question in concern, “Senior Sister, do you really have to cultivate in retreat for 100 years?”
She nodded, “That’s right. This is supposed to be one of the methods for the Sect to protect me. Since it has been announced to the public, we cannot fake it. But, it doesn’t matter. It will only be for 100 years. I’ve only just advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm anyway, so this is actually perfect for me to carefully consolidate my cultivation.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “I’m glad you think so, Senior Sister.”
He couldn’t help feeling slightly relieved. These 100 years could be considered a buffering period. Although he had won the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly and was now a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law in name, many things could change in a century. Qu Hua Shang might have different ideas by the time she comes out of her seclusion.
After Yang Kai was bathed and dressed by the maidservants, he thoroughly learned how passionate a woman from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven could be. Throughout the entire process, Qu Hua Shang not only showed no intention to shy away but watched everything with great interest.
However, Qu Hua Shang did not stay for long because Su Ying Xue soon rushed over to take her away. Before they left, Su Ying Xue even threw a fierce and dirty glare at Yang Kai that made him feel like he was wronged.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Three days later, Xu Ling Gong hosted a banquet for all the representatives of the great forces who participated in the Dao Theory Assembly. The banquet was held on the open-air platform of a wondrous Spirit Peak, making for a grand and lively scene.
Yang Kai had been magnificently dressed up by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven in festive red robes, to the point that those who didn’t know better would have thought that he was getting married today.
In addition, he was seated in the first spot to the left and below Xu Ling Gong’s seat.
Young girls sang and danced in the square, showing off their beauty to the fullest. Plate after plate of delicacies were presented to the table while precious vintage wine emitted a charming fragrance. The atmosphere of the banquet was lively as Masters from various Great Territories weaved about the crowd and exchanged drinks with each other.
Such a large-scale gathering was rare across the whole 3,000 Worlds. Although many of their disciples suffered disastrous defeat and even death in the process, this was still an opportunity for these people to build relationships with other great forces and open up new opportunities for their own Sects. Therefore, except for the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises who left early, everybody else was basically in attendance.
Yang Kai looked at Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao sitting opposite him, feeling absolutely speechless!
After being ambushed by the Prison League, Yang Kai had used his Space Principles to escape along with Hui Gu, Lu Jing, and Wu Kuang, leaving Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao behind.
Yang Kai thought that those two would definitely end up dead, but who could have known that they would survive?
[What is wrong with the Prison League? Why didn’t they kill them!?] Yang Kai frowned slightly and quietly sent a transmission to Qing Kui to ask about the situation. Only then did he learn the entire story.
The truth was that the Prison League had not killed Yin Xin Zhao or Pei Wen Xuan. Additionally, they even caught another Core Disciple from Azure Nether Paradise later.
Even Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch knew that the Core Disciples from the various Cave Heavens and Paradises could not be killed at will as doing so would surely invite the wrath of the Cave Heavens and Paradises!
If that were to happen, they might not enjoy a peaceful life even if they hid away on the Prison Star. It was a better choice to capture those people alive to use them as bargaining chips to negotiate with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
The final result of the negotiations was that the Prison League would return the three Core Disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises. In return, three Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Prison League would be freed. This was similar to what Xu Ling Gong promised from the very beginning where the Prison Star criminals could earn their freedom as long as they killed enough participants.
Needless to say, a negotiation between two parties required leverage. Prison League had used the three Core Disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises as their bargaining chips. This situation distressed Zhuo Bu Qun and the other Elders so much that they nearly spat blood.
Although Zhuo Bu Qun, Yu Huan, and Lu Zhen Yang joined forces to pressure Xu Ling Gong into agreeing to the Prison League’s demands, how could somebody like Xu Ling Gong accept such demands so casually?
Moreover, the three people caught by the Prison League were not Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples, so their lives had nothing to do with Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. However, it was still true that their lives hung on a single thought from Xu Ling Gong.
In the end, the three Cave Heavens and Paradises were forced to pay a huge price and only then did Xu Ling Gong relent and pardon the crimes of three Prison League Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. By doing so, they finally got Yin Xin Zhao and the others back in exchange.
As for what price the Cave Heavens and Paradises had to pay, even Qing Kui did not know. That was the result of a secret discussion between Xu Ling Gong, Zhuo Bu Qun, and the other High-Rank Elders.
A total of four Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters and a dozen others below the Sixth-Order from the Prison League had received their freedom. Aside from the three Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who received special pardons from Xu Ling Gong, the rest had accumulated enough stars to obtain their freedom themselves. Among them included the Prison League’s League Master, Huang Quan!
Huang Quan had personally killed Zhuang Wei of Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, earning him an astonishing 67 stars in an instant. Such achievements were enough for him to escape the Prison Star.
After knowing the truth of the matter, Yang Kai could barely stifle his laughter. There was nothing he could say about the transaction that Xu Ling Gong made as it was practically a free deal. No wonder Zhuo Bu Qun and the others had such ugly expressions during the banquet. It was obvious that they were hurting from being bled dry.
[It’s just a pity… I originally wanted to murder with a borrowed knife. In the end, my plans failed thanks to the Prison League’s petty greed.]
There was no doubt that the protagonist of today’s banquet was Yang Kai. As a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law, countless people should have come to offer him a toast on their own initiative. This was not out of consideration for him, but rather to honour the prestige of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and Xu Ling Gong!
However, the truth was that he simply sat there unnoticed.
It was not that the participating Open Heaven Realm Masters were being disdainful, it was just that they were afraid of Thousand Cranes Paradise. Zhao Xing had been killed by Yang Kai, so even though Xu Ling Gong had relied on his advantage as host in this place to forcefully suppress Zuo Quan Hui who led the team from Thousand Cranes Paradise, everybody knew that Thousand Cranes Paradise would never let this matter rest. They might be targeted by Thousand Cranes Paradise if they went up to congratulate Yang Kai at a time like this, so who would dare to be so bold?
Being aware of this fact, Yang Kai was not bothered by the issue. He was happy and content just to eat and drink by himself.
On the other hand, Lu Jing brought the Elders of Gathering Yuan Union over to offer a toast out of gratitude for Yang Kai’s protection on the Prison Star. Even so, he was soon dragged away by his Elders.
The banquet ended and Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s guests gradually left.
Before leaving, Lu Jing met with Yang Kai one more time to inform him that the Sixth-Order Yang Element treasure he previously promised would be sent directly to Void Land.
Three days later, Yang Kai was led by Qing Kui to the Spirit Peak where Xu Ling Gong lived.
Xu Ling Gong sat confidently inside the Grand Hall on the Spirit Peak, studying Yang Kai who was sitting below with piercing eyes and a strong sense of scrutiny.
After bowing in greeting, Yang Kai stood there quietly with a calm look on his face. He had no idea why Xu Ling Gong had summoned him, but Qu Hua Shang was Xu Ling Gong’s Disciple. Now that he was a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law, they had a much closer relationship with each other than most ordinary people.
After a while, Xu Ling Gong finally raised his hand and said, “Take a seat.”
“Many thanks, Senior,” Yang Kai responded before he turned around and walked over to a chair by the side. Flicking his outer robe slightly, he took a seat.
“To be honest, this Monarch was very surprised that you managed to win the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly,” Xu Ling Gong said. The outcome had certainly astonished him. In his opinion, only disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises could have won, so Yang Kai coming out on top was a shock.
After all, the heritage of those who came from the various Cave Heavens and Paradises was generally superior to others, especially since they were newly advanced Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Xu Ling Gong believed that was true even if he had heard the rumours about how Yang Kai had planned to advance directly Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm and refined multiple Seventh-Order Powers to that purpose.
However, the reality was that Yang Kai had taken the top spot with almost double the achievements of the person in second place. In terms of performance, Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch was the only person who could compare.
“It’s good that I didn’t disappoint you, Senior.” Yang Kai bowed.
Xu Ling Gong chuckled, “You definitely didn’t disappoint me. For this Monarch, it doesn’t matter who takes the top spot as long as it’s not those old farts in the Fifth Order. This Xu’s Disciple cannot be humiliated by others!” His smile faded and he quickly said, “But, the fact that you killed Zhao Xing is still quite a hassle.”
At the mention of this matter, Xu Ling Gong couldn’t help feeling a headache. He had been resisting the pressure from Thousand Cranes Paradise and protecting Yang Kai in order to maintain Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s face; after all, the Dao Theory Assembly was organised by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and he was the one who claimed that one would not be held accountable for any loss of life. Zhao Xing had been killed by Yang Kai, so if Yang Kai was killed by Zuo Quan Hui as soon as the Dao Theory Assembly ended, what would happen to the reputation of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven?
At the time, he had not known that Yang Kai would end up taking the top spot and simply wanted to protect Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s reputation by defending him in public. As for whether Yang Kai could survive Thousand Cranes Paradise’s retaliation in the future, that was entirely on Yang Kai. He could not be bothered to care that much.
Unfortunately, the situation was different now. Yang Kai was now a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law and the future Husband of his Disciple. Xu Ling Gong had no choice but to meddle in this affair even if he didn’t want to; otherwise, Qu Hua Shang would become a widow if Yang Kai was killed.
“It was an accident,” Yang Kai replied. At the time, he had not intended to kill Zhao Xing, it was just that he used a bit too much strength…
Xu Ling Gong waved his hand, “It doesn’t matter whether it was an accident or not. It has already happened. You heard what Zuo Quan Hui said before he left.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “Void Land will not be bullied so easily.” [Why is Xu Ling Gong telling me this? Could it be that he feels I have caused too much trouble and Yin-Yang Cave Heaven does not wish to be involved in this matter? If that’s the case, I can understand.]
Xu Ling Gong coldly snorted, “Do you think they will let you return to Void Land? If my guess is correct, they are waiting for you along your return path. There will be no escape for you the moment you show up.”
“Senior, do you mean to say…”
Xu Ling Gong continued, “If you’re in no hurry to return to Void Land, you should remain here for the time being. As for Thousand Cranes Paradise… This Monarch will try to negotiate with them to see if there’s any room for mediation.”
He glanced at Yang Kai and added, “Don’t worry too much. Yin-Yang Cave Heaven is perfectly capable of withstanding the pressure from Thousand Cranes Paradise. Zhao Xing was killed during the Dao Theory Assembly and this Monarch openly declared that no will be held accountable for deaths during the trial. It would be best if they give up on this matter, but if they refuse, this Monarch will show them whose fist is bigger!”
Yang Kai was slightly touched. The meaning behind Xu Ling Gong’s words could not be clearer, he would deal with this troublesome matter. Thus, Yang Kai’s impression of Xu Ling Gong improved considerably. He stood up and bowed deeply, “Many thanks, Senior!”
Xu Ling Gong nodded lightly, “Also, you should carefully regulate your condition in the near future. Yin-Yang Cave Heaven might have another opportunity for you.”
“An opportunity?” Yang Kai raised his brow at those words, keenly aware of the astonishment on the faces of Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui, who had been standing behind Xu Ling Gong all this while. It was obvious that this potential opportunity was not small.
“I can’t confirm anything yet. I’ll tell you when the time comes,” Xu Ling Gong did not provide any further explanation.
Yang Kai nodded lightly. Then, he suddenly remembered something, “By the way, Senior, this Junior has a favour to request.”
Xu Ling Gong glanced sideways at Yang Kai, “You are now my Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Son-In-Law, which makes you part of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. As long as your request is not excessive, this Monarch can fulfil your request.”
“I would like you to help me free someone, Senior!” Yang Kai said.
“Who?”
“Grey Bones Heavenly Monarch from the Prison Star!”
…..
A short while later, Qing Kui led Yang Kai back along the way they came.
Xu Ling Gong had readily agreed to Yang Kai’s request. As an Inner Elder of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven who was in the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, he held a high position and great authority in the Sect. Aside from the Supreme Elders who essentially never came out of retreat, he was one of the most influential people in the entire Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Setting someone free from the Prison Star was a simple task.
It was also not until this moment that Xu Ling Gong understood how Yang Kai could obtain such great achievements during the Dao Theory Assembly. It turned out that it was all thanks to Hui Gu secretly helping Yang Kai from the shadows.
Be that as it may, Hui Gu had a criminal record, so Xu Ling Gong was honestly quite uneasy about releasing the former from the Prison Star. However, he happily agreed to the request after Yang Kai revealed the Loyalty List to him.
“Senior Brother Qing Kui, what is the opportunity Martial Uncle Xu mentioned earlier?” Along the way, Yang Kai raised this question. Judging by Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui’s reaction earlier, they definitely knew the secret behind this mystery.
Qing Kui smiled and shook his head, “I can’t say. If you receive approval, then you will be told in due time. If the matter falls through, then there’s no point in knowing. Just wait patiently. I can only tell you that even in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, only very few people are eligible to obtain this opportunity.”
Yang Kai was slightly moved hearing that. He never imagined that the so-called opportunity would be so precious that only a few people were eligible to obtain it, even in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Unfortunately, he was not in a position to ask further questions seeing as Qin Kui was not willing to talk.
It didn’t take long for Yang Kai to return to his living quarters.
After waiting for another two days, Hui Gu was brought out from the Prison Star by Qing Kui. Hui Gu couldn’t help sighing softly when Master and Servant reunited. From the day he was thrown into the Prison Star, he never even imagined that he would one day leave that place alive. It was just a pity that Bai Mo, who had served him loyally for so many years, had not survived.
“Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch has also been released, but I don’t know his current whereabouts. Rest assured. I will ask somebody to investigate him in the future. There will always be a chance to seek revenge.” Yang Kai comforted Hui Gu.
Hui Gu bowed, “Many thanks, Sir! If I can avenge Bai Mo, then this Hui Gu will have no other regrets in life!”
Bai Mo’s strength was not impressive, but he was extremely loyal. It was impossible not to develop feelings after spending so many years together. Hui Gu had long since considered Bai Mo to be his disciple and family; therefore, Bai Mo’s murder that took place in front of him had caused him to thirst for revenge.
As time passed, Yang Kai and Hui Gu remained inside the residence. During this time, Qu Hua Shang came to inform Yang Kai that she was going to enter retreat. She also asked him to look forward to seeing her again in 100 years.
Yang Kai naturally agreed and after spending three days together, they parted ways for now.
After a few more days, Qing Kui suddenly dropped by the residence. He looked at Yang Kai with admiration and envy, “Congratulations, Junior Brother. The opportunity has come. Accompany me.”
Yang Kai was stunned, but suppressing the overwhelming curiosity in his heart, he instructed Hui Gu to wait for him and not to wander around arbitrarily. Then, he followed Qing Kui out.
They travelled at a hurried pace, though Yang Kai did not know where they were heading.
In the beginning, they occasionally encountered some Yin-Yang Cave Heaven disciples along the way. When these people noticed Qing Kui, they quickly stopped in their tracks and bowed deeply; however, the further inward they went, the fewer people they met. At one point, there were no traces of anybody else. It could be seen that the place they were going was located at an extremely isolated location.
Some time later, up ahead of them was a figure standing proudly in the void, quietly waiting for their arrival. It was none other than Xu Ling Gong.
Qing Kui led Yang Kai straight to Xu Ling Gong. Cupping his fist, he reported, “Honoured Master, I’ve brought him here.”
Xu Ling Gong nodded, “You should head back first.”
Qing Kui responded, “Yes!”
After that, Qing Kui turned around and returned along the way he came.
Xu Ling Gong gestured towards Yang Kai, “Let’s go. Up ahead is one of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Restricted Areas. Nobody is allowed to enter this place without permission; those who try will be killed without mercy!”
Yang Kai’s expression hardened. It was only natural for a giant organisation like Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to have their own Restricted Areas; however, even a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Qing Kui could not enter this place at will. It could be seen just how much Yin-Yang Cave Heaven valued this Restricted Area.
He was becoming more and more curious about this so-called opportunity as well as the Restricted Area he was about to enter.
Whilst travelling, Xu Ling Gong’s voice entered Yang Kai’s ears, “You might have taken the top spot in the Dao Theory Assembly, but it was only thanks to a convenient strategy. When it comes to your strength among the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, you are no different from the little ones who participated in the Dao Theory Assembly. All of you rank at the bottom of the Sixth Order since you’ve only advanced into the Open Heaven Realm recently.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Yes, Senior.”
He knew that Xu Ling Gong was unaware of his actions on the Prison Star, but it made sense when he thought about it. Almost all who witnessed his true strength were dead. Although the Core Disciples of the various Cave Heavens and Paradises had witnessed his strength when he killed Zhao Xing, they left the Yin-Yang Cave Heaven as soon as they came out. On the other hand, Lin Feng and the others who remained were Yang Kai’s friends and would not spread his secrets if they were not forced to.
Therefore, Xu Ling Gong believed that Yang Kai’s strength was ranked at the bottom of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm since he had only just advanced into the Open Heaven Realm recently. In addition, he also believed that Yang Kai obtained the achievements that allowed him to win the Dao Theory Assembly only thanks to Hui Gu’s help.
As for how Yang Kai persuaded Hui Gu into cooperating with him, that was the result of his own ability and charisma. Xu Ling Gong didn’t bother to pay much attention to that matter.
“The cultivation of Open Heaven Realm Masters comes from the accumulation and precipitation of time. Refining Open Heaven Pills or cultivation materials of various Orders has been the most orthodox cultivation method among Open Heaven Realm Masters since ancient times. Although this is a lengthy process, it is also the safest and simplest method.
“Naturally, there are people who want to take shortcuts. Refining the heritage of Universe Worlds for one’s own use is one such method, but it has many drawbacks. The heritage of those Universe Worlds that have been refined might not be perfectly compatible with oneself. If any rejection occurs, one’s heritage might even plummet as a result. The benefits are simply not worth the loss. Moreover, every single Universe World is unique. That includes the Small Universes within Open Heaven Realm Masters like ourselves. It is unimaginably difficult to find a Small Universe that complements perfectly with your cultivation.”
Xu Ling Gong’s voice slowly entered Yang Kai’s ears.
Yang Kai nodded lightly. He once met an Open Heaven Realm Master who tried to refine the heritage of the Demon Realm to restore his strength. It was just that he stopped that Open Heaven Realm Master from succeeding and eventually killed him for trying. On the contrary, the World Force released during the death of that Open Heaven Realm Master had nourished the Demon Realm instead.
“But, just because it is difficult to use shortcuts does not mean that there are no shortcuts!”
Yang Kai’s expression changed with those words and he asked, “Senior, do you mean…”
Xu Ling Gong glanced at Yang Kai meaningfully, “You had high ambitions in the beginning and aimed to advance directly into the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Unfortunately, your actions touched on the tolerance of many people. In the end, you were forced to advance into the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm in Shattered Heaven. It has only been a few years since then, so how is it possible for a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to advance into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm in such a short period? I believe that the information I received is accurate, so you should have only advanced into the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm in Shattered Heaven, not the Sixth-Order.”
Yang Kai remained silent. That was not something he could hide even if he wanted to. Many people were there to witness his advancement after all. Even Qu Hua Shang had been present, so it was not strange for Xu Ling Gong to know about this matter.
“It is rumoured that there is a miraculous medicine in this world known as the World Fruit. World Fruits can be divided into Low, Mid, and High-Rank. The Rank of the World Fruit corresponds with the Rank of the Open Heaven Realm. More importantly, the World Fruit allows a cultivator to safely and directly advance to the next Order without any hidden dangers!” Xu Ling Gong continued speaking without regard for Yang Kai’s opinion, “Both you and Qu’er entered the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary in the past. Around that time, someone auctioned off a Low-Rank World Fruit in Yin-Yang Territory. That person had also entered the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary before. According to the information obtained by Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, that person obtained their Low-Rank World Fruit from the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary!
“That is why I believe that you managed to advance from the Fifth Order to the Sixth Order in such a short time by consuming a Mid-Rank World Fruit!”
“Senior is indeed insightful!” Yang Kai admitted frankly, “Indeed! I advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm by consuming a World Fruit!”
“Good!” Xu Ling Gong smiled slightly, “If that’s the case, then you and Qu’er are definitely a good match for each other! I was initially worried that there might be a gap between Qu’er’s future limit and yours. It looks like I was worried for nothing.”
If Yang Kai had advanced into the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, then his limit was the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm; however, if he reached the Sixth-Order with the help of a World Fruit, then his future limit would be the Eighth-Order, which was the same as Qu Hua Shang. With aptitudes like theirs, as long as they were given enough time, it was only a matter of time before they advanced into the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
“You sure had good fortune to obtain such a precious treasure like a Mid-Rank World Fruit. No wonder you were willing to advance into the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm back at Shattered Heaven.” Xu Ling Gong nodded lightly and glanced at Yang Kai approvingly, “Consuming the World Fruit is the best-known shortcut in existence!”
“Senior, are you saying that… there are other shortcuts?”
Xu Ling Gong smiled slightly, “Of course! The 3,000 Worlds is vast and contains endless mysteries. Even a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master like me may never discover all its mysteries in my lifetime. The only reason you’ve never heard of these shortcuts before is that you have not seen or experienced enough of the world yet.”
Yang Kai said seriously, “Please enlighten me, Senior!”
Xu Ling Gong asked, “Have you ever heard of a Temporal River?”
“A Temporal River?” Yang Kai was astonished.
“It is an innate phenomenon filled with the mysteries of time. The flow of time inside a Temporal River is different from the outside world. It can be 10 times, 100 times, or even 1,000 times faster. Do you know what that means?”
Yang Kai expression stiffened in surprise, “Does Senior mean that if one cultivates in a Temporal River for 1,000 years, only one year will pass in the outside world!?”
“En!” Xu Ling Gong revealed an expression of nostalgia, “Although only one year passes in the outside world, you can cultivate for tens, hundreds, or thousands of years inside. The heritage you accumulate will naturally be stronger than others. Moreover, this is the standard process of accumulation and precipitation, so there will be no hidden dangers whatsoever. Back then… I entered a Temporal River and gained great benefits as a result!”
Yang Kai looked shocked. [I can’t believe there is something as strange as a Temporal River in this world! If I didn’t hear this from Xu Ling Gong himself, I might not believe something like that exists!]
However, he soon remembered about Flowing Time Great Emperor!
Flowing Time Great Emperor was proficient in the Dao of Time, and the Flowing Time Temple he left behind was once sealed a rich amount of Time Principles. The two little ones, Yang Xiao and Yang Xue, had cultivated in retreat for several hundred years inside the Flowing Time Temple, but only several years passed in the outside world. Hence, the Flowing Time Temple was akin to an artificial Temporal River that Flowing Time Great Emperor created.
It was a pity that the Time Principles Sealed within had long been exhausted and the flow of time in the Flowing Time Temple had returned to normal.
Looking at things from this point of view, it could be seen that Flowing Time Great Emperor was an unprecedented genius. If he had not died after his encounter with Mo Sheng, he would certainly have a place in the 3,000 Worlds.
At that thought, Yang Kai’s expression changed slightly, “Senior, could the opportunity you mentioned be a Temporal River?”
Xu Ling Gong burst into laughter, “You wish! If anybody were to come across a Temporal River, they would have gone in to cultivate a long time ago. They would never leave that place until the Time Principles inside had been exhausted, so you should stop dreaming about Temporal Rivers.”
Yang Kai was astonished. Only then did he realise that a Temporal River was something like a consumable resource. If somebody were to discover one, it only made sense that they would not leave anything behind for others.
“Don’t bother dreaming about Temporal Rivers for the time being. It is a very rare occurrence in the 3,000 Worlds. Even if one did appear, you would not get a chance to experience it.” Xu Ling Gong paused for a moment before he continued, “A Temporal River is one of the shortcuts, but another type is Small Source Worlds!”
“Small Source Worlds?” Yang Kai furrowed his brow slightly and revealed a dubious expression. He had never heard of such a thing before.
“Since you obtained a World Fruit, you must have entered the world inside the World Fruit.”
Yang Kai nodded, “That’s right.”
Furthermore, he had done so more than once. Yang Kai couldn’t help recalling that time in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary. Using the Small Sealed World to cheat, he carried a group of people with him to experience more than a dozen worlds within the various World Fruits. He eventually angered the World Tree, which caused it to beat him up badly. [That incident… was truly traumatic.]
“A Small Source World is similar to what you experienced when you entered the world within the World Fruit. It can be said that a Small Source World is a weaker version of the World Fruit’s World.”
“Please enlighten me, Senior!” Yang Kai humbly said.
“The flow of time in a Small Source World is different from the outside world, and if you can refine part of the Small Source World’s Source Strength, then you will only obtain a part of the Small Source World’s World Force. If you integrate this World Force into your body, it will strengthen the heritage of your Small Universe and save you many years of cultivation!”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened at those words.
If he could obtain the Small Source World’s World Force by refining the Small Source World’s Source Strength, then it was certainly as Xu Ling Gong mentioned. He would strengthen his heritage and save a lot of hard cultivation time. [No wonder he mentioned that a Small Source World is a weakened version of the World Fruit. A World Fruit can help an Open Heaven Realm Master advance directly into the next Order, but a Small Source World cannot.]
“Even so, the Small Source World has its own advantages compared to a World Fruit. A World Fruit can only be used by one person once. On the other hand, a Small Source World can become a training ground for many people. Small Source Worlds are one of the foundations that support the Cave Heavens and Paradises. Every Cave Heaven and Paradise will have at least one Small Source World. Yin-Yang Cave Heaven has a total of three Small Source Worlds!”
Yang Kai looked excited, “So, the opportunity you mentioned earlier…”
Xu Ling Gong replied, “That’s right. The opportunity this Monarch prepared for you is the chance to enter one of the Small Source Worlds. This Small Source World is the highest ranked among the Small Source Worlds in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. If you can refine part of the Source Strength, you will surely obtain great gains!”
Yang Kai gratefully said, “Many thanks, Martial Uncle!”
Such a precious gift was incredibly generous. Qing Kui also mentioned that few people received this opportunity, even among those in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Yang Kai could roughly guess the reasons for such strict restrictions. Xu Ling Gong had mentioned that a Small Source World could become a training ground for many people; however, the Small Source World would weaken every time somebody refined a portion of its Source Strength. If care was not taken, the Small Source World would vanish completely one day.
Compared to a one-time-use consumable item like the World Fruits, a Small Source World could be used many times, although the effects were not as good as the World Fruit, but had their respective advantages. Be that as it may, there was a limit to how many times a Small Source World could be used within a certain amount of time. That was why only the most talented cultivators in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven could enter the Small Source World.
In any case, the existence of a Small Source World was no doubt more important for a Sect than a World Fruit; after all, the former could help increase the strength of many disciples over time, while the latter would only benefit a single person.
Xu Ling Gong must have gone through a lot of trouble to let a semi-outsider like Yang Kai into the Small Source World.
“You don’t need to think too deeply. This Monarch is only doing this for Qu’er. Since you only just advanced into the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, your foundation is unstable and your heritage is lacking. Entering the Small Source World will give you a chance to accumulate and precipitate some strength. Otherwise, it would be unfair for Qu’er if you encounter danger and die early,” Xu Ling Gong said lightly, “Besides, there’s no guarantee you will gain anything even if you entered the Small Source World. It all depends on your own effort and luck.”
“Rest assured, Martial Uncle. This Junior will do his best!” Yang Kai promised solemnly.
“We’re here!” Xu Ling Gong suddenly stopped in his tracks and stood in the middle of the void.
Yang Kai looked around but saw nothing.
Meanwhile, Xu Ling Gong formed a set of hand seals before he suddenly pointed to the front and shouted, “Please answer my call, Ancestor!”
A stream of light burst forth, causing ripples to spread out in the Void ahead. After the ripples settled, an old man sitting cross-legged eerily appeared in Yang Kai’s vision without warning.
The old man had white hair and a white beard. His brows were so long that they drooped to his chest. His upper body was unclothed and covered in firm muscles that gleamed with a bronze glow that seemed to contain an endless amount of power. His lower body was only covered in a pair of plain linen trousers. To top it off, he was barefooted.
When the old man opened his eyes though, it felt as though two bright suns flashed into existence!
“Greetings, Ancestor!” Xu Ling Gong bowed respectfully.
Yang Kai, who was standing behind Xu Ling Gong, hurriedly followed suit and bowed. After listening to the way Xu Ling Gong addressed this old man, how could he not know that this person was one of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven’s Supreme Elders? More importantly, only those in the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm could serve as a Supreme Elder in the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
This was Yang Kai’s first time meeting a cultivator in the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Although Bi Xi possessed strength on par with an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he was a Divine Spirit, so there was an obvious difference between him and an actual Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Yang Kai snuck a glance in that direction and saw that the old man’s bare chest was covered in dense, criss-crossing scars. They looked like ferocious centipedes crawling all over his body. The longest scar extended from his left shoulder to the right side of his waist.
Yang Kai was slightly taken aback. An Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was extremely powerful, so who could injure an Ancestor of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven so badly? It had to be said that Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had extremely robust vitality and vigorous recovery abilities, so most injuries would not leave a trace on them. Even so, the scars of past injuries remained shockingly apparent on this old man’s body. It was conceivable just how severely injured he had been at the time.
“What is it?” The Supreme Elder asked quietly.
Xu Ling Gong replied, “Ancestor, please understand. This Disciple wishes to send this Junior into the Divine Armament World. Please open the world boundary and create a corridor, Ancestor.”
The Supreme Elder glanced at Yang Kai and furrowed his brow lightly, “This boy… is not a disciple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, right?”
His eyes were incredibly sharp, so he could tell at a glance that Yang Kai did not belong to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Xu Ling Gong explained, “He might not be a disciple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, but he can be considered a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law now.”
“So that’s how it is,” the old man nodded lightly. “Since he is a Son-In-Law of our Cave Heaven, he does have the qualifications to enter the Divine Armament World. Do you have the edict from the Sect Master?”
“The edict is here. Please have a look, Ancestor!” Xu Ling Gong raised his hand and shot out a stream of light.
The old man caught the stream of light and took a quick glance. Then, he nodded, “Everything is in order.”
While saying so, he suddenly lifted a hand and pointed to a spot beside him. A huge vortex suddenly appeared in the Void without a sound. The extremely clear and distinct aura of a Universe World came from within the vortex.
“Go on. The Small Source World is an interesting place. Don’t panic no matter what you encounter inside. Carefully explore and it will definitely benefit you!” Xu Ling Gong patted Yang Kai on the shoulder.
“Many thanks, Martial Uncle Xu! Many thanks, Ancestor!” Yang Kai nodded and plunged straight into the vortex. A feeling of weightlessness immediately washed over him.
It was not until Yang Kai’s figure disappeared that the vortex slowly faded away. The Supreme Elder glanced at Xu Ling Gong and asked, “You didn’t give him a seal to escape. What if he dies inside?”
Xu Ling Gong smiled, “If he dies inside, then it means that he is nothing special. In that case, he is not qualified to become a Yin-Yang Cave Heaven Son-In-Law!”
“Good!” The Supreme Elder did not say another word. Closing his eyes, his figure gradually vanished once more.
…..
“Eldest Senior Brother! Eldest Senior Brother, wake up!” Yang Kai felt as though somebody was tugging at him in his dazed state. An urgent cry entered his ears and he slowly came awake and opened his eyes. However, the world spun around him and his vision was bleary.
“Ugh…” He held his head in his hands and groaned in pain.
“Eldest Senior Brother, stop drinking! You’ll die if you continue drinking like this!” The voice that woke him up rang out again.
A strong smell of alcohol lingered in his nose and Yang Kai instinctively sensed that he was drunk; thus, he couldn’t help feeling surprised. He was not such a heavy drinker. Besides, how could a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him get drunk so easily?
When he tried to urge his power to scatter the effects of the alcohol and recover from his hangover, Yang Kai stiffened in shock and his eyes abruptly jerked wide open. There was not much power in his body, only a faint trace flowing through his meridians and his body. Compared to his strength as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, this paltry bit of power was so weak that it was practically unnoticeable.
The shock was so great that he immediately broke out of his drunken stupor.
Before Yang Kai could understand what was going on though, he felt pain running through his head. An endless stream of complicated information poured into his mind, causing him to groan in pain like an injured beast.
The person in front of him was startled and quickly exclaimed, “What’s wrong, Eldest Senior Brother!? Don’t frighten me!”
A short while later, Yang Kai finally calmed down and stared at the table in front of him in a daze.
His name was still Yang Kai, but now he was a disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was an extremely small Sect with only several dozen members. It was nothing but a grain of sand when compared to the entire Divine Armament World. There were countless other small Sects like Void Spirit Sword Sect in this World.
He had entered the Sect early and became the Eldest Senior Brother of this generation of disciples. As the Eldest Senior Brother, he had a mild temperament and treated people generously. His aptitude was relatively good among the others in the Sect, so the Elders in the Sect had high hopes for him. They believed that he was their only hopeful candidate to enter the Earth Realm in the last 100 years.
There were four distinct Great Realms in this world, known as Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Spirit! Furthermore, each Great Realm had nine Minor Realms. This was how the cultivators in the Divine Armament World categorised their strength.
At present, Yang Kai was only in the Fourth-Order Mortal Realm. He used to live up to the expectations of his Elders, working hard and cultivating diligently; however, ever since he met a girl one year ago when he was running errands outside, he became so enamoured with her that his entire life was turned upside down. Just a few days ago, he fought for the attention of that girl out of jealousy and lost her to another. As a result, he became depressed and tried to drown his sorrows in alcohol…
This information was what Yang Kai found from the memories that flowed into his head just now. Everything was so vivid and life-like, almost as if these events had happened to him.
[Am I… Yang Kai from Void Land? Or, Yang Kai from Void Spirit Sword Sect?] His thoughts were a mess. He could clearly recall Xu Ling Gong bringing him to the entrance of the Small Source World where he was supposed to enter for training. Why was he suddenly in this situation then?
In addition, his strength that was as vast as the sea could not be mobilised at all. He could clearly sense that his power was still there, but it was suppressed by some kind of inexplicable force.
[Is this the Small Source World?] All of a sudden, Yang Kai recalled what Xu Ling Gong mentioned just before he entered the Small Source World, “The Small Source World is an interesting place. Don’t panic no matter what you encounter inside.”
[This is… certainly very interesting!]
Yang Kai suddenly thought back to the time when he brought a group of subordinates with him to train within the World Fruits. Each World Fruit was unique. For instance, when he entered the second World Fruit, both he and Lang Qing Shan had been transformed into rusty iron swords. It turned out to be a world of swords. There was also a time when several of his subordinates transformed into Monster Beasts. That was a world inside a fruit where Monster Beasts ruled…
Inside each of those World Fruits, Yang Kai could only leave and obtain his prize once he found a method to escape. It would seem that the existence of the Small Source World was indeed somewhat similar to the World Fruit even though there were clear differences.
When he entered this Small Source World, it felt as though the Divine Armament World had given him a brand-new identity as the Eldest Senior Brother of Void Spirit Sword Sect. This was the identity accepted by the entire world, so that was why everything felt very natural.
“Eldest Senior Brother, what’s wrong with you? Please don’t frighten me!” The person in front of him was still shouting.
Yang Kai looked up, and after trying his best to focus his blurry vision, he finally managed to see clearly. A petite and adorable young girl was looking at him nervously from across the table, her expression filled with concern. She was only around 16 years old, but she had seemingly developed quite well for her age, as emphasized by the two large mountains on her chest. She was also wearing a light green dress that hugged her graceful waist.
[Wan Ying Ying, the Little Junior Sister of Void Spirit Sword Sect!] This thought popped into his mind out of nowhere.
“It’s you, Little Junior Sister…” Yang Kai murmured, his tongue involuntarily slurring over his words.
“How are you, Eldest Senior Brother?” Wan Ying Ying asked in concern, “Where do you feel unwell?”
“Ugh… My head hurts!” Yang Kai reached out to rub his forehead, “Wait for a moment. I need to sober up!”
She quickly nodded at his words, “Good, good, good. It’s good as long as you stop drinking.” Then, she turned around and called out, “Shop-hand, bring a bowl of hangover soup!”
The shop hand nearby responded immediately.
A short while later, a bowl of hot hangover soup was brought over. Wan Ying Ying personally brought the bowl to Yang Kai’s lips and fed him.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai sat motionless as he combed through all the new information in his mind. At the same time, he drew upon his strength to dispel the lingering effects of the alcohol. Although his cultivation in the Fourth Stage Mortal Realm could not be considered anything amazing, it was still not bad for a member of the younger generation. It was at least enough to help speed up the process of sobering up.
His current location seemed to be inside a restaurant, one that was filled with customers. Some were ordinary people while others were cultivators. These people were drinking together in small groups of three to five.
“The Divine Armament Tournament that is only held once every 100 years is finally over. When the Masters fight, it’s the ordinary people like us who suffer. I wonder how many lives were destroyed and how many people lost their homes during the Divine Armament Tournament this time.” A voice came from one of the tables by the side.
Yang Kai immediately became interested and quickly paid attention to the ambient gossip.
“There’s no helping it. The Divine Armament Tournament is the biggest event in the Divine Armament World. It only happens once every 100 years; moreover, winning a Divine Armament means wielding supreme power. How could people not be tempted?”
“Speaking of which, the Ten Great Divine Armaments of our Divine Armament World change hands every 100 years. When will these battles end?”
“If some Heaven-defying person can collect all of the Ten Great Divine Armaments, that might end the chaos in this land.”
“What a joke!” Somebody shouted, “It is said that just refining one Divine Armament takes infinite mental strength. Not to mention that each Divine Armament is extremely ferocious and bloodthirsty. If one’s willpower is insufficient, one will only become the Divine Armament’s puppet. It’s difficult enough to refine just one of them, so who could possibly collect all ten?”
After listening to the conversation in the surroundings, Yang Kai furrowed his brow slightly.
This Small Source World was called the Divine Armament World. Furthermore, a Divine Armament Tournament would be held every 100 years. His purpose in coming here was to refine a portion of the Small Source World’s Source Strength to enhance his Small Universe’s heritage.
Judging from the current situation, it would seem that the Divine Armament Tournament was the key. Perhaps, he could obtain a part of the Small Source World’s Source Strength by obtaining the Divine Armaments.
[100 years… It’s not a short time, so I should have ample time to cultivate in peace. Besides, I don’t need to worry about the outside world right now. The Small Source World is similar to World Fruit; hence, the flow of time here is different from the outside world. 100 years in here might be less than 1 year in the outside world, maybe even just a month.] Yang Kai soon made up his mind. [I have to cultivate diligently. In 100 years, I will participate in the Divine Armament Tournament!]
“Young man, I can see a dark mark on your forehead. Moreover, your gaze is dull and your Essence Spirit has dissipated. I’m afraid a catastrophe will befall you soon!” A voice suddenly entered Yang Kai’s ears.
Yang Kai turned to look to the side and saw an elderly man standing in front of him with a smile. The elderly man wore a tall hat and a long linen coat. He was also holding a cloth banner that had big characters for ‘Fortune-Telling’ written on it!
“My Eldest Senior Brother is just drunk! What nonsense are you saying Old Man!” Before Yang Kai could respond, Wan Ying Ying shouted with a glare.
Yang Kai raised a hand to stop her and looked up at the elderly man with a smile, “A Divination Master?”
In his memories, there was indeed such a mysterious group of people in the Divine Armament World. He did not know whether their predictions were accurate or not, but he couldn’t help being interested since it was his first time meeting one.
“This Old Master is indeed a Divine Oracle. I can see five hundred years into the future and five hundred years into the past. Everything below the Heavens and above the Earth is not beyond my knowledge. There’s nothing I don’t know. Young man, if you wish to resolve this catastrophe, then you should let this Old Master divine your future for you. Perhaps, it might save you.”
“You certainly have a lot of confidence!” Yang Kai chuckled, “If that’s the case, then why don’t you divine my fate for me?”
“Sure!” The Divine Oracle immediately felt refreshed now that he had a sale in his hand. Placing the cloth banner in his hand aside, he sat down and asked, “Young man, do you want me to divine your handwriting or read your palm?”
“Let’s make it simple. Please read my palm. Do you want my left hand or my right hand?”
“It doesn’t matter! This Old Master’s fortune-telling is not so limited,” The Divine Oracle grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowing teeth.
Wan Ying Ying stood beside Yang Kai, looking hesitant. She wanted to tell her Eldest Senior Brother that this group of people made a living by scamming people, so there was no need to believe them. After thinking about it again though, she changed her mind. He had been so depressed and disheartened for the past year that it was rare for him to show interest in anything, so she couldn’t bring herself to dampen his mood.
[We’ll only lose some money, but it’ll be worth it as long as it can make Eldest Senior Brother happy.] With that thought in mind, she quietly shot a look at the Divine Oracle to warn him to speak carefully.
There was no saying whether the Divine Oracle noticed her look as he picked up Yang Kai’s hand and studied the lines on his palm with a frown, “Young man, it seems your life is not going very well and your path ahead is full of disasters. If this Old Master is correct, you encountered something sad recently, right?”
Wan Ying Ying angrily spoke up from the side, “Stop talking nonsense. Who wouldn’t know something like that?”
“Haha…” The Divine Oracle chuckled softly. He was not bothered by her outburst and continued his examination until all of a sudden, he frowned as if he had discovered something extraordinary and his expression became extremely dignified.
Wan Ying Ying grit her teeth at the sight and secretly vowed to herself, [If this old fart makes another rude remark, I’m going to beat him up and throw him out!]
“Old Sir?” Yang Kai called out softly.
The Divine Oracle stared at Yang Kai’s hand in his grip for a while, seeming to freeze in place. After a while, he slowly released Yang Kai’s hand and stood up. He grabbed the cloth banner he had placed by the side of the table and retreated, cupping his fist in apology, “I’m sorry for disturbing you!”
Wan Ying Ying looked at the Divine Oracle in confusion, wondering what tricks this old man was playing. However, she watched as the elderly man retreated to the door and turned around to run away. Who could have known that he would happen to bump into someone?
That person was an impressive and handsome young man who had a jade-like woman in his arms. One of his large hands fondled restlessly around the woman’s waist. When the Divine Oracle ran into him, he was caught off-guard and stumbled backward suddenly. Furious, he grabbed the old man by the collar and shouted, “Old dog, are you blind!? Don’t you look where you’re going!?”
The Divine Oracle apologised repeatedly before suddenly looking up at the young man and saying, “Young man, I can see a dark mark on your forehead. Moreover, your gaze is dull and your Essence Spirit has dissipated. I’m afraid a great disaster will befall you soon!”
This situation made Wan Ying Ying utterly speechless.
Meanwhile, the young man became even angrier. He slapped the Divine Oracle with his palm and knocked him straight to the ground. Then, he stepped forward and added two more kicks for good measure. His stomps made the Divine Oracle scream in agony. After fiercely venting his anger, he finally grinned savagely, “How dare you say that a great disaster will befall me? I’ll show you what a great disaster looks like!”
The Divine Oracle was powerless to resist and could only curl up into a trembling ball.
The young man called out, “Pull out all his teeth. Show him the consequences of speaking nonsense!”
“Yes!” Two attendants immediately rushed out from behind the young man. They grabbed the Divine Oracle from both sides and dragged him to the side.
On the other hand, the young man sauntered into the restaurant with the woman held snugly in his arms.
Wan Ying Ying immediately turned pale. She stood next to Yang Kai and grabbed him by the arm, “Eldest Senior Brother, let’s leave quickly.”
Who could have known that Yang Kai would be as immovable as a rock? She could not budge him whatsoever.
Near the door, the young man led the woman and his attendants inside. His gaze swept around and immediately landed on Yang Kai, causing him to grin meaningfully, “Isn’t that Yang Kai from Void Spirit Sword Sect? Goodness, what a coincidence!”
The gorgeously dolled-up woman who had been giggling away in his arms suddenly stiffened at those words. When she turned around to look at Yang Kai, her expression immediately became uneasy and she murmured softly, “Young Master Zhang, this old place has a shabby atmosphere. Let’s go somewhere else.”
The young man called Young Master Zhang sneered, “Does this place have a shabby atmosphere? Or, are you feeling uncomfortable after meeting an old lover?”
The woman looked embarrassed but did not open her mouth.
He sneered, “Since you’ve met an old lover, you should definitely go and greet him!”
While saying so, he dragged the woman in his arms over to Yang Kai and sat down opposite him. His attendants spread out to form a line behind him, giving off an impressive aura.
Yang Kai quietly watched the young man and information floated into his head. This person was Zhang Yu Lin from Tian Luo Hall!
Compared to a small force like the Void Spirit Sword Sect, Tian Luo Hall was much stronger. The cultivators in the Divine Armament World could be divided into four Realms, Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Spirit. The same applied for the great forces.
Both Void Spirit Sword Sect and Tian Luo Hall had Earth Realm Masters assuming command over their Sect, so they could be considered Earth Realm great forces. However, the Earth Realm Masters in the Void Spirit Sword Sect were only in the Third Stage at most. In contrast, Tian Luo Hall had several Ninth-Step Earth Realm Masters.
Therefore, Tian Luo Hall stood on a different level compared to Void Spirit Sword Sect in terms of both quantity or quality of Masters. Any random Elder in Tian Luo Hall could easily wipe out the entire Void Spirit Sword Sect.
Zhang Yu Lin’s strength was only slightly higher than Yang Kai’s, so there was not much of a difference between them. Be that as it may, their statuses and authority were as different as night and day as the former was a descendant of a Tian Luo Hall Elder
Meanwhile, the woman next to him was called Zhou Cen. She was a disciple of the Zhou Family.
Yang Kai had gotten to know her and secretly fell in love with her when he went out to run errands in the past. He initially thought that she was a gentle, kind, and intelligent woman; an ideal companion. Who could have known that Zhang Yu Lin would appear out of nowhere?
Faced with a choice between Yang Kai and Zhang Yu Lin, Zhou Cen had chosen the latter. That was also the greatest reason why Yang Kai had been drowning his sorrows in alcohol lately.
[The identity given to me by the Divine Armament World was such a failure!] Yang Kai sighed slightly.
“I told you never to appear before me again. I also told you that I would beat you up every time I saw you. Did you think I was joking?” Zhang Yu Lin glared at Yang Kai coldly. He might have stolen Yang Kai’s woman, but he had no intention of forgiving Yang Kai either. His arrival in this place today was not a coincidence. It was intentional.
“What a coincidence. I don’t know why I get so worked up when I see your face. I have the urge to beat you up too!” Yang Kai grinned. The Divine Armament World had given him a brand-new identity that naturally came with many different emotions. At this moment, he was filled with an inexplicable rage when he saw his love rival standing in front of him.
Zhang Yu Lin was taken aback by those words.
Similarly, Zhou Cen also looked at Yang Kai in astonishment from where she stood within Zhang Yu Lin’s arms. Her impression of Yang Kai was that of a warm and kind-hearted young man who treated others with generosity. She had never seen him looking so aggressive before. He even gave off a… murderous intent! A Yang Kai like this was very unfamiliar to her.
“What did you say!?” Zhang Yu Lin cocked his ear to the side and leaned his head close to Yang Kai, “Can you say that again? I don’t think I heard you clearly!”
*Pa…*
Yang Kai raised his hand and slapped the other party without another word. His palm landed squarely on Zhang Yu Lin’s face, causing a bloody tooth to fly out.
The force of impact sent Zhang Yu Lin flying through the air, spinning several times before he collapsed heavily to the ground. Even Zhou Cen, who had been embraced in his arms all this while, collapsed to the ground with him.
Two screams rang out at the same time. They came from Wan Ying Ying, who stood behind Yang Kai, and Zhou Cen respectively.
“Young Master Zhang!” Zhang Yu Lin’s attendants went pale with shock and hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, scrambling in panic for a moment.
At the entrance of the shop, the dishevelled Divine Oracle with several footprints still on his back rushed in with his cloth banner in his hand. He glanced at Zhang Yu Lin, who had collapsed on the ground with blood in his mouth, and roared with laughter, “This Old Master warned you that you will face a great disaster today, but you didn’t believe me! Hah! Let’s see if you believe me now!”
After saying that, he turned around and fled like a column of smoke.
Zhang Yu Lin stood up with some help from his attendants, feeling as though half of his face was swollen. Shaking his head vigorously, he stared at Yang Kai with a mixture of shock and fury, “You dare hit me!?”
Yang Kai replied nonchalantly, “I apologise. You stretched your head so far out that my hand just landed on it when I tried to turn!”
“Eldest Senior Brother, we need to go!” Wan Ying Ying was so anxious that her complexion was deathly pale. She tugged at Yang Kai’s arm with all her might. When she first saw Zhang Yu Lin, she had immediately wanted to drag Yang Kai away. Unfortunately, she failed to do so. Who could have known that things would take such a turn? [I can’t believe that Eldest Senior Brother hit Zhang Yu Lin! Now that things have gotten out of hand, there is no way to resolve this matter peacefully!]
“You want to leave!?” Zhang Yu Lin was livid, “Why are you still standing around doing nothing!? Get them! Break that bastard’s limbs! I want him to suffer!”
His attendants immediately rushed forward from behind him.
There was not much difference between his strength and Yang Kai’s as Yang Kai was in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm while he was in the Fifth-Step Mortal Realm. It was not that his aptitude was better than Yang Kai’s, but rather that Tian Luo Hall had more abundant resources, so he received better support. However, the attendants that he brought with him were all in the Eighth-Step or Ninth-Step Mortal Realm. They might not be in the Earth Realm, but they were not far from it.
“Eldest Senior Brother…” Wan Ying Ying’s small face was as white as a sheet and her petite body trembled slightly. Although she was extremely terrified, she stood in front of Yang Kai, “Go quickly! I will stop them!”
Yang Kai laughed and stood up, pulling her behind him, “Your Eldest Senior Brother is here. There’s no need for you to come forward. Just stand there and watch. My journey in this world will begin here!”
*Ceng…*
Following a soft sound, a sword light dazzled his eyes. Yang Kai looked down at the long sword in his hand and gave an exclamation of surprise, “Oh? It turns out that I have a sword. It looks like this world treats me quite well!”
Void Spirit Sword Sect naturally focused on the Sword Dao, so it was only natural that the disciples carried swords. Yang Kai had been ignorant of this fact and it was not until he instinctively drew his blade that he discovered he had a sword.
*Chi…*
Soft stabbing sounds rang out as one of the Eighth-Step Mortal Realm Masters charging at Yang Kai froze in place and looked down at his chest. A longsword had pierced right through his chest and a stinging pain spread out from his heart.
“You…” The attendant lifted his head and looked at Yang Kai in disbelief. He neither understood what had happened nor how he had been stabbed by a sword.
“Pang San!” The expressions of the other attendants nearby changed greatly. From their point of view, it seemed as though this attendant called Pang San had accidentally impaled himself on the other party’s longsword. And, this was the outcome of the accident.
*Chi…*
Yang Kai pulled out his sword, causing blood to splatter everywhere. Then, Pang San turned pale and collapsed face-first to the ground.
“You court death!” The rest of the attendants were enraged. There were several Eighth-Step and Ninth-Step Mortal Realm Masters attacking a single boy in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm, so how could they accidentally be killed by their opponent? It was a great humiliation to them. Roaring furiously, they circulated their strength and drew their weapons to attack from both sides.
A fight had suddenly broken out and one person had already died. Screams rang out in the restaurant and everybody quickly fled outside. Even the shopkeeper and shophands of the restaurant vanished without a trace.
Inside the restaurant, Yang Kai and the attendants were at each other’s throats. Sword lights flashed as Yang Kai retreated while protecting Wan Ying Ying behind him. At the same time, he raised his sword to parry the ferocious attacks that kept raining down on him. The sounds of swords clashing against each other rang out endlessly.
Yang Kai suffered from the impact of all the blows landing on him, and consequently, his arms went numb and his vitality churned violently. His cultivation was no match for his opponents, so he was bound to suffer at their hands. He was at a disadvantage in a frontal confrontation and his longsword trembled continuously, almost as though it could be sent flying at any moment.
*Chi…*
Another soft stabbing sound rang out as an attendant in the Ninth-Step Mortal Realm halted in his tracks and looked down at his chest in disbelief. His eyes instantly widened at the sight.
He had suffered the same fate as Pang San. Yang Kai’s sword had skewered him through the chest and stabbed straight into his heart. Before he could understand what had happened, he felt a large invisible hand squeezing his heart. All the vitality in his body rapidly drained away and he collapsed to the ground.
The remaining two attendants were shocked and horrified. They did not understand why their companions seemed to have the tendency to run straight into the opponent’s sword today! The boy opposite them was clearly much weaker than them, but he had managed to kill two of their companions in such a strange manner. Rather than being killed by Yang Kai, it was better to say that both their companions had impaled themselves on the opponent’s sword on their own.
“Weak! Too weak!” Yang Kai’s expression was filled with dissatisfaction. The body given to him by the Divine Armament World was so weak that he could not bear to look at himself. Compared to the strength of his original body, this Yang Kai of Void Spirit Sword Sect was no different from an ant.
He only managed to kill two of his opponents by relying on his overwhelming experience and skill. Although he could not use his actual strength in this place, he could freely wield the techniques he honed from so many years of fighting. It didn’t matter whether the enemy was greater in numbers or stronger than him, killing them was not difficult as long as he could seize the fleeting opportunities before him to make his move.
These attendants in the Eighth-Step and Ninth-Step Mortal Realm might have Spirit Qi protecting their bodies, but he could find openings at critical moments and position his longsword so that they impaled themselves on his sword all on their own. Rather than saying that Yang Kai had killed them, it was better to say that their own strength had killed them. That was why, in the eyes of outsider, those two people who died seemed as though they had committed suicide. It was extremely peculiar.
Zhang Yu Lin had brought along six attendants with him. Two of them had gone to dispose of the Divine Oracle and their current whereabouts were unknown. Out of the remaining four, Yang Kai had killed two; therefore, only two were left.
These two remaining attendants were frozen in place, horror spreading across their faces. Their calm looks from before were gone. Two of their companions had been killed in quick succession. It would be weirder if they failed to realise that something was strange about Yang Kai. It was just that Yang Kai was only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm no matter how they looked at him. Not to mention, the fluctuation of the Spirit Qi surrounding his body was much weaker than their own.
“In a deadly battle, hesitation is one’s greatest flaw!” Yang Kai flicked his sword and sneered coldly. When his body moved, he boldly took the initiative to charge straight towards those two and his sword flashed so swiftly that nothing could escape its reach.
The two remaining attendants paled with shock and hastily defended themselves; however, what depressed them greatly was that even though their strength was clearly greater than their opponent’s and their Spirit Qi was much denser than his, the figure in front of them was as slippery as an eel. They could not grasp his position and instead were the ones to reveal more flaws due to the fear and unease in their hearts.
A short while later, there were two additional corpses in the restaurant whose blood stained the ground.
“A family should never be separated!” Yang Kai flicked off the blood on his blade. The longsword in his hand was pitted and damaged along its entire length as it was not some extraordinary weapon. It was simply a Mortal Grade longsword, so after fighting with four Eighth-Step and Ninth-Step Mortal Realm Masters, the sword was at its limits.
Still, Yang Kai looked up at Zhang Yu Lin, only to see that the latter was utterly dumbstruck.
When the battle first began, Zhang Yu Lin had energetically shouted provocations from the sidelines, but as his attendants fell one by one, the horror on his face grew stronger and stronger. At this moment, he was shocked to the core.
[Is he really the same Yang Kai who grovelled and didn’t dare to say a word in front of me?] He felt as though he was dreaming. Everything felt almost surreal.
Even Zhou Cen beside him was full of doubts.
Seeing Yang Kai approaching step by step, Zhang Yu Lin immediately panicked, “Stay away!”
“Didn’t you want to chop off my limbs? How are you going to chop my limbs if I don’t come over?” Yang Kai stared at Zhang Yu Lin calmly, suppressing the rage in his heart. The Divine Armament World had given him a brand-new identity that came with its own set of emotions. These memories felt so real that he felt as though they were his actual life experiences.
“I… I was just joking.” Zhang Yu Lin shivered in fear. All of a sudden, he saw Zhou Cen standing next to him, pale-faced with fear. Without hesitation, he hurriedly shoved her in front of him and shouted, “Didn’t you like this woman? I’ll return her to you. Just don’t come near me.”
Zhou Cen was shoved so hard that she stumbled and slammed into Yang Kai’s chest, causing her complexion to turn even paler than before. When she looked up, all she saw was Yang Kai looking down at her coldly. The gaze was so unfamiliar that she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
*Chi…*
A sudden stab of pain came from her chest. Looking down, she saw the tip of a sword piercing her in the back and protruding from her chest. The sword had penetrated her body to stab into Yang Kai’s abdomen.
“Hahahaha!” Zhang Yu Lin’s hysterical laughter came from behind her, “How dare you act so arrogantly in front of this Young Master!? Let’s see if you survive that!”
Wan Ying Ying’s scream rang out.
On the other hand, Yang Kai gave a furious roar and raised his sword to slash at something behind Zhou Cen. A sword light flashed and Zhang Yu Lin’s head flew into the sky. His vicious and triumphant expression remained on his face as his headless corpse swayed slightly before slowly collapsing to the ground, blood gushing out from his neck like a fountain.
Zhou Cen went limp in Yang Kai’s arms. Yang Kai took two steps back and gently laid her down on the ground. Her gaze went slack, but she stared at Yang Kai fixedly and muttered, “I’m sorry!”
Wan Ying Ying rushed over and immediately saw the wound traversing Zhou Cen’s chest.
Zhang Yu Lin’s longsword had passed directly through Zhou Cen’s chest and pierced her heart. With such injuries… there was no hope for her. After she finished speaking that sentence, her eyes slowly closed and her aura disappeared. The stench of blood was incredibly strong inside the restaurant, permeating the air and causing one to gag.
“Eldest Senior Brother, are you alright?” Wan Ying Ying glanced nervously at Yang Kai only to see a patch of red slowly spreading across his abdomen and staining his clothes. Zhang Yu Lin’s final attack where he used Zhou Cen as a distraction had injured Yang Kai. That was not all. Both Yang Kai’s sleeves were also dyed in red blood, a result of him tearing his muscles from his earlier battle.
When fighting Zhang Yu Lin’s four attendants, Yang Kai had killed them by relying on his overwhelming skills. Nevertheless, the gap in their cultivation had caused him to suffer some losses. The force of recoil that rebounded back at him had turned both his arms into a bloody mess.
“I’m fine!” He waved his hand dismissively as he sent a complicated gaze towards Zhou Cen, who was laid out on the ground. [This world is strange indeed. I’ve never even met this Zhou Cen before, but sorrow fills my heart to see her die in front of me.]
The reason he had been injured by Zhang Yu Lin was that a ripple had involuntarily emerged in his heart when Zhou Cen was shoved into his arms. That feeling had left him reeling in shock for a moment.
“You’re bleeding so much! How can you say you’re fine!?” Wan Ying Ying was close to tears. She hurriedly dug through the small cloth bag at her waist and took out a bottle of pills. Tipping a single pill out of the bottle, she stuffed it into his mouth. Then, she took out some medicinal powder, tore his clothes open, and helped him to apply the powder on his wounds.
While treating his wounds, she also examined the severity of his injuries and discovered that the stab wound at his abdomen was just a flesh wound. It had not gotten further than three centimetres past his skin. Only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
“Eldest Senior Brother, we need to return to the Sect immediately. We must not stay here any longer!” It was her first time seeing so many people die and so much blood spilled. Despite that, she only experienced a short moment of panic before she quickly realised that they had to leave this place as soon as possible.
Zhang Yu Lin was the favoured descendant of one of the Elders in Tian Luo Hall, so Tian Luo Hall would never let this matter go now that he had died at Yang Kai’s hands in a place like this. Moreover, this town was under Tian Luo Hall’s jurisdiction. Once word of this incident spread, Tian Luo Hall’s members would surely swarm out to surround and suppress them.
Wan Ying Ying’s heart was filled with worry. [Eldest Senior Brother caused such a huge mess. How will we resolve this incident?]
“En!” Yang Kai nodded in agreement. The two of them gathered their things quickly and swiftly left the restaurant.
Walking on the street, he suddenly sensed something and turned around to look. The Divine Oracle stood at the corner of the street with his bruised and swollen face. He was stroking his beard and looking in this direction with an unreadable expression. When their gazes met, he bowed deeply. His attitude immediately became flattering and he kept bowing politely with a cupped fist.
[This old guy… is interesting! Did he notice something?] Yang Kai retracted his gaze and followed Wan Ying Ying to the horse stables to retrieve their mounts. Afterwards, they travelled in the direction of Void Spirit Sword Sect located several dozen kilometres away.
In this world, only Masters in the Heaven Realm and above could fly. Those in the Mortal Realm and the Earth Realm were incapable of such feats; therefore, most people could only travel by horse. Be that as it may, even those in the Heaven Realm would not choose to fly unless it was an emergency as doing so consumed too much Spirit Qi, making flight hard to sustain for long periods of time. Only those in the Spirit Realm would fly about without any care in the world.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was located between several medium-sized Spirit Peaks. Yang Kai searched his memories and found that Void Spirit Sword Sect had been established for quite a long time, over 1,000 years ago, in fact. In a world like this, not many great forces could pass down their inheritance for 1,000 years. Only the very ancient great forces had such long histories. Moreover, the Ancestors of Void Spirit Sword Sect seemed to have produced a Sword Lord in the past!
The so-called Sword Lord was the Master of a Divine Armament. The Divine Armament World had a total of ten Divine Armaments. The True Void Sword was one of them. One of the Ancestors of the Void Spirit Sword Sect had the great honour to obtain the True Void Sword and became the True Void Sword Lord. That era was Void Spirit Sword Sect’s most glorious and prosperous.
It was just that the Divine Armament World would hold a Divine Armament Tournament once every 100 years and the Divine Armaments would often change hands during that time. Void Spirit Sword Sect suffered terrible losses in the battle 100 years after obtaining the True Void Sword and gradually weakened in strength over the following years. At present, only a small number of people remained in Void Spirit Sword Sect, barely keeping the Sect from dying out. Even the strongest in Void Spirit Sword Sect was only in the Third-Step Earth Realm.
*Clop clop clop…*
The constant sound of horse hooves crunching against gravel filled the air as Yang Kai led his Little Junior Sister, Wan Ying Ying, up the mountain on horseback. Their travel speed was neither fast nor slow and the mountain gates of Void Spirit Sword Sect were only several kilometres ahead.
However, Wan Ying Ying kept staring at Yang Kai’s back in heavy silence throughout the return journey. His actions today had frightened her greatly. He was so different from the person in her memories that she couldn’t help feeling a strong sense of unfamiliarity.
Several Eighth and Ninth-Step Mortal Realm Masters had barely lasted an incense stick of time against him before they were slaughtered. Even Zhang Yu Lin of Tian Luo Hall was killed by his sword.
“Why do you keep staring at me? Do you no longer recognise your Eldest Senior Brother?” Yang Kai’s voice rang out. Only then did Wan Ying Ying realise that he had stopped at some point and was currently looking back at her with a smile.
The familiar face and smile reassured her considerably. Urging her horse to step forward, she continued onward side-by-side with him where she asked tentatively, “Eldest Senior Brother, have you always been that strong?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “It’s not that I’m strong. It’s that they are too weak. They had too many shortcomings. When the gap between our cultivation is not big, a single small mistake can mean the difference between life and death in a fight.”
[Is the gap between a Fourth-Step Mortal Realm Master and an Eighth-Step Mortal Realm Master not large?] Nevertheless, his performance today left her unable to refute his words.
“Eldest Senior Brother, were you using the Void Spirit Sword Art just now? Why does it feel a little different?” Wan Ying Ying continued asking questions.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was established based on the Void Spirit Sword Art, so every single disciple was required to cultivate this Sword Art. Thinking back to the battle today, Wan Ying Ying realized that although the moves Yang Kai displayed contained a shadow of the Void Spirit Sword Art, they were not completely the same.
“It is the Void Spirit Sword Art, but I modified it slightly. I’ll teach you next time!” Yang Kai reached out to ruffle her head.
She was speechless. The Void Spirit Sword Art had been passed down through the Sect for over 1,000 years. Countless Seniors and Ancestors had improved and modified the Sword Art over that time. It could be said that even though the Void Spirit Sword Art was not highly ranked in the Divine Armament World, it was an extremely solid entry-level Sword Art. The fact that her Eldest Senior Brother could further improve it was simply incredible.
During their conversation, they arrived at the mountain gates of Void Spirit Sword Sect. It was a large stone monument that gave off an ancient aura. The characters ‘Void Spirit’ were carved into the stone monument. In addition, there were two disciples dressed in blue and white robes guarding the entrance. These clothes were the standard uniform for Void Spirit Sword Sect disciples, and as soon as they caught sight of Yang Kai and Wan Ying Ying, they immediately came forward to greet them.
“Eldest Senior Brother is back!”
Yang Kai nodded lightly. Leaping off his horse, he handed the reins to one of the disciples and asked, “Where is the Sect Master?”
“Sect Master is most likely discussing matters with the two Elders in the Main Hall. You can find him there, Eldest Senior Brother.”
Yang Kai nodded, “You’ve worked hard.”
Afterwards, the two disciples couldn’t help feeling a little absent-minded as they stared at Yang Kai’s departing back.
“It feels like something is different about Eldest Senior Brother today,” one of them said.
“I get the same feeling. In the past, Eldest Senior Brother…” The other person thought about it and considered his words carefully, “He had felt like he was shrouded in heavy Death Qi before, but it feels like he came back to life today.”
“That’s right. That’s right. That’s what it feels like. It looks like Eldest Senior Brother has gotten over the issue from before.”
“That’s good. The world is not lacking in flowers. Zhou Cen doesn’t look like a good woman anyway. She is an ambitious social-climbing woman. It’s a good thing that Eldest Senior Brother can get over her.”
The Yang Kai of Void Spirit Sword Sect had a gentle temperament and always treated people generously; hence, he received the love and respect of his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters. When the incident with Zhou Cen took place, many of his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters had been very worried about him. It was only natural for them to feel happy for him when they saw that he had overcome his hardships.
Inside the Main Hall, Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Sect Master Su Chang Fa, Great Elder Gu Kang Ning, and Second Elder Hong Xiu were gathered together.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was weak, so these three were the only pillars of the Sect among the older generation. They were also the three strongest people in the Sect. All three of them were in the Third-Step Earth Realm.
Unfortunately, there was a big dividing line between the Third-Step and the Fourth-Step. It was similar to the Third-Order Open Heaven Realm and the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm. One could not cross this dividing gap without sufficient aptitude and resources.
Sect Master Su Chang Fa had exhausted his potential, and for that reason, he would never be able to go further than the Third-Step Earth Realm. The same went for Great Elder Gu Kang Ning. If there was anybody among the three of them who could overcome the divide, then it could only be Hong Xiu.
Hong Xiu was the youngest among the three of them, but be that as it may, she was already in her forties. It was just that she had taken good care of herself, so she looked like she was only in her early twenties. Her skin was fair and tender, her bosom was ample and full, and her figure was slim and slender. She was also the only female among the three of them.
“I don’t know how the information that we discovered a Black Jade mine within Void Spirit Sword Sect’s territory on Ash Mountain was leaked out; however, the Sect Master of Roaring Tiger Sect has already sent a letter to me the other day. His message was heavily ladened with hints. I’m afraid he wants a slice of the pie!” Su Chang Fa sighed. He was now in his early hundreds. With a cultivation in the Earth Realm, he theoretically had quite a long life ahead of him, but handling the affairs of the Sect for so many years had exhausted him, causing him to look haggard and old.
“That bastard! That is Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Black Jade mine! What right does Roaring Tiger Sect have to ask for a share!?” Great Elder Gu Kang Ning roared furiously.
Su Chang Fa sighed, “Even if we refuse, Roaring Tiger Sect will not give up easily. An ordinary man is innocent, but treasures make him guilty! Roaring Tiger Sect is much stronger than us, so there is nothing we can do if they resort to using force.”
Hong Xiu chimed in solemnly, “It’s such a tempting meal. We won’t be able to monopolise the benefits with Void Spirit Sword Sect’s strength alone. Roaring Tiger Sect is arrogant but also powerful, so it’s only natural that they want a share of the benefits. But, what about Tian Luo Hall? Now that the news has spread, Tian Luo Hall won’t remain silent either.”
Su Chang Fa shook his head, “Tian Luo Hall has yet to make a move. I don’t know what they are thinking, but it’s a given that they will meddle in the Black Jade mine!”
Hong Xiu contemplated and then said, “If that’s the case, we can just watch how things play out for the moment. Tian Luo Hall and Roaring Tiger Sect are similar in terms of strength, and since they both have interest in the Black Jade mine, there will surely be conflict between them. Void Spirit Sword Sect might be able to find a good opportunity among the cracks.”
Su Chang Fa nodded, “You’re right, Hong Xiu. This Old Master had the same idea. That’s why I have yet to send a reply to Roaring Tiger Sect. We should see how Tian Luo Hall reacts to this matter before we come to a decision…”
He suddenly paused and looked up in the middle of his sentence; then, a smile appeared on his aged face, “Little Yang Kai is back?”
Gu Kang Ning glared in that direction with an expression of disappointment. Meanwhile, Hong Xiu glanced at Yang Kai in concern.
“Disciple greets Honoured Master and two Elders!” Yang Kai came to a stop before he cupped his fist and bowed in greeting. Behind him, Wan Ying Ying followed suit.
Along the way here, Yang Kai had taken the time to change into another set of clothes; otherwise, his bloody appearance would have surely frightened many people.
Gu Kang Ning scolded angrily, “Where were you?! You’ve been slacking off on your duties all day long! And why do you stink of alcohol!? Void Spirit Sword Sect will be wiped out if we depend on you!”
It was not that he disliked Yang Kai, it was just that Yang Kai’s recent performance had disappointed him so greatly that he could not help but reprimand him out of anger!
Hong Xiu quickly said, “It’s not that serious. A child’s temperament is simply not steady enough. He just needs time to polish himself.”
“Polish himself? Do you know how old he is now? He’s only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm still! When will he reach the Earth Realm!? With his current attitude, I’m worried that he might not fight back even if somebody hits him! That’s what happened last time after all, he came home with a bruised and swollen face after being beaten up outside! That was such an embarrassment to Void Spirit Sword Sect,” he muttered angrily.
Yang Kai bowed in the Great Elder’s direction, “Many thanks for your guidance, Great Elder. This Disciple has learned from his mistakes. In the past, this Disciple has failed the earnest teachings of Honoured Master and two Elders. Fortunately, this Disciple has come to his senses and will work hard in the future so that I don’t fail your expectations of me.”
Gu Kang Ning seemed a little stunned to hear those words. He could not tell whether Yang Kai meant what he said, but his anger still subsided and he nodded, “It’s best if you think that way. But, I hope you can do more than just talk.”
“This Disciple has already begun following your teachings, Great Elder. I encountered some people who provoked me today, so this Disciple gave them a painful lesson!”
Behind him, Wan Ying Ying’s brow twitched at those words.
“Oh?” The Great Elder immediately became interested, “Who is this person with no eyes who dared to provoke you? What was the outcome?”
“This Disciple killed them all!” Yang Kai nonchalantly replied.
An eerie silence fell over the entire hall.
After a while, Gu Kang Ning lightly coughed, “It’s good for young people to be hot-blooded. Only hot-blooded people have the drive to improve. Ahem. Who were these people?”
The only people who could be killed by Yang Kai were most likely inferior cultivators; therefore, Gu Kang Ning was not too bothered even though he was surprised that somebody as gentle and kind as Yang Kai could kill another person. Void Spirit Sword Sect might be weak, but not just anybody could afford to provoke them either.
“Zhang Yu Lin of Tian Luo Hall and several of his attendants.” Yang Kai reported truthfully, “At the time, this disciple was in the restaurant when…”
Before he could finish speaking, he heard a clattering sound and looked up. Both his Honoured Master Su Chang Fa and Great Elder Gu Kang Ning had gotten to their feet with expressions of horror on their faces. Meanwhile, Elder Hong Xiu reached out to cover her red lips with her hand.
“You… What… What did you say!? Who did you kill!?” Gu Kang Ning stuttered.
“Zhang Yu Lin of Tian Luo Hall. Uh… Great Elder, you might not know this person. He is a descendant of Tian Luo Hall’s Third Elder, Zhan Bo Xiong. You know Zhan Bo Xiong, right, Great Elder?” Yang Kai explained seriously.
“Of course, I know… Obviously!” Gu Kang Ning roared, the corners of his eyes twitching violently, “Are you certain the person you killed is Zhang Yu Lin!”
“There’s no doubt!” Yang Kai nodded.
The Great Elder slumped down in his chair, all the colour in his face draining away. If that was what Yang Kai said, then there could be no mistake. Besides, there was a long-standing grudge between Zhang Yu Lin and Yang Kai. It was impossible for Yang Kai to mistake Zhang Yu Lin for somebody else.
[Zhang Yu Lin has been killed! It’s over! It’s all over! It’s over for Void Spirit Sword Sect!]
Even Su Chang Fa and Hong Xiu were unable to react for a time. They could not understand why Yang Kai would cause such a catastrophic disaster. Zhang Yu Lin had been killed; how could Zhan Bo Xiong possibly forgive such a thing? Who in Void Spirit Sword Sect could stop a Seventh-Step Earth Realm Master like him!?
“Judging from the situation, it’s not that there is no response from Tian Luo Hall. Rather, they’ve already taken action.” After a long time, Hong Xiu finally said softly.
Upon hearing those words, Su Chang Fa and Gu Kang Ning looked at her and suddenly seemed to understand something.
They had been wondering why Tian Luo Hall had seemed disinterested in the Black Jade mine. It would now seem that they were not unresponsive; rather, they had already taken matters into their own hands and were planning to use Yang Kai as their excuse to attack.
As the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect, Yang Kai represented the face of Void Spirit Sword Sect in the outside world; therefore, they sent Zhang Yu Lin to stir up trouble with Yang Kai in order to use the grudges between the younger generation as a catalyst to start a war between the two great forces. It was all a conspiracy to obtain the Black Jade mine.
They probably never imagined that Yang Kai would have the guts to kill Zhang Yu Lin though.
It would seem that Tian Luo Hall had a larger appetite than Roaring Tiger Sect. Roaring Tiger Sect had only sent a letter to ask for a share of the pie. In contrast, Tian Luo Hall had secretly plotted from the shadows. Their intention to devour and eliminate Void Spirit Sword Sect could not be more obvious.
After considering all this, both Su Chang Fa and Gu Kang Ning gave a soft sigh. Even without the incident involving Zhang Yu Lin, Tian Luo Hall would have come up with a different method to oppress Void Spirit Sword Sect. It was just that Yang Kai had killed Zhang Yu Lin, which gave them an even better excuse to attack.
“This incident is not your fault. They were already planning on attacking our Void Spirit Sword Sect!” Su Chang Fa waved his hand lightly.
Hong Xiu furrowed her brow tightly, “As things stand, our only option left is to cooperate with Roaring Tiger Sect. Perhaps, we can borrow Roaring Tiger Sect’s strength to stop Tian Luo Hall.”
Yang Kai was extremely perplexed by the flow of the conversation; thus, he couldn’t help asking, “Honoured Master, Elders, what are you talking about?”
Gu Kang Ning and Hong Xiu exchanged a glance, and after a moment of consideration, Gu Kang Ning explained, “As the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect, you have the right to know. It’s like this… We discovered a Black Jade lode with abundant reserves on Ash Mountain recently. It’s just that the information was leaked out somehow. Roaring Tiger Sect has sent us a letter stating their intentions to help us develop the mineral lode, and it’s likely that Tian Luo Hall tried to start trouble with you due to the mineral lode.”
“A Black Jade lode!?” Yang Kai’s expression changed. Aside from absorbing World Energy, cultivators in this world could also consume certain resources to improve their cultivation. It was similar to the Star Boundary in this regard. The most common type of cultivation resource here was Spirit Jades. Spirit Jades contained dense World Energy inside them; hence, they could increase a cultivator’s cultivation efficiency by a large margin.
Spirit Jades could be divided into several grades. From the lowest, a Spirit Jade could be classified as a White Jade, Black Jade, Red Jade, and finally Gold Jade. The difference in the value and the World Energy contained within the Spirit Jade varied about 1,000 times between the same portion of Gold Jade and White Jade.
Yang Kai checked his memories and, in the past, it seemed he had used Spirit Jades to enhance his cultivation. Be that as it may, he only had the privilege to obtain White Jades for his cultivation. Although he would occasionally receive a few pieces of Black Jade, these were extremely rare. Furthermore, they were things that Su Chang Fa had specially saved up for him.
If this was the case for the Eldest Senior Brother of the Sect, then there was no need to mention the Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters; therefore, it was very shocking for a Black Jade lode to appear in the Ash Mountain!
A single Black Jade lode was enough to allow the strength of an Earth Realm great force to soar within a few dozen years. Generally, only Heaven Realm great forces could monopolise such a thing, so it was no wonder Roaring Tiger Sect and Tian Luo Hall were eyeing the Black Jade lode greedily.
Su Chang Fa continued, “The Black Jade lode is too valuable, so Void Spirit Sword Sect does not have the strength to monopolise it. We initially wanted to see how things went between Roaring Tiger Sect and Tian Luo Hall, but now…”
Yang Kai immediately understood, “Now that I’ve killed Zhang Yu Lin, Void Spirit Sword Sect can only borrow the strength of Roaring Tiger Sect to resist Tian Luo Hall.”
“That’s right!” Su Chang Fa nodded.
Feeling slightly stunned, Yang Kai clicked his tongue and muttered, “I would have left him alive if I had known earlier.”
Su Chang Fa shook his head, “Tian Luo Hall’s actions clearly indicate that they wish to monopolise the Black Jade mine; otherwise, they could have openly sent a message to this Old Master without creating an excuse by instigating a fight between the younger generation. Therefore, even if you had not killed Zhang Yu Lin, Tian Luo Hall would not have given up so easily.”
Gu Kang Ning waved his hand dismissively, “Now that you know these things, you should know how to be grateful. But, there’s no need to think too much about this. With your current strength, there’s no point worrying about these matters. Even if the sky collapses, you have us to hold it up. We will protect you. You’ve already wasted a whole year, so it is better if you focus on your cultivation for now rather than worry about things you cannot change.”
Yang Kai quickly said, “Yes. After this incident, this Disciple has realised how lacking his strength is. I will cultivate seriously from now on.”
Su Chang Fa and the two Elders stared at Yang Kai in amazement. Then, Su Chang Fa nodded, “It’s good that you have such thoughts.”
Yang Kai added, “This Disciple would like to request for some cultivation resources. I hope you will allow it, Honoured Master.”
Su Chang Fa immediately tossed the Sect Master Token to Yang Kai and declared, “Go and collect them from your Martial Uncle Chang yourself. You can take as much as you want.”
In any case, if Void Spirit Sword Sect survived this disaster, they would have more than enough resources in the future. On the other hand, if they failed to survive this disaster, then it was a waste to leave those resources untouched.
“Many thanks, Honoured Master!” Yang Kai took the token and turned to leave.
“Is there something else, Ying Ying?” Hong Xiu glanced at Wan Ying Ying, who remained standing below them.
Wan Ying Ying opened her mouth and was tempted to say that her Eldest Senior Brother had not only killed Zhang Yu Lin today but also four other Eighth-Step and Ninth-Step Mortal Realm Masters; however, she did not know how to express the words that were at the tip of her tongue. [Nobody will believe me if I said something like that. Besides, now that I think about it, I can’t be sure whether those attendants were really in the Eighth-Step and Ninth-Step Mortal Realm…]
“It’s… It’s nothing. I’m going to cultivate,” she mumbled and quickly took her leave.
Following a discussion between Su Chang Fa and the two Elders in the Main Hall, they eventually decided to cooperate with Roaring Tiger Sect. They hoped to borrow Roaring Tiger Sect’s strength to block Tian Luo Hall’s advances. Zhang Yu Lin had been killed, so it was conceivable that the retaliation from Tian Luo Hall would soon come. Void Spirit Sword Sect would be powerless to resist without the help of Roaring Tiger Sect. The survival of a 1,000-year-old Sect was currently hanging by a thread thanks to the unexpected appearance of a single Black Jade lode!
Standing in front of the Sect’s storehouse, Yang Kai took the Sect Master Token and came to the Martial Uncle in charge of this place. The Martial Uncle had the surname ‘Chang’, and although he was getting on in years, he was still stuck in the Ninth-Step Mortal Realm due to insufficient aptitude. In terms of hierarchy, he belonged to the same generation as Su Chang Fa.
Martial Uncle Chang naturally had no objections when he saw the Sect Master Token and readily allowed Yang Kai to pass.
Yang Kai entered the storehouse and began walking around aimlessly, grabbing anything and everything that could help with his cultivation. It didn’t take long before he walked out with a large bundle in his hands.
After Yang Kai departed, Martial Uncle Chang entered to check the storehouse and immediately felt his vision go black. He nearly fainted on the spot. That was because not a single Spirit Jade remained in the storehouse. Several dozen bottles of elixirs purchased from other Sects at a high price had also been cleared out. Even the spirit flowers and spirit herbs for Alchemy were gone.
It could be said that anything with the slightest value inside the storehouse had been taken away by Yang Kai. The entire storage was cleaner than a rice field devoured by locusts. Thus, it gave him such a shock that he hurriedly went to the Sect Master to report about this matter.
…..
Carrying his huge bundle, Yang Kai stood in front of a statue and looked up at the several-metre-tall carving of a man. The statue was exquisite and highlighted the charming features of this person clearly. He was extraordinarily brave and heroic and his gaze was powerful. Of particular note was the sword he wore on his waist. This was a statue of Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Ancestor who became the True Void Sword Lord.
In Yang Kai’s memory, he had walked past this statue on countless occasions, but this time he seemed to discover something interesting about the statue. After staring at the statue for a long time, he finally grinned and headed towards his residence with his large bundle in hand.
As the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect, it was only natural that Yang Kai had a private residence. He entered the secluded home and put the bundle down before taking off his shirt to check his wounds.
In addition to being stabbed in the abdomen by Zhang Yu Lin, his arms had been reduced to a bloody mess from him overusing them during his battle against the attendants. Even so, his injuries were already showing signs of recovery. He quietly examined his wounds for a moment before raising a brow.
“Is it the power of my Dragon Vein?” Yang Kai could clearly sense faint traces of his Dragon Clan bloodline flowing through his body and his meridians. It was precisely because of these faint traces of the Dragon Clan bloodline that his injuries could heal so quickly.
It would seem that although he could not mobilise his Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm strength, the Divine Armament World was also unable to fully isolate him from the power of his bloodline.
The power of the Dragon Vein flowing through his body was extremely weak, to the point that it was barely perceptible, but this power was enough to make a Fourth-Step Mortal Realm Master undergo Earth-shaking changes.
Furthermore, he had the vague sense that the power of the Dragon Vein within him would become more and more powerful as his strength gradually increased and the endurance of his body was enhanced.
[At present, what I urgently need to do is to cultivate hard and increase my strength. It doesn’t matter whether it’s for the Divine Armament Tournament or for the imminent danger I will face… I’m running out of time!]
Yang Kai sat down cross-legged and carefully went through the information in his mind.
The sword was the foundation of Void Spirit Sword Sect. They cultivated a Secret Art known as the Void Spirit Art paired with the Void Spirit Sword Art. What he used when fighting Zhang Yu Lin’s attendants back then was the Void Spirit Sword Art; however, it was a version that he had modified and improved. With his rich experience, modifying and improving a simple Sword Art was not a problem.
It would now seem that the Void Spirit Art also had room for improvement. He immediately activated the Spirit Qi flowing in his body and slowly changed the cultivation route in his body.
In less than an hour, Yang Kai finished improving the Void Spirit Art. After a series of experiments, he discovered that both the cultivation speed and absorption of the World Energy of the improved Void Spirit Art were at least 20% percent higher.
Yang Kai was in no hurry to begin cultivating. After spending so many years in the outside world doing just that, he was no stranger to the principle of sharpening his axe before chopping wood. He dug out all the pills he retrieved from Void Spirit Sword Sect’s storehouse. Several dozen bottles of pills sat in several rows before him. Then, he opened them one by one to check their various medicinal efficacies.
His attainments in the Alchemic Dao were extremely deep, so distinguishing the uses of these pills was very easy for him, more so since the pills in Void Spirit Sword Sect were not particularly high-grade products. It didn’t take long before he had neatly sorted all the bottles of pills into several categories.
He randomly grabbed one of the bottles, opened it without a care, and poured the entire contents into his mouth. Immediately after that, he followed with the second bottle, then the third bottle… It was not until he emptied the contents of the fifth bottle that his stomach felt slightly full and bloated.
If he wanted to increase his strength then his body was his greatest capital. Recalling the journey he took to get here, the toughness of his body had given him many advantages over time. Whether he was cultivating or facing enemies, the resilience of his physique always played a huge and crucial role in his success. The tougher his body, the more pressure he could withstand, and the faster he could cultivate.
Yang Kai had secretly examined his body in the Divine Armament World, quickly discovering that his current aptitude was neither particularly good nor bad. It could only be considered average, nothing special; however, the toughness of his body was practically unmatched.
Something like aptitude was basically fixed from the moment of birth. It was difficult for him to enhance his aptitude, so he could only start from a different path. Fortunately, the potential of his Dragon Vein was still intact. Focusing on enhancing his Dragon Vein to improve this body was perfectly feasible.
The medicinal efficacies inside his stomach dissolved and the slight feeling of fullness from earlier rapidly ballooned. Yang Kai soon felt as though there was a fire in his stomach and all his internal organs were burning.
This was only to be expected though, as while Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Spirit Pills weren’t high-grade, he was only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm. In the Divine Armament World, his existence was no different from an ant. How could he possibly withstand the impact of so many medicinal efficacies all at once? If it were an ordinary Fourth-Step Mortal Realm Master, the explosion of such enormous medicinal efficacies would have been enough to kill him.
Yang Kai himself was also having a hard time at the moment. Crimson blood slowly flowed out of his seven orifices, his body trembled uncontrollably, his complexion turned green and pale, and his stomach felt as though countless cats were clawing at him from the inside with all their might.
Still, he forcefully endured the discomfort while at the same time circulating the Void Spirit Art to guide the enormous medicinal efficacies through his blood and muscles, nourishing every part of his body.
The power of his Dragon Vein hidden in his blood slowly exerted its power. Although it was not much, it constantly helped to repair his damaged body and meridians. It was enough to prevent him from dying as he walked along the fine edge between life and death to seek great opportunity.
As he slowly became accustomed to the impact of the medicinal efficacies, Yang Kai’s mental state improved considerably. The enormous medicinal efficacies were gradually absorbed into his body with the help of the Void Spirit Art to become the foundation of his strength.
Approximately an hour later, he finally sensed that the medicinal efficacies in his body were almost depleted. Yang Kai quietly examined himself and found that the toughness of his body had improved sharply compared to before. His muscles were more compact and felt stronger and his meridians were wider and more resilient, allowing him to tolerate a stronger flow of Spirit Qi.
These effects were not just thanks to the five bottles of Spirit Pills but also thanks to the subtle transformation brought about by his Dragon Blood. In fact, the latter accounted for a larger proportion of these changes. Compared to before, the toughness of his body had increased by approximately 20%. This result was quite satisfying.
A pungent smell filled Yang Kai’s nose and he felt his entire body was incredibly wet and sticky, almost as though he was covered in a layer of mud. He knew that this was the effect of his body excreting a large number of impurities; however, he couldn’t be bothered and simply swallowed several more bottles of pills.
This cycle repeated over and over again. Those several dozen bottles of pills that Void Spirit Sword Sect worked so hard to accumulate over the years were used up by Yang Kai in a mere three days. The final result was that the toughness of his body had increased many times over. Even the power of his Dragon Vein had been greatly stimulated. Traces of golden Dragon Blood flowed through his veins now, carrying with it a horrifying power.
In addition, his newly awakened Dragon Blood was now constantly influencing and enhancing his body. Even if he did nothing, the toughness of his body would only become stronger and stronger over time. His cultivation had also risen from the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm to the Fifth-Step Mortal Realm!
There were four Great Realms in this world, Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Spirit. Each Great Realm had nine Minor Realms. The concept was similar to the Nine Orders of the Open Heaven Realm. Among them, the barrier of the Fourth-Step and the Seventh-Step were the hardest to overcome in each Great Realm, doing so would lead to a whole world of difference in strength. On the other hand, one could easily break through from the Fourth-Step to the Sixth-Step as long as one had accumulated enough Spirit Qi.
Yang Kai had consumed many Spirit Pills during this period, and while most of the medicinal efficacies had been used to enhance and strengthen his body, quite a lot of the remaining medicinal efficacies had also been transformed into Spirit Qi. That Spirit Qi flooded his body and meridians, naturally allowing his cultivation to progress at a rapid pace.
Suddenly, the sound of a grumbling stomach rang out. Yang Kai was starving. He was so hungry that he felt he could eat a horse. This feeling was very new to him, or rather, very old, making him wonder just how long it had been since he last felt hunger.
In the outside world, thanks to the constant advancement of his cultivation, Yang Kai had long ago overcome the need to eat to sustain himself. Even if he ate something once in a while, it was only to satisfy his appetite and cravings, not to fulfil a basic physical need. However, things were different in the Divine Armament World. The cultivators in the Mortal Realm were not at a level where they go without food indefinitely, and in fact, it seemed the higher their cultivation became, the greater their appetite.
The impurities discharged from Yang Kai’s body had already formed a hard shell over his skin at this point, so he decided that he might as well leave his secluded home. He took a bath and changed into a new set of clean clothes before he went to the Sect’s kitchen and practically gobbled up everything he could get his hands on.
The disciples guarding the kitchen stared at Yang Kai in stunned shock, watching helplessly as he finished eating all the food in the kitchen. They could barely believe what they were seeing.
The main reason was that Yang Kai’s appearance had changed quite drastically. Compared to the last time they saw him a few days ago, he seemed to have become much thinner. The clothes that used to fit him like a glove now seemed almost empty, hanging loosely around his frame. Those who met him for the first time would think that he was malnourished; yet, his eyes were so bright that it was scary.
“Who are the visitors in the Main Hall?” Yang Kai held a half-eaten leg of lamb on each hand, chomping on his food with great relish while glancing in a certain direction.
There were two rows of disciples lined up on both sides outside the Main Hall, making for quite the formal sight. In his memories, Void Spirit Sword Sect would only perform such grand gestures when dealing with the arrival of important guests.
A Junior Brother nearby quickly answered, “I heard that one of the Protectors of Roaring Tiger Sect arrived today. Sect Master and the two Elders are currently discussing important matters with that person.”
“People from Roaring Tiger Sect, huh…” Yang Kai nodded lightly, “They sure act fast!”
The reason for Roaring Tiger Sect’s arrival was undoubtedly the Black Jade mine.
It was just as Elder Hong Xiu mentioned before; with Void Spirit Sword Sect’s current strength, it was impossible for them to monopolise the Black Jade mine. They were powerless to resist if Roaring Tiger Sect wished to interfere in this matter; therefore, they had originally planned to survive in the cracks formed when Roaring Tiger Sect and Tian Luo Hall fought for control of the mine. It was just that Yang Kai ended up killing Zhang Yu Lin, so it was useless to count on Tian Luo Hall now.
Unfortunately, Yang Kai’s current strength was too low, so he couldn’t help with these matters even if he wanted to.
“Burp…”
Yang Kai let out a loud belch and licked the grease off his fingers. After that, he patted the person next to him on the shoulder and wiped the rest of the grease on his fingers on that person’s clothes, “Good, I’m going back to cultivate. Watch the kitchen well. Don’t let some random wild beast in to steal all the food here!”
The Junior Brother stared dumbfound at Yang Kai’s departing back. When he turned around to look at the empty kitchen, he became desperate to cry but was unable to shed any tears. [Our Fellow Brothers will most likely have to go hungry tonight!]
Yang Kai returned to his secluded home and glanced at the White Jades scattered across the ground. Then, he loosened his muscles.
There were more than 2,000 pieces of White Jade stored in Void Spirit Sword Sect’s treasury. This number was not large, but for Yang Kai, in his current cultivation, it was not small either. It was enough for him to cultivate for some time. Each White Jade was about the size of a finger. Moreover, it was cool to the touch and the Spirit Qi contained within could be perceived clearly.
He sat down cross-legged in the middle of the White Jade pile. Grabbing a handful in each hand, he let out a breath and began to circulate the Void Spirit Art. Pure Spirit Qi immediately flowed out from the White Jade into his body. The Spirit Qi circulated through his meridians to sink into his body and dantian.
His body that underwent three days of conditioning still might not seem that strong, but his physique had clearly gotten much stronger than before. It was perfectly reflected in the speed in which he absorbed the Spirit Qi from the Spirit Jade. His meridians had become wider and more resilient, which in turn allowed more Spirit Qi to flow more smoothly. It was only natural that his rate of absorption would increase significantly.
Large amounts of Spirit Qi flooded his body and transformed into his new foundation. Yang Kai’s originally thin figure seemed to swell slowly like a balloon being pumped full of air. It didn’t take long before he transformed into a brave, heroic, and extraordinary figure. The loose clothes gradually fit around his body once more.
A short while later, Yang Kai stopped feeling any Spirit Qi flowing into his body from his hands. He spread open his palms and saw that the two handfuls of Spirit Jade had become grey and dull. The energy in these Spirit Jades had been absorbed cleanly.
Discarding the used Spirit Jades, Yang Kai grabbed another handful to continue his cultivation.
Time passed slowly, and after refining more than 600 White Jades, Yang Kai felt as though he had reached his current limit. His body was filled with Spirit Qi to the point that no more could be accommodated. The Spirit Qi surged wantonly throughout his meridians and his body. It was unbearably painful and his exposed skin turned blood red as a result.
Most cultivators would stop cultivating and slowly take the time to digest their gains when they encounter such a situation; after all, cultivation should be done slowly and steadily. Haste was never the answer.
However, Yang Kai had no time to waste. He had kicked a hornet’s nest as soon as he arrived in the Divine Armament World and according to his estimations, Tian Luo Hall’s retaliation would arrive soon. If he did not increase his cultivation quickly, he would not have enough strength to survive the calamity. Besides, he wanted to use this kind of crazy cultivation method to increase the limits of his body.
As he continued to refine the Spirit Qi in the Spirit Jades, his body acted like a bottomless pit. His clothes danced and flapped around him even though there was no wind while the entire secluded home seemed to rumble faintly.
Fresh blood leaked out of his pores and soon dyed his clothes red, but even so, Yang Kai ignored everything and continued to refine the White Jades like mad. The damage to his body was left to the power of his Dragon Vein to heal.
All of a sudden, he felt his entire body becoming light all over. It felt as though he had broken through a barrier and the surging power in his body was immediately alleviated as a result.
Sixth-Step Mortal Realm!
Now that Yang Kai’s cultivation had increased to the next Step, the pressure that was bearing down upon him vanished without a trace. Thus, he grabbed another handful of White Jades and frantically continued to circulate the Void Spirit Art.
The White Jades scattered around him decreased at a very fast rate and his cultivation improved rapidly in turn. Three days after he advanced into the Sixth-Step Mortal Realm, he achieved another breakthrough and advanced into the Seventh-Step!
At a certain point, his hand came up empty when he reached out to the side. Yang Kai lowered his head and looked down only to see that he had finished consuming over 2,000 White Jades in the short span of six or seven days! Thanks to the abundant White Jades and the several dozen bottles of pills, he had advanced from the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm to the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm in one session!
If it were any other cultivator, it would have been impossible for them to achieve such a rapid cultivation speed. Yang Kai had relied on the power of his Dragon Vein, which allowed him to be so unscrupulous in his cultivation. Even so, many dark injuries remained in his body from this process.
These dark injuries were like cracks in the foundation of the building. The higher the building, the greater the chance of it collapsing. Nevertheless, Yang Kai was not too bothered. With the power of his Dragon Vein, these dark injuries would repair themselves sooner or later.
Moreover, with the increasing enhancement of his physique, the power of his Dragon Vein that he could stimulate would also become increasingly intense. There was a positive cycle that had no defined limits.
Without more White Jades, Yang Kai could only cultivate by absorbing ambient World Energy. Needless to say, he was dissatisfied with such cultivation speed. He was just considering whether he wanted to visit the Black Jade lode to obtain some Black Jade for cultivation when a figure rushed inside his house.
“Little Junior Sister? Why are you in such a panic?” Yang Kai stared at Wan Ying Ying in astonishment when she rushed over to him.
Wan Ying Ying’s complexion was pale as she stretched out her hand and stuffed a bag into his arms before hurriedly saying, “Eldest Senior Brother, Sect Master has issued an order. You are to set off for Green Mountain Town immediately.”
“Green Mountain Town?” Yang Kai frowned, “That place is over 1,000 kilometres from here. What does Honoured Master want me to do there?”
Wan Ying Ying shook her head, “I don’t know the specific details. Sect Master only said that you will know once you arrive. Eldest Senior Brother, this matter is very urgent. You need to leave now.”
While saying so, she grabbed his hand and tried to drag him out, but Yang Kai did not budge. Despite tugging at him twice, Wan Ying Ying could not move him at all, so she turned around anxiously and stomped her foot, “Eldest Senior Brother, let’s go!”
“What happened outside?” Yang Kai looked at her quietly.
Her expression immediately became unnatural as she shook her head hard, “N-Nothing!”
“Since you were a child, you’ve always stuttered whenever you lied. Tell me. What happened outside?”
“N-Nothing! I s-swear!”
He ruffled her head, “Did somebody from Tian Luo Hall come?”
“N-N-No!” She shook her head vigorously.
Yang Kai stepped outside with a suspicious expression, “How strange. Didn’t Honoured Master say that he was going to borrow the power of Roaring Tiger Sect to deal with Tian Luo Hall? Where are the people from Roaring Tiger Sect?”
Wan Ying Ying clutched at him from behind, screaming and crying, “Eldest Senior Brother, don’t go! It’s very dangerous outside! Sect Master wants you to leave now! It’s also to ensure that Void Spirit Sword Sect will continue to exist. You have to hurry up and leave before they find you!”
“So, it really is somebody from Tian Luo Hall.” Yang Kai raised his brow and returned the bag in his arms to Wan Ying Ying, “I caused this situation. Tian Luo Hall will never relent if I don’t show up. The Master Sect raised me, so how can I stand by and watch when it is in trouble? Let me go and have a look.”
Yang Kai walked out with large strides as he spoke. Even though Wan Ying Ying desperately tried to stop him, how could she possibly do that?
The Sect’s main square was a huge mess and fresh blood staining the entire ground.
There were only several dozen people in Void Spirit Sword Sect and all of them were gathered in this place. From Sect Master Su Chang Fa down to the most common disciple, all of them looked sorrowful. Su Chang Fa, Gu Kang Ning, and Hong Xiu were covered in wounds and fresh blood dyed their clothes red. The corpses of more than ten Void Spirit Sword Sect disciples lay scattered across that square.
Many shadows stood around the square, surrounding the Void Spirit Sword Sect members. These people were vaguely divided into two factions. One was headed by a middle-aged man while the other was headed by an elderly man wearing black robes.
Su Chang Fa looked at the middle-aged man sadly and called out, “Protector Wan, is this how Roaring Tiger Sect does things? You and I clearly had an agreement!”
He initially thought that he could borrow the strength of Roaring Tiger Sect to resist Tian Luo Hall, and for that reason, Void Spirit Sword Sect had offered the other party a high price that amounted to 80% of the Black Jade lode. In other words, 80% of the profits from the Black Jade lode would belong to Roaring Tiger Sect. Who could have known that this bastard surnamed Wan would do nothing and simply watch from the sidelines when Tian Luo Hall attacked today?
Wan Tian He laughed when he heard those words, “Agreement? What agreement? This Protector does not recall ever making an agreement with Void Spirit Sword Sect.”
Wan Tian He’s expression of denial made Su Chang Fa boil with rage. Blood surged up his throat and came out his mouth. His complexion immediately waned. Unfortunately, the overall situation was more important than his personal feelings at the moment, so he was forced to back down and plead in a trembling voice, “Protector Wan, if you can save Void Spirit Sword Sect from this disaster, then the Black Jade mine will belong entirely to Roaring Tiger Sect! Void Spirit Sword Sect will not intervene in this matter again!”
Wan Tian He smiled lightly but did not answer.
The other elderly man coldly snorted, “Su Chang Fa, do you still not understand? This is the law of the jungle. The strong stand on top. Only the person with the biggest fist has the right to speak. Void Spirit Sword Sect lost its right to exist in this world a long time ago! With Void Spirit Sword Sect gone, won’t the Black Jade mine still belong to Roaring Tiger Sect regardless?”
“You’ve been colluding with each other right from the beginning!” Su Chang Fa suddenly realised. Both Wan Tian He from Roaring Tiger Sect and Zhan Bo Xiong from Tian Luo Hall were in the Seventh-Step Earth Realm. Void Spirit Sword Sect was completely powerless against them, and judging by their actions today, it was clear that they had been secretly working together for a while now. Void Spirit Sword Sect was the only one who had been kept in the dark! Su Chang Fa thought he could use the wolf to drive away the tiger, but all he did was invite the wolf into his home!
“Hand over the True Void Spirit Art and that brat called Yang Kai; otherwise, I will wipe out your entire Sect!” Zhan Bo Xiong shouted coldly.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was undeniably weak nowadays, but the True Void Sword Lord was counted among their Ancestors. It could be seen that the Sect was not without some heritage. It was rumoured that Void Spirit Sword Sect possessed a Secret Art known as the True Void Spirit Art, one that was completely different from the one the disciples generally cultivated. Furthermore, the True Void Sword Lord supposedly achieved all his success by relying on the True Void Spirit Art.
If not to obtain the True Void Spirit Art, Zhan Bo Xiong would have already killed all the people in front of him rather than wasting his time talking to them.
Su Chang Fa smiled miserably, “There is no real or fake Void Spirit Art. There is only one Void Spirit Art. It is unfortunate that the younger generation is mediocre and are unable to reproduce the glory of our Ancestors. It is ridiculous how you believed that there’s some hidden inside story. You really are foolish! As for my Eldest Disciple, this Old Master sent him down the mountain a long time ago. Go ahead and search for him if you think you have the ability to find him! Hahahaha… Cough, cough…”
The smile on Su Chang Fa’s face stiffened quickly as he stared at the figure running here from the bottom of the mountain.
That figure moved incredibly quickly. He had only been halfway up the mountain when Su Chang Fa first noticed him, but he arrived at the top of the mountain in the blink of an eye. There was a loud explosion that sounded like a meteor crashing into the ground when the figure wrapped in a sharp aura landed at the top of the mountain.
“Honoured Master, this Disciple has arrived late!” Yang Kai shouted.
Su Chang Fa’s eyes rolled back into his head. He was so furious that he fainted from anger.
Gu Kang Ning, who was drenched in blood, was so enraged that he slapped his thigh and cursed, “Foolish! Foolish brat! How maddening!” [We are in such a desperate situation. How dare this little bastard come here!? Didn’t we send Wan Ying Ying to secretly pass him a message asking him to leave this place!? This is just great! The entire Void Spirit Sword Sect will be killed by the enemy and wiped from history now!]
Next to him, Hong Xiu sighed softly, “This is our fate! This Disciple has been unfilial! Void Spirit Sword Sect’s inheritance which survived for 1,000 years will die along with us today!”
On the other hand, Yang Kai was shocked and hurriedly rushed over to Su Chang Fa. It took a lot of effort before he finally managed to wake Su Chang Fa and asked in concern, “Honoured Master, how are you feeling?”
Su Chang Fa slowly opened his eyes and saw Yang Kai staring down at him. Yang Kai continued with a look of shame, “Honoured Master, this Disciple was immersed in cultivation and failed to extricate himself in time. This Disciple has come late to the rescue. Please forgive me, Honoured Master!”
“You… You…” Su Chang Fa pointed at Yang Kai and shuddered slightly, then his head suddenly tilted to the side. He had fainted from rage again.
Yang Kai did a quick check and discovered that Su Chang Fa was just unconscious. The wounds covering Su Chang Fa might look ghastly, but they were not fatal. The realisation gave him a small sense of relief.
Turning to look around him, he saw many corpses lying around them. There were at least ten Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters lying in pools of their own blood. Meanwhile, those who were still alive were covered in wounds. The sight immediately made his expression turn frosty.
“Are you Yang Kai?” Zhan Bo Xiong squinted at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai looked Zhan Bo Xiong up and down, “That’s right. Who are you?”
“This Old Master is Zhan Bo Xiong!”
A look of understanding filled Yang Kai’s face as he asked, “Are you the ones who killed my Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters?”
“So what? It is a given that a murder should be paid for with one’s life! I’m just here to collect my debt. How dare you kill my grandson!? I will send the entire Void Spirit Sword Sect to accompany him in the afterlife! As for you…” Zhan Bo Xiong waved his large hand, “Capture him. I’m going to skin this bastard alive in front of Yu Lin’s mourning hall and drain his blood dry to comfort my pitiful grandson in Heaven!”
As soon as those words left his mouth, two Tian Luo Hall disciples rushed out from behind him and charged at Yang Kai.
The expressions of Hong Xiu and Gu Kang Ning immediately changed drastically. Judging by the Spirit Qi fluctuations of these two Tian Luo Hall disciples when they attacked, both of them were at the peak of the Mortal Realm, just one step away from advancing into the Earth Realm.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm even though he was Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Eldest Disciple of the current generation. There was no way he could resist them.
“Run!” Hong Xiu screamed. It was not that she didn’t want to help, but that she was too heavily injured; moreover, Earth Realm Masters from Tian Luo Hall were watching her, so she couldn’t take a single step forward.
Likewise, Gu Kang Ning was caught in the same situation.
To her despair, Yang Kai showed no intention to escape despite facing two Masters at the peak of the Mortal Realm. On the contrary, he actually stood up and rushed straight at them.
“Don’t be so presumptuous!” Zhan Bo Xiong’s eyes were cold.
When the three figures crossed each other, Yang Kai reached out both hands at the same time to cover the faces of the two people charging towards him.
The confrontation lasted only a flash, and nobody saw what happened clearly. All they heard was a loud explosion and after that, they saw Yang Kai half-kneeling on the ground. His two large hands were wrapped around the heads of the two Tian Luo Hall disciples as he slammed them into the ground fiercely.
*Kacha…*
The sound of bones cracking rang out and brains and blood flowed profusely. The two bodies twitched incessantly under Yang Kai’s grip as horrifying cracking sounds came from the two heads.
The entire square fell silent!
Su Chang Fa slowly regained consciousness and saw the two Tian Luo Hall disciples twitching under Yang Kai’s hands as soon as he opened his eyes. Thinking that he was dreaming, he closed his eyes again and continued to sleep; however, he soon jerked his eyes open again to stare forward with a mixture of shock and confusion.
“Life is beautiful yet oh so fragile. It seems that you don’t understand this. Unfortunately, the ignorant are destined to be cast out by the flow of time. Let me show you the true meaning of power!” Yang Kai slowly stood up, cleaned the blood off his hands, and looked up at Zhan Bo Xiong coldly.
“Seventh-Step Mortal Realm!?” Both Hong Xiu and Gu Kang Ning couldn’t help widening their eyes at the sight. The aura emanating from Yang Kai was clearly something that only a Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master could possess.
[Isn’t he only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm? When did he become a Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master? Has this brat been hiding his strength all this while? But… even if he is a Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master, how does that change anything?]
Even Third-Step Earth Realm Masters like the three Elders had been defeated so badly. A Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master was bound to be powerless to fight back in this scenario. Disregarding the fact that Tian Luo Hall had a Seventh-Step Earth Realm Master like Zhan Bo Xiong, there were also several other Earth Realm Masters present. This line-up was not something Yang Kai could fight alone.
“Arrogant Junior! How dare you behave so boastfully!?” Zhan Bo Xiong was livid. In a moment of carelessness, two of his people had been killed by the other party. It was extremely embarrassing for him.
The truth was that the power Yang Kai displayed earlier had shocked him too. A Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master had killed two Masters at the peak of the Mortal Realm in an instant. Such a feat was not something just anybody could do. Only the most talented geniuses had the ability to kill enemies above their own Realm.
The current Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect was not well-known; therefore, this sudden display of strength immediately gave Zhan Bo Xiong all sorts of thoughts. [Perhaps this boy cultivates the True Void Spirit Art of Void Spirit Sword Sect! As long as I can capture him, I can obtain the biggest secret of Void Spirit Sword Sect! No matter how strong this Junior is, he is just in the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm while I’m in the Seventh-Step Earth Realm. There’s a difference of a whole Great Realm between us. He is definitely not my opponent!]
His hatred towards his grandson’s murderer and his greed towards the True Void Spirit Art compelled Zhan Bo Xiong to make up his mind to capture Yang Kai personally. His figure flickered while he was speaking and he lunged towards his enemy. Under the urging of his Earth Realm Spirit Qi, he came pressing down on Yang Kai with overwhelming force.
“Honoured Master, the Ancestors of Void Spirit Sword Sect actually left us a huge gift, it’s just that we never noticed it before.” Yang Kai suddenly uttered this inexplicable sentence. After that, he lifted his hand into the air and shouted, “Come, sword!”
*Kacha…*
The sound of something shattering rang out. Su Chang Fa and the others turned to look in the direction of the sound and saw fine cracks running down the sword worn by the statue of their Ancestor not far away.
Su Chang Fa abruptly widened his eyes. Seeming to recall something, his expression immediately became filled with emotion.
*Kacha…*
Following that cracking sound, a sword light suddenly shot out from the statue and flew into Yang Kai’s grasp.
It was a sword that emitted an inexplicable halo of light. The sword was a little more than a metre long, with a flat surface that shone like a mirror so clear it could reflect a person’s image perfectly. The shape was smooth and streamlined and its edge was so sharp that it looked like it could slice through space itself.
“The True Void Sword!” Gu Kang Ning exclaimed softly.
Hong Xiu revealed a look of realisation, “So it was here all along. It turns out that the records in the ancient books were true!”
Needless to say, this True Void Sword was not the real True Void Sword. The real True Void Sword was one of the Ten Great Divine Armaments of the Divine Armament World. Only those with great destiny and opportunity could wield the real True Void Sword.
The True Void Sword in Yang Kai’s grip had been hidden in the old statue and was a replica of the Divine Armament. According to the records written in the ancient books of Void Spirit Sword Sect, the True Void Sword Lord spent an enormous amount of manpower and resources to forge this imitation True Void Sword based on the Divine Armament during his final years to leave behind for future generations.
It was just that nobody knew where the True Void Sword replica went after the death of the True Void Sword Lord, even though there were vague records in the ancient books. 1,000 years later, even if the disciples of the later generation came across the records written in the ancient books, they simply assumed that the True Void Sword replica was either lost or destroyed. Who could have known that it had always been concealed inside the Sect’s guardian statue? It was hiding right under their noses the whole time.
The True Void Sword replica was a far cry from the real Divine Armament True Void Sword, but even so, the power it contained was not to be underestimated.
“A Spirit Armament!?” Zhan Bo Xiong charged towards Yang Kai, narrowing his eyes at the sight. Immediately after that, he became overjoyed, “I never imagined that a small force like Void Spirit Sword Sect would have such a good thing hidden away, hahahaha! The Heavens are truly on my side today! Junior, you are not worthy of this Spirit Armament! Hand it over to this Old Master!”
He reached out and grabbed at Yang Kai while speaking.
Cultivators were divided into Mortal, Earth, Heaven, and Spirit Realm. The weapons in the Divine Armament World were categorised in the same manner. Below the Divine Armaments were Spirit Armaments, Heaven Armaments, Earth Armaments, and finally Mortal Armaments.
The sword Yang Kai carried previously was just a Mortal Armament and had been destroyed during his battle at the restaurant.
Divine Armaments could not be created and were only innately formed. Even if the True Void Sword Lord spearheaded the creation and collected the most precious materials available in the Divine Armament World, he was still unable to create a real Divine Armament. The most he could create was a Spirit Armament!
That said, a Spirit Armament was powerful enough to wipe out an entire kingdom! Naturally, that also depended on who was wielding the Spirit Armament. In the end, a weapon was only an auxiliary, a tool to be used; therefore, the amount of power it could exert depended on the strength of the wielder.
A Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master like Yang Kai was cut by the sharp Sword Intent just by holding this Spirit Armament in his hand. His entire body became drenched in blood and his flesh curled violently.
On the other side, Wan Tian He of Roaring Tiger Sect, who had been watching coldly from the side all this while, revealed a look of interest. Who would not be tempted in the face of a Spirit Armament?
Just as he was preparing to join the fight and snatch the Spirit Armament for himself, his heart suddenly clenched tight. He instinctively felt a sense of crisis looming over him, as if a terrible fate would befall him if he made a move.
His cultivation was not that great, only Seventh-Step Earth Realm; even so, his danger perception had always been very sensitive. He had relied on his instincts to escape many disasters over the years, so after a moment of hesitation, he chose to remain motionless.
Zhan Bo Xiong had arrived within ten metres of Yang Kai and was staring greedily at the Spirit Armament in the latter’s hand, already dreaming about his majestic appearance after obtaining this Spirit Armament.
*Hu…*
An enormous illusory phantom suddenly appeared behind Yang Kai. The illusory phantom was several dozen metres tall and filled with an immense aura. The entire illusory phantom was formed from condensed Sword Qi. Moreover, the illusory phantom was identical to the statue that had stood in Void Spirit Sword Sect for 1,000 years. The illusory phantom also held a sword in his hands around which sharp Sword Qi churned.
“Ancestor…” Su Chang Fa stared at the illusory phantom in shock, “The Ancestor has appeared!”
Similarly, Gu Kang Ning and Hong Xiu were staring at the illusory phantom in shock while all of Void Spirit Sword Sect’s disciples were dumbstruck by the sight.
“Huh?” Zhan Bo Xiong felt his chest tightening all of a sudden, as if his skin was being pricked by thousands of tiny needles. Stabbing pain came from all over his body and at the same time, an inexplicable sense of panic filled his heart.
Yang Kai swung the sword in his hand, staring at Zhan Bo Xiong coldly, “Death to all who have harmed Void Spirit Sword Sect!”
Sword Qi was suspended in the air while Sword Intent permeated the sky. Slicing sounds rang out incessantly and fresh blood splattered everywhere while severed limbs flew in all directions.
It felt as though 1,000 years had passed in an instant, and when the Sword Qi rampaging in the void finally dissipated, all the Tian Luo Hall cultivators had been killed on the spot. Chunks of flesh and blood covered the ground and not a single one of them retained a complete corpse, their bodies sliced into multiple pieces by the overwhelming Sword Qi. Even the mountain ahead had been razed to the ground!
Meanwhile, the Void Spirit Sword Sect disciples who were collapsed on the ground were not harmed in any way. The criss-crossing Sword Qi seemed to have eyes and did not cause them any harm.
*Sii…*
Wan Tian He drew a sharp breath of cold air, his expression a mixture of sickly green and deathly pale. He couldn’t help feeling thankful that he had not made his move just now; otherwise, he would have suffered the same fate as Zhan Bo Xiong. Under that horrifying Sword Qi, a Seventh-Step Earth Realm Master was no different from an ant.
“Fools who are completely ignorant of what true strength is!” Yang Kai flicked the sword lightly. His entire body was drenched in red, making him look like he had been dredged out of a pool of blood. He then turned to look at Wan Tian He and asked solemnly, “Protector Wan, do you have anything to say?”
The attack just now was naturally not his own strength, it was the power sealed within the Spirit Armament True Void Sword. All Yang Kai did was use Void Spirit Art to stimulate that power. It was naturally impossible for him to come out unscathed after acting as the carrier for such power. There were countless wounds all over his body and horrifying Sword Intent leaked out of those injuries, preventing them from healing. The blood that flowed down his legs had stained the ground around him red.
Wan Tian He gulped nervously and stared at the True Void Sword in Yang Kai’s hand in fear.
[Zhan Bo Xiong was in the Seventh-Step Earth Realm, just like me. Our strengths are fairly evenly-matched. Zhan Bo Xiong was killed without the slightest hint of being able to resist. How can I possibly defend myself if that brat attacks me?]
He suspected that even a Heaven Realm Master would have been powerless against that strike just now. Only those in the Spirit Realm had the right to fight back.
“Zhan Bo Xiong dared to offend Void Spirit Sword Sect, so his death is not worth pitying. Little Brother, you did well in killing him. To tell you the truth, this Wan has long disliked him!” Both his legs trembled uncontrollably, but he lied without batting an eyelid.
“Let us be practical.” Yang Kai looked at Wan Tian He calmly, “Otherwise, I might just fail to suppress the restlessness of the sword.”
Wan Tian He decisively said, “This Wan was in such a hurry to come today that he brought nothing with him. In the future, this Wan will visit again with gifts of apology. I guarantee that you will be satisfied with the amount, Little Brother.”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “Good!”
Wan Tian He forced out a smile, “Your noble Sect underwent such a huge event today, so I’m sure you have many other things to deal with. This Wan won’t disturb you any longer. Farewell!”
Yang Kai nodded, “Have a safe journey, Protector Wan. Little Junior Sister, please see Protector Wan off!”
Wan Ying Ying had fallen behind when she followed Yang Kai here, and when she arrived at this place, she was just in time to see Yang Kai wiping out their enemies in a single move. At this moment, she was still unable to recover from her shock. She simply could not understand how her Eldest Senior Brother had gotten so strong in such a short time. It was not until she heard his shout that she finally came back to her senses and responded with a nod.
“No need to trouble yourselves!” Wan Tian He replied politely. Leading the people from Roaring Tiger Sect, he hastily rushed down the mountain.
After Wan Tian He and the others left, Yang Kai suddenly coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood and stumbled. He immediately stuck the sword into the ground and half-knelt.
“Eldest Senior Brother!” A bunch of people immediately panicked and shouted noisily.
Su Chang Fa, Gu Kang Ning, and Hong Xiu hurriedly moved towards him. One supported him, another took out Healing Spirit Pills for him to eat, and the last examined his wounds. They were extremely attentive.
After a quick examination, Su Chang Fa’s expression became so grim that he was practically dripping with gloom. Yang Kai’s internal condition was a complete mess. His flesh was torn, his bones were cracked, and his five viscera and six organs were heavily shifted. Such injuries were generally fatal. Truthfully, Su Chang Fa himself was surprised that Yang Kai was still alive with these injuries. [Just how strong is his vitality!?]
He also immediately understood why Yang Kai had not killed the people from Roaring Tiger Sect earlier and allowed them to leave peacefully instead. It was not that Yang Kai did not want to, but that he simply could not. The first attack had already caused him such serious injuries. If he struck another blow, his body might explode on the spot.
“Brat, you better not die!” Gu Kang Ning exclaimed in concern.
Yang Kai had turned the tides around and rescued the Sect from a great disaster. It would be too much of a loss if he were to die here after everything had already been settled.
“Great Elder, rest assured. I won’t… Ugh…” Yang Kai coughed up another mouthful of blood before he could finish his sentence. His blood sprayed all over Su Chang Fa’s face across him.
Hong Xiu anxiously said, “Stop talking! The top priority is to treat your wounds as soon as possible!”
“That’s right,” Gu Kang Ning quickly nodded in agreement.
After making some arrangements, Yang Kai decided to focus on recovery immediately. Su Chang Fa and the two Elders personally stood guard around him while the other Void Spirit Sword Sect disciples scattered around in the vicinity to keep a vigilant watch and guard against any unexpected events.
Su Chang Fa looked at Yang Kai who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with amazement. His Disciple’s display today had shocked him to the core. Not only had the threat to their Sect’s survival been resolved so easily, but the True Void Sword Spirit Armament had also been found.
With the strength that Yang Kai displayed earlier, Void Spirit Sword Sect’s revival was just around the corner. For a moment, Su Chang Fa felt as though he could rest peacefully even if he died today.
Unfortunately, the most important matter at hand was whether Yang Kai could survive this disaster!
Yang Kai could sense that his current condition was absolutely terrible. The injuries he received from acting as a conduit for such a Heaven-defying attack were far more severe than how they seemed on the surface. If not for the fact that he had stimulated the power of his Dragon Vein greatly over the past week, he would have died along with the people from Tian Luo Hall; even so, he was currently on the verge of death.
His physical injuries were actually not too worrisome. Although he could only stimulate a small portion of the true power of his Dragon Vein, his powerful regenerative abilities were slowly healing his injuries. All he needed was time.
The main issue was the sharp Sword Intent!
The True Void Sword forged by the True Void Sword Lord contained his own Sword Qi. Upon activation, the Sword Qi had injured Yang Kai first before he could even harm the enemy.
The horrifying Sword Intent permeated his wounds and prevented his injuries from healing. It could be said that his injuries would only worsen with time if he did not scatter the Sword Intent in his wounds. There was no possibility of healing under these circumstances. At this rate, he would eventually be slivered away by the Sword Intent.
Although he tried to dispel the Sword Intent with his own power, his repeated attempts were only met with failure. The difference between this body’s cultivation and the True Void Sword Lord’s cultivation was too large, leaving him completely powerless against this Sword Intent.
Yang Kai suspected that even Heaven Realm Masters would not be able to dispel this Sword Intent! It was only possible for Spirit Realm Masters. However, if his strength was in the Spirit Realm, he would not have needed to rely on the Sword Qi within the True Void Sword Spirit Armament in the first place. That was because he himself would already have that level of power.
[This isn’t right… The True Void Sword Lord left the True Void Sword replica behind as a safety guarantee for his descendants. There’s no reason for him to make them sacrifice their lives just for that security. There must be some way to resolve this Sword Intent!]
As soon as that thought entered his head, Yang Kai suddenly thought of another possibility. Perhaps this Sword Intent… was never meant to be dispelled!
Following that thought, Yang Kai quickly circulated the Void Spirit Art and guided the Sword Qi to circulate through his body.
A week later, Yang Kai’s spirits lifted. He could clearly sense that the horrifying Sword Intent permeating his wounds had weakened a little.
This discovery delighted him greatly. It would seem that his guess had been correct, there was no need to dispel the Sword Intent at all. It would naturally be resolved as long as he circulated the Void Spirit Art. Furthermore, the dissolved Sword Intent did not disappear but was transformed into pure Spirit Qi that filled his entire body instead.
In just a week, he felt the Spirit Qi in his body increasing significantly while his body became nourished and refreshed. What would happen if he digested all of this Sword Intent then?
Not daring to procrastinate, Yang Kai focused on maintaining his circulation of the Void Spirit Art. The Sword Intent that remained in his wounds decreased steadily as time passed while his aura became stronger and stronger.
Su Chang Fa, Gu Kang Ning, and Hong Xiu, who were standing guard around him, were astonished by this sight. They had been paying close attention to Yang Kai’s movements and condition all this while, so it was only natural that they were aware of the changes happening to him.
“Senior Brother, how is this brat’s aura getting stronger? Isn’t he supposed to be healing his wounds? Why does it feel like he is cultivating instead? Not to mention… it feels like he is about to break through,” Gu Kang Ning asked in confusion.
Su Chang Fa slowly shook his head. He had never encountered such a situation before either. A person suddenly reaching the point of a breakthrough during the process of recovery was truly an unheard-of phenomenon.
“We probably perceived wrongly. He might just be circulating his strength to alleviate his injuries,” The words had only just left his mouth when he saw Yang Kai stiffen slightly.
An invisible wave of energy erupted in all directions with Yang Kai as the centre. The Spirit Qi fluctuation mixed in that wave of energy belonged to the Eighth-Step Mortal Realm!
“He really… broke through!” Hong Xiu was dumbfounded.
It was not over yet though as no more than two days later, Yang Kai’s aura show signs of inflation again. His cultivation advanced from the Eighth-Step Mortal Realm to the Ninth-Step Mortal Realm not long after, but even so, his aura continued to strengthen as though there was no end to his progress!
Su Chang Fa’s brow twitched, “He can’t possibly break through into the Earth Realm, right?”
Gu Kang Ning shook his head decisively, “The Mortal Realm and the Earth Realm are two different Great Realms. Breaking through to the Earth Realm is not something you can just do overnight…”
*Hong…*
Intense Spirit Qi fluctuations erupted from Yang Kai at that moment, and their aura belonged to the First-Step Earth Realm.
Gu Kang Ning’s mouth fell open in shock. He was forced to swallow the second half of his sentence. Stiffly turning his head to the side, he looked at Su Chang Fa and asked, “Senior Brother, you’ve gone through so much effort to hide this from us.”
Su Chang Fa was confused, “What did I hide from you?”
Gu Kang Ning said, “Did Yang Boy advance into the Earth Realm a long time ago? Why didn’t you tell us?”
Hong Xiu nodded sharply in agreement.
No matter how great a person’s aptitude was, it was impossible to just advance from the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm to the Earth Realm in a few days. That did not make any sense; hence, the only explanation was that Yang Kai had advanced into the Earth Realm a long time ago but had concealed the fact all this while.
Su Chang Fa didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “I’ve also just found out that this little brat reached the Earth Realm…”
He had been eagerly waiting for Yang Kai to advance into the Earth Realm so he could inherit Void Spirit Sword Sect and lead it back to prosperity. And yet, Su Chang Fa couldn’t help feeling like he was dreaming when the time really came.
“Honoured Master, Elders, what are you discussing so spiritedly?” Yang Kai’s voice sounded and the three of them turned to look in his direction. To their surprise, they saw that Yang Kai had walked over to them at some point, holding the replica True Void Sword in his hand lightly as he looked at them curiously.
“Have you recovered from your injuries?” Gu Kang Ning asked in surprise.
Yang Kai nodded, “Yes, more or less.”
All the Sword Intent permeating his wounds had been refined into his capital to increase his strength, and without the interference of the Sword Intent, his injuries were no more than flesh wounds. Besides, this incident had further strengthened the power of his Dragon Vein. With such powerful regenerative abilities, it would not take more than a few days before Yang Kai completely recovered.
“How do you feel? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?” Hong Xiu asked worriedly.
Yang Kai replied, “This Disciple feels like he is bursting with strength! I really want to find somebody to fight!”
While speaking, he swung the True Void Sword in his hand around. The Sword Intent left behind by the True Void Sword Lord had allowed him to advance from the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm to the Earth Realm in one go. In that case, wouldn’t he save a lot of cultivation time if he repeated the experience a few more times?
However, he knew that his hope was unrealistic. That was because the Sword Qi sealed within the True Void Sword by the True Void Sword Lord could only be used to attack thrice.
There were actually two reasons as to why Yang Kai did not kill the people from Roaring Tiger Sect. The first reason was that his strength was lacking. The other reason however, was that he did not wish to waste the limited resources he had. His current strength could not be considered high and he would be powerless in front of a true Master; hence, the True Void Sword was a precious trump card.
“Honoured Master, Elders, thank you for standing guard for so many days. The three of you should hurry and get some rest. This Disciple will explain everything tomorrow!” Yang Kai cupped his fist. He knew that Su Chang Fa and the others would surely have many questions and doubts in their hearts; after all, his previous performance had been a little too outrageous.
Su Chang Fa gently nodded, “En!”
They had also been injured during the conflict with Tian Luo Hall, but they had to stand guard for Yang Kai over the past few days, so they had yet to get a good rest themselves.
Following the departure of the three Elders, Yang Kai finally looked around at the Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters surrounding him, their gazes filled with awe and respect.
“Have you all realised your own vulnerability and insignificance?” Yang Kai asked lightly.
They lowered their heads in shame upon hearing those words.
“Tian Luo Hall attacked us, but we were powerless to fight back. Many of our Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters were killed before our very eyes, but we could only watch helplessly. Why? Because they were stronger than us! Because they have more power than us!”
Their heads lowered even more at those words.
“Do you want to get stronger? Do you want to seek revenge!?” Yang Kai questioned them.
“Eldest Senior Brother, we want to be as strong as you! We want to avenge our Fellow Brothers and Sisters!” Somebody shouted, “But, how do we do that?”
Yang Kai nodded lightly, “It’s enough if you have these thoughts. Even the tallest tree starts off as a weak seedling. There is nothing that can be achieved overnight. From tomorrow onward, I will prepare a training plan for all of you. I hope you can persevere through this training. For now, you should have a good rest.”
“Yes!” The disciples quickly dispersed with raging flames burning in their eyes.
The next day, Su Chang Fa and the two Elders sat on their elevated seats in the Main Hall. Meanwhile, Yang Kai stood below them and told them the story he had come up with beforehand.
After a long while, Su Chang Fa finally spoke, “So, you’re saying that you learned that the True Void Sword is hidden in the Ancestor’s statue thanks to the Ancestor’s Legacy Inheritance?”
“Indeed!” Yang Kai nodded in affirmation.
His previous performance had been far too bizarre. Somebody who was constantly drowning his sorrows in alcohol every single day had suddenly obtained the strength to turn the tides of an unwinnable battle and even brought out a secret weapon of mass destruction like the True Void Sword. Su Chang Fa and the others were bound to feel uneasy if he could not give them a reasonable explanation.
After pondering for some time, Yang Kai could only come up with a nonsensical reason like a Legacy Inheritance. It would now seem that the effects of his excuse were not too bad. Although Su Chang Fa and the others were sceptical, they had no choice but to believe him; after all, his previous performance had completely exceeded their ability to comprehend.
“It’s precisely because of the Ancestor’s Legacy Inheritance that this Disciple was able to advance into the Earth Realm so quickly and learn the whereabouts of Ancestor’s Legacy Artifact, the replica True Void Sword!”
In reality, Yang Kai had noticed that something was hidden inside the statue when he saw it for the first time. Combined with the records of the ancient books in his memory, it was easy for him to infer that the hidden object was Void Spirit Sword Sect’s long-lost replica True Void Sword.
Gu Kang Ning nodded, “It seems that Ancestor has not abandoned us incompetent Juniors. I am too ashamed to face the Ancestor.”
On the other hand, Su Chang Fa looked at Yang Kai with concern and asked, “You have indeed advanced into the Earth Realm, but do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”
Yang Kai’s advancement was too fast. It could be said that they had watched as he broke through from the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm to the Earth Realm in a matter of days. Speedy progress generally resulted in an unsteady foundation, so Su Chang Fa was naturally worried about this.
“Rest assured, Honoured Master. This Disciple does not feel any discomfort,” Yang Kai replied. Holding the True Void Sword with both hands, he took two steps forward and offered the sword up, “When the Ancestor first forged this sword, he sealed three mighty Sword Qi attacks inside of it. This Disciple activated one of those attacks a few days ago, so there are two left. But, since this sword is the foundation of Void Spirit Sword Sect, I think it’s best for you to safe keep the sword, Honoured Master!”
Su Chang Fa glanced at the True Void Sword but did not take it up. He slowly shook his head and said, “Since the Ancestor left his Legacy Inheritance to you and told you the whereabouts of the True Void Sword, that means the Ancestor values you. He believes that you can lead Void Spirit Sword Sect and bring back our lost glory. This sword… you should keep it.”
Yang Kai pondered for a while before he nodded, “En. By the way, Honoured Master, Ancestor’s Legacy Inheritance also revealed many shortcomings in our cultivation and even contained an improved version of the Void Spirit Art. This Disciple has tried the new Secret Art and can conclude it is far superior to our current Void Spirit Art. May I teach this Secret Art to the other Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters?”
“Oh?” Gu Kang Ning became interested, “The Ancestor improved the Void Spirit Art? Hurry up and explain…”
He was not only the Great Elder of Void Spirit Sword Sect, but also the Elder in charge of teaching cultivation in the Sect; therefore, he naturally took these things very seriously.
And so, Yang Kai began explaining to the three Elders everything about the Void Spirit Art that he had modified. The three Elders immediately gathered together to research the new Secret Art, and seeing their excited expressions, Yang Kai slowly exited the Main Hall.
This Void Spirit Art was something he modified and improved himself, and it was certainly much better than the original Void Spirit Art. He believed that the three Elders in the Sect would quickly teach the Secret Art to the rest of the disciples, allowing them to achieve twice the result with half the effort in their cultivation. Moreover, since it was an improvement made on the original foundation, there were no hidden dangers in replacing the Secret Art they were cultivating.
[But before that, the foundation of those Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters will need to be solidified first.]
“Eldest Senior Brother!” Wan Ying Ying was waiting outside the hall. When she saw Yang Kai coming out, she quickly shouted, “Everybody is waiting for you!”
“En,” Yang Kai nodded and walked forward with her.
It didn’t take long for them to arrive at the same square as before. All the disciples of the Sect were gathered there, but even so, the total number of people did not exceed 40. In addition, many of them were not completely healed from their injuries yet. Their complexions might be pale, but their spirits were surprisingly high.
“It looks like everybody is eager for greater strength!” Yang Kai smiled and looked around.
One of the Junior Brothers called out, “Eldest Senior Brother, what should we do now? Please teach us, Eldest Senior Brother!”
“Please teach us, Eldest Senior Brother!” The others echoed, their shouts reverberating through the skies.
Yang Kai nodded, “Even the grandest of palaces must be built from the ground up. What is the most important thing for cultivators like us? It is not an overwhelmingly powerful cultivation, it is an unshakable foundation! Without a strong foundation, everything else is meaningless! But if that is so, what is our foundation? Our foundation is our body! If our bodies are strong, then we can take in and circulate more Spirit Qi. If our bodies are strong, then we can exert greater strength! That is why we should train our bodies before we cultivate! If you can train your physique to its absolute limit, you can even crush cities and destroy nations without having the slightest Spirit Qi!”
While speaking, Yang Kai suddenly threw out a punch. A violent force burst out along with a deafening explosion that caused everybody’s ears to ring and their eyes to glow with excitement.
“I will now teach you a set of Body Tempering Techniques that you must all cultivate diligently from now on. Don’t slack off!”
“Yes!” They promised with vigour.
Yang Kai had mastered many Body Tempering Techniques, and over the years, he had travelled far and wide, killing countless powerful enemies and gaining their Secret Arts in the process. Naturally, several Body Tempering Techniques were included among them. It was not a problem for him to teach these Secret Arts to the younger generation of Void Spirit Sword Sect after making some slight adjustments to them. As for how far they could go in the future, that would depend entirely on their own efforts.
After teaching the Body Tempering Techniques, Yang Kai summoned two Junior Brothers, wrote a prescription, and sent them down the mountain to purchase various medicines.
The cultivation of Void Spirit Sword Sect disciples in the younger generation was too low, so it was impossible for them to show significant improvement in a short period. They could only take their time to cultivate. Nevertheless, buying some herbs to concoct some medicinal liquid for Body Tempering would speed up the rate of their growth.
The two disciples accepted his orders and left. Then, he asked Wan Ying Ying to guide him to another place.
The name ‘Ash Mountain’ sounded extremely barren and desolate; however, it turned out to be a beautiful place. Inside one of the mining tunnels that stretched for several kilometres under the Ash Mountain, Yang Kai strode forward while Wan Ying Ying followed behind him with a torch.
The further they went, the more they could sense the dense Spirit Qi fluctuations. This place was a Black Jade lode that contained large amounts of Black Jade after all. It was not surprising to have such dense Spirit Qi in this place.
Void Spirit Sword Sect’s storehouse had been emptied out by Yang Kai, but he needed large amounts of money to develop the Sect and improve his own cultivation. The Black Jade lode was the only hope to quickly achieve this.
“This place used to be an ordinary mineral lode where ordinary mortals would come to mine for ores, but in the process, they managed to dig up Black Jade one day. As this place is under the jurisdiction of Void Spirit Sword Sect, the news was reported to the Sect Master and the two Elders,” Wan Ying Ying explained from behind him. It was obvious that she knew that he had been so drunk over the past year that he was completely ignorant about everything in the outside world.
Yang Kai nodded lightly. When he tried to activate the Void Spirit Art, he immediately felt abundant Spirit Qi flowing towards him; however, it was not as good as using the White Jades to cultivate.
“This Black Jade needs to be mined,” he said.
She replied, “We can ask Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters to come here.”
Yang Kai, however, shook his head, “Void Spirit Sword Sect is already stretched thin. Just relying on the others alone won’t be efficient.”
“How about hiring people to work this mine them?” Wan Ying Ying suggested.
“No need. I have an idea.” After saying that, Yang Kai turned around and walked out.
A short while later, the pair returned to Void Spirit Sword Sect. Yang Kai instructed Wan Ying Ying to cultivate on her own while he went to the stables and took out a horse before riding off into the distance. He soon arrived in the small city at the foot of the mountain. After he bought some herbs from the pharmacy, he spent half a day at an inn before he put away a small porcelain bottle and left on horseback.
…..
Tian Luo Hall’s Headquarters was located in a huge manor. As an Earth Realm great force, they had many disciples under their banner, as many as 600 in total. Compared to the few dozen people in Void Spirit Sword Sect, it was a whole world of difference. Besides, so many people gathering together in one place had made the Headquarters very lively and prosperous. Its existence was almost comparable to a small town at this point.
Tian Luo Hall’s Sect Master and eight Elders were gathered together in their Main Hall currently.
There used to be nine Elders, but Third Elder Zhan Bo Xiong was killed by Void Spirit Sword Sect, so only eight remained. Nevertheless, all eight of them were Earth Realm Masters. The weakest among them was in the Fourth-Step Earth Realm. In contrast, the strongest among them were Great Elder Li Zheng Qing and Palace Master Shu Wan Cheng. They were both in the Ninth-Step Earth Realm, only one step away from advancing into the Heaven Realm. Compared to Void Spirit Sword Sect where the strongest Master was only in the Third-Step Earth Realm, Tian Luo Hall had much greater strength.
At this moment, the Main Hall was blanketed in gloom and the atmosphere was absolutely depressing.
Palace Master Shu Wan Cheng quickly said, “I summoned all the Elders here today because of a major incident that occurred recently. I’m sure you’ve all heard about it. Third Elder Zhan Bo Xiong was killed by somebody from Void Spirit Sword Sect; moreover, the one who killed him was the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect, a mere boy only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm!”
The Eight Elder scowled deeply, “Palace Master, I’ve also heard about this matter, but my information is not that specific. Was Third Elder really killed by a brat in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm?”
Shu Wan Cheng nodded solemnly, “It’s the truth! This is information I received from Wan Tian He of Roaring Tiger Sect. He was present at the time, so he knows the situation best. In any case, the murderer apparently borrowed a power that was not his own. It was a Sword Qi attack left behind by the True Void Sword Lord. That’s why the Third Elder was killed without any power to fight back.”
“The True Void Sword Lord!” Several of the Elders looked terrified.
“The murderer was originally only in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm, but he suddenly became a Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master for some reason!” Shu Wan Cheng added.
The Second Elder stroked his goatee and narrowed his eyes, “To activate the Sword Qi left behind by the True Void Sword Lord with cultivation in the Mortal Realm… I’m sure that things will not end well for that boy either.”
There was no power in this world that could be gained for free; therefore, activating power far beyond one’s ability to withstand would surely come with a heavy price.
Shu Wan Cheng confirmed the fact, “According to Wan Tian He, the boy who activated the Sword Qi was severely injured. He will not live for much longer!”
The eyes of the Elders below him instantly lit up at those words.
“Palace Master, the reason you summoned us here…”
He explained, “Third Elder has contributed greatly to Tian Luo Hall. I cannot allow him to be killed by Void Spirit Sword Sect for no apparent reason. Otherwise, what would happen to Tian Luo Hall’s face if news about this incident were to spread? This Palace Master intends to dispatch forces to Void Spirit Sword Sect to avenge Third Elder!”
He swept his gaze over the people below him, “Which Elder is willing to take a trip to help relieve the worries of this Palace Master?”
The eight Elders all fell silent suddenly, with nobody saying a word.
Even a Seventh Step Earth Realm Master like the Third Elder had been killed by the Sword Qi left behind by the True Void Sword Lord. Not many among the Elders present here were stronger than the Third Elder, so they were not confident that they could defend against such a Sword Qi attack. Although the brat who activated the Sword Qi attack in the first place was bound to have suffered a disastrous ending, who could say if there was anybody else in Void Spirit Sword Sect who could activate more of the Sword Qi? It would be bad if they met the same fate as the Third Elder.
Acting as the vanguard was not a pleasant task and the slightest carelessness could put their lives at risk. All the Elders were worldly and experienced, so how could they not understand this principle?
When Shu Wan Cheng saw that all the people below him were playing dead, he felt slightly angry in his heart. [They always clamour to be the first when something good happens, but they hide away like turtles in their shells when something dangerous occurs. They are completely unreliable.]
“Second Elder…” Shu Wan Cheng lowered his head to look at the Second Elder on his left.
The Second Elder suddenly coughed violently. He coughed so hard that his complexion went pale and blood trickled out from the corners of his mouth. Once he stopped, he spoke with some difficulty, “Sect Master, please understand, this Elder is plagued with a chronic illness. It just happened to flare up again recently, so my strength has weakened considerably. As much as I am willing to share your burden, Sect Master, I’m afraid I will not be able to handle such important matters well.”
Shu Wan Cheng stared at the Second Elder fixedly. After a long time, he finally nodded and said, “You should have a good rest if your health has deteriorated, Second Elder.” He turned to look at another person, “Great Elder?”
Li Zheng Qing stroked his beard and replied, “It’s only natural for this Elder to obey the Sect Master’s orders. But… my thirteenth concubine is about to give birth. It will only take a few days. Can you give this Elder a few days to witness the birth of my child before I set off for Void Spirit Sword Sect?”
For a moment, the entire group of Elders stared at this old man in amazement. It was soon followed by a stream of congratulatory words. The Great Elder responded with a smile, and the Main Hall became very lively.
On the other hand, Shu Wan Cheng’s face twitched at those words. How could he not know that the Great Elder was simply making up excuses? [Heaven knows what’s the true situation with his thirteenth concubine. Am I supposed to wait forever if she doesn’t give birth?]
He couldn’t help but snort lightly. Only then did the people in the Main Hall finally quieten down. Shu Wan Cheng tiredly looked down at all the Elders of Tian Luo Hall and hardened his heart. Just as he was about to announce that he was going to take action himself, a strange commotion suddenly sounded outside the Main Hall.
Even the weakest among the people present in this Main Hall was in the Fourth-Step Earth Realm, so it was only natural that their hearing was extraordinary. They reflexively turned to look outside curiously.
“What’s happening?” Shu Wan Cheng asked with a stomach full of grievances. [It’s bad enough that the Elders are only pretending to show compliance, but now even the disciples are acting so inappropriately! Tian Luo Hall is no longer the united Sect I first established.]
His question was naturally met with no response.
Shu Wan Cheng’s brow furrowed deeply as he could vaguely sense that something was wrong; moreover, there seemed to be a faint stench of blood wafting through the air.
Many of the Elders also became vigilant with the Second Elder exclaiming with a frown, “Something is wrong!”
“I’ll go and take a look!” The Seventh Elder volunteered and his figure flashed as he rushed outside.
A short while later, loud crashing noises mixed with the sound of painful groans came from outside. The expressions of the people inside the Main Hall immediately darkened when they heard those noises and they all stood up from their chairs in unison.
Shu Wan Cheng exchanged a glance with Li Zheng Qing. They both saw the deep wariness in each other’s eyes.
Just then, a figure slowly walked into the Main Hall. It was a handsome young man with a brave and heroic figure. He was dressed in blue and white robes, holding a sheathed sword in one hand while carrying a person in his other. The person in his hands was none other than the Seventh Elder, who went out to check on the situation just now!
The Seventh Elder, a Fifth-Step Earth Realm Master, was now unconscious and being carried by the young man like a sack. His weight of nearly a hundred kilograms seemed as light as a feather in this young man’s hands. The young man’s footsteps were silent as he walked forward, which went to show his great strength and control.
“Who are you?” The Second Elder shouted with a solemn expression. He could vaguely sense that this young man was not someone easy to deal with. This youth had knocked the Seventh Elder unconscious in just a few breaths, so his strength was clearly not to be underestimated.
“Void Spirit Sword Sect, Yang Kai!” Yang Kai broke into a dazzling smile and tossed the person in his hands into the Main Hall. The Seventh Elder crashed into the ground with a loud thud.
“Yang Kai?” Everybody was shocked by the greeting.
Li Zheng Qing narrowed his eyes, “Are you the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect?” [We were just talking about this person. I can’t believe he showed up here. He truly is reckless to dare to barge into Tian Luo Hall’s Main Hall.]
“Indeed!” Yang Kai nodded.
“Were you the one who killed Elder Zhan Bo Xiong?” Li Zheng Qing asked again.
“Yes!”
Li Zheng Qing turned his head and exchanged a glance with Shu Wan Cheng, a look of suspicion flashing through his eyes.
Logically speaking, Yang Kai should have been heavily injured after he used that devastating Sword Qi attack. Even if he had survived, he should have been crippled, yet just a few days had passed since the incident and he was now standing here in perfect condition. Even if he hadn’t died and somehow made a miraculous recover, it was still impossible for him to knock the Seventh Elder unconscious. The gap in strength between a Seventh-Step Mortal Realm Master and a Fifth-Step Earth Realm Master was simply too wide to cross.
Li Zheng Qing frowned and looked at Yang Kai, “Good, we shall assume that you are Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Yang Kai. So, why have you come to Tian Luo Hall?”
Yang Kai grinned, “Void Spirit Sword Sect discovered a Black Jade mine, but we lack the manpower required to exploit it. I heard that Tian Luo Hall has many disciples, so… please submit to Void Spirit Sword Sect and send some people to help me with this work! You should also know that Void Spirit Sword Sect has very few members. We simply do not have enough hands to go around.”
Upon hearing those words, Shu Wan Cheng looked at Yang Kai with a weird expression, “You want Tian Luo Hall to surrender to Void Spirit Sword Sect? Did I hear it wrong? Or, did you misspeak?”
Yang Kai looked at Shu Wan Cheng, “Are you the Sect Master of Tian Luo Hall, Shu Wan Cheng?”
“Yes, I am the Sect Master!” Shu Wan Cheng acknowledged.
The words had only just left his mouth when he felt a strong burst of wind blowing at his face. Upon a closer look, he saw that Yang Kai, who was originally standing below him, had appeared not far in front of him at some point.
*Xiu…*
A clear sword cry rang out, followed by a flash of light as the two figures brushed past each other.
All the people in the Main Hall looked up in horror to see Yang Kai and Shu Wan Cheng standing back-to-back one metre apart. Shu Wan Cheng was standing frozen in place, as though somebody had cast a Binding Technique on him. On the other hand, Yang Kai slowly returned his sword to its sheath.
It was only at this moment that the blinding sword light slowly dissipated.
“You…” Shu Wan Cheng opened his mouth, but a line of blood seeped out from between his brow to the tip of his chin. Following a strange sound, his body split in half before both parts exploded out. Blood and organs scattered across the ground and a heavy stench of blood instantly permeated the air.
A series of shocked gasps rang out inside the Main Hall. Every single Tian Luo Hall Elder looked at Yang Kai in terror, urging their respective Spirit Qi so that they were prepared for anything at any time.
Shu Wan Cheng was dead! Tian Luo Hall’s Sect Master was killed by Yang Kai in a single blow! And, they didn’t even manage to see how it had happened!
Shu Wan Cheng was Tian Luo Hall’s strongest Master. He was in the peak of the Earth Realm, only one step away from advancing into the Heaven Realm, yet such a Master had been split apart by a single sword strike as easily as if he was a chicken!
If Yang Kai were to attack any one of them, they would be powerless to fight back. The threat of death made all the hair on their bodies stand on end and chills ran up their spines. They never expected that this young man would be so ruthless as to kill somebody without a single word.
“Where is Tian Luo Hall’s Great Elder?” Yang Kai turned around and looked down at them.
Li Zheng Qing felt his heart clench up in fear. He instinctively wanted to run away, but he could clearly feel that a trace of the young man’s aura was locked firmly on him. If he acted rashly, he would immediately follow in Shu Wan Cheng’s footsteps; thus, he bit his lip and stepped forward, “This Old Master is Tian Luo Hall’s Great Elder. How may I help you?”
At this point, he could be certain that this person was not the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect. That was because Yang Kai was only in the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm. However, the burst of power from this person just now was obviously higher than the Mortal Realm. He could not distinguish the specific strength of the other party’s cultivation because they had moved too quickly, but it was definitely above the Mortal Realm.
“Congratulations! From now on, you are the Sect Master of Tian Luo Hall!” Yang Kai grandly sat down on the seat that used to belong to Shu Wan Cheng and looked down at Li Zheng Qing standing below him.
Li Zheng Qing was speechless and did not know how to respond. Although he had been waiting for Shu Wan Cheng to die so that he could take the seat of Sect Master for himself, under these circumstances, he did not have the guts to take the seat of the Sect Master even if it was given freely to him.
“This place will be Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Tian Luo Hall Branch from today onward. You will remain as Tian Luo Hall Elders while everything about how the Sect is run will remain unchanged.” Yang Kai issued orders without regard for the others.
The Elders below looked at each other, completely clueless as to what Yang Kai was trying to do.
Li Zheng Qing steeled himself and asked, “May I know what your purpose is?”
“Purpose?” Yang Kai scratched his chin gruffly and replied, “Didn’t I tell you just now? Void Spirit Sword Sect is short of miners, so I want you to send some people over to help!”
“Is that all?” Li Zheng Qing stared at Yang Kai incredulously.
“What else did you think I would want?” Yang Kai looked back at Li Zheng Qing faintly.
Li Zheng Qing looked at the two halves of Shu Wan Cheng’s corpse on the ground and let out a long sigh. [The Sect Master truly died for no reason at all. He was killed just because of something as trivial as this.]
“If that’s all, then this Old Master can make the decision on his own and agree to your request. Tian Luo Hall has nearly 600 disciples, so mining the Black Jade mine will not be a problem.” [In any case, I just need to agree for now. As for the future, we will play it by the ear and see what happens.]
“Good.” Yang Kai nodded, “In addition, this King came here to bring you some small gifts. You can consider them as a welcome present for joining under Void Spirit Sword Sect’s banner.”
Saying so, Yang Kai reached into his pocket and took out a jade bottle. He opened the jade bottle and shot out several round objects with a flick of his hand. These objects flew towards each Elder with great precision.
Li Zheng Qing and the others stretched out their hands to catch the item only to see a light blue soybean-sized pill in their hands. Their expressions immediately tightened and they raised their heads and asked, “What is this?”
“Poison Pills!” Yang Kai replied with a smile.
Even though Li Zheng Qing had prior speculations in his heart, his eyes still twitched when Yang Kai openly admitted the truth.
“You don’t need to worry about what kind of Poison Pill it is; all you need to know is that you will need to consume the antidote once every month; otherwise, you will suffer pain as though thousands of ants are biting your heart and your meridians are shattering. It is truly a feeling worse than being burned to death!”
With Yang Kai’s attainments in the Alchemic Dao, refining something like this was extremely easy for him. He had casually procured some herbs in the local city at the foot of the mountain and refined these Poison Pills. He was currently in urgent need of manpower, but he had no time to make others truly submit to him; therefore, he could only use such methods. Such tactics might be considered despicable, but its advantage lay in the simplicity and convenience.
Li Zheng Qing suppressed his anger and glared at Yang Kai, “Is this the small gift you brought for us?”
“Is it not to your liking, Sect Master?” Yang Kai asked.
Li Zheng Qing suppressed his anger as he yelled in his heart, [Who in the world will like something like this!?]
“Go on! Eat! Why are you not eating? Not eating would be disrespectful! Disrespecting me will not lead to a good ending!” Yang Kai stabbed the True Void Sword into the ground in front of him and his expression darkened.
“You can keep something like that and eat it yourself! Kill him!” All of a sudden, a furious roar rang out. Two figures flew out from the left and the right without warning, almost as though their actions were discussed in advance. The Spirit Qi in their bodies surged violently. One person wielded a dagger while the other was bare-fisted. They came at Yang Kai from both sides in a pincer attack.
Shu Wan Cheng had managed Tian Luo Hall for many years, so he was bound to have a few loyal subordinates. That was the case for the two Elders who lunged at Yang Kai. When Shu Wan Cheng was killed just now, they had failed to react and didn’t even have the time to rescue him; however, their patience ran dry when Yang Kai forced them to consume this Poison Pill and they immediately leapt forward.
The Sword Qi on the dagger was impressive, causing it to gleam with a dazzling light. It was obvious that this dagger was an extraordinary Earth Armament. Meanwhile, the other person’s swinging fists flushed red like a red-hot iron. It was obvious that he had pushed his Spirit Qi to its limits with some kind of Secret Technique.
Yang Kai sat in the main seat, a trace of mockery flashing through his eyes at the sight. His sword slid out of its sheath with a loud clang. When the sword halo flowed out, he slashed at the person wielding the dagger. He simultaneously clenched his free hand into a fist and punched out at the other person.
*Dang…*
A crisp sound rang out and blood splashed in all directions. The victor was determined in that moment of confrontation.
The dagger-wielding Elder had fallen to one knee on the ground, staring at the broken armament in his hand, he widened his eyes in shock and exclaimed, “How… is this possible!?”
His dagger was an Earth Armament that had taken a lot of resources for him to hire somebody to refine. It was no Heaven Armament, but it was not that inferior in terms of quality. Even so, his dagger had been cut in two in a single blow. Furthermore, the cut was so clean that it was almost like a piece of tofu that had been sliced with a sharp knife.
He looked up and saw a glowing sword radiating an overwhelming aura pointed directly at him, a drop of blood dripping from its tip.
“Spirit Armament!” The dagger-wielding Elder’s eyes widened in astonishment. [No wonder my Earth Armament was so fragile in comparison! He is wielding a Spirit Armament!]
A dense and heavy darkness loomed over him in the next instant and he collapsed to the ground head-first. Blood gushed out of the wound in his chest and his vitality swiftly dissipated.
On the other hand, the other Elder who lunged forward at the same time was being lifted into the air by the neck by Yang Kai with one hand. His crimson fists were a bloody mess and his arms simply hung weakly by his sides.
Yang Kai remained seated in the head seat, almost as though he had not moved from the spot at all. He slowly increased the strength in his grip as he spoke, “I like stubborn people like you. The sound they make when I crush them gives a very satisfying crunch!”
The Elder who was being held by the neck struggled with all his might, but he could not break free from Yang Kai’s iron grip. A gurgling noise bubbled up endlessly from his throat.
*Kacha…*
There was a loud crack, and the Elder’s head tilted to the side, his aura vanishing in the next instant.
Yang Kai tossed the corpse in his hand to the ground and looked down coldly at the others, “You can all come at me together. I’ll admit that you’re capable if you can kill this King!”
The Elders who were eager to take action earlier were now drenched in a cold sweat. They stared up at the young man above them as though they were looking at a ghost.
They had failed to see what happened when Shu Wan Cheng was killed; hence, they suspected that the Sect Master’s death was due to a sneak attack. They did not have a precise understanding of Yang Kai’s power at the time, and it was not until the two Elders working together had been killed just now that they finally realised the truth. The sword in Yang Kai’s hands was a Spirit Armament! If their guess was correct, that was the True Void Sword replica left behind by the True Void Sword Lord!
A single Spirit Armament was not enough to shock them to their core, but in the end, a Spirit Armament was just an external object. It was not enough to represent the wielder’s true strength. It could be said that the dagger-wielding Fourth Elder had been killed because his weapon was inferior to his enemy’s. His death was unfair.
However, the Fifth Elder’s death was a testament to the young man’s true strength! The Fifth Elder was a Sixth-Step Earth Realm Master, but in a head-on clash of fists, he couldn’t even make that young man rise from his seat!
[Could this person be in the Heaven Realm!?] The Elders immediately despaired as soon as that thought crossed their minds. They originally had their own thoughts and agendas, but all their plans dissipated in that moment. In front of a Heaven Realm Master, they were nothing more than ants.
Great Elder Li Zheng Qing was the first person to return to his senses. Stuffing the Poison Pill in his hand into his mouth, he swallowed hard and cupped his fist, “Tian Luo Hall will obey you from today onward, Sir! As long as you have orders, Tian Luo Hall will not disobey!”
It was not until this moment that the rest of them reacted. They swallowed the Poison Pills at the speed of lightning to profess their surrender.
Yang Kai smiled brightly, “A wise man will submit to the circumstances. You will not regret the choice you made today.”
What came next was simple. Tian Luo Hall’s Sect Master and two Elders had died at Yang Kai’s hands. In addition to Zhan Bo Xiong who was killed previously, only six Elders remained from the original nine. Great Elder Li Zheng Qing took over as Tian Luo Hall’s Sect Master, and Tian Luo Hall became a branch of Void Spirit Sword Sect.
The turbulent changes at the top had little effect on the disciples below them. Li Zheng Qing announced to the public that the Sect Master, Fourth Elder, and Fifth Elder lost their lives due to dissonance in their cultivation. Although the disciples had some doubts in their hearts, they could only accept what they were told.
A mighty procession consisting of hundreds of disciples then marched towards Void Spirit Sword Sect under the leadership of the Elders, ready to help Yang Kai with mining the Black Jade lode.
Meanwhile, Li Zheng Qing brought Yang Kai on a tour of Tian Luo Hall’s storehouses to report on the assets and the industries under Tian Luo Hall’s name.
Yang Kai was not too interested in such matters. On the contrary, he was extremely interested in the items inside Tian Luo Hall’s storehouses. After refining the Sword Qi in the True Void Sword, his cultivation had advanced from the Seventh-Step Mortal Realm to the First-Step Earth Realm in one go, but he was now short on cultivation resources. That was why he came here to obtain the necessary manpower for mining.
Unfortunately, mining the Black Jade mine would not produce results in a short time. Conversely, the items inside Tian Luo Hall’s storehouse would solve his immediate needs.
“Enough. Everything in Tian Luo Hall will remain unchanged. You can take care of it yourself. I’m going to cultivate in retreat for a while. Just send three meals a day to me.” Yang Kai waved his hand dismissively and interrupted Li Zheng Qing’s endless chatter.
This old man was very perceptive, and his ability to jump onto the bandwagon was quite amazing. Since surrendering to Yang Kai, his attitude quickly changed accordingly.
“Sir, are you going to enter retreat here?” Li Zheng Qing was slightly taken aback, “Do you need this Old Master to find you a secluded room?”
“No need. It’s a pain to move around.” Yang Kai waved Li Zheng Qing away.
“In that case, this Old Master will take his leave.” Li Zheng Qing said nothing more and left respectfully.
When the door to the storehouse closed tightly, the light inside became dim. Fortunately, various stones that glowed in the dark were placed around the interior of the storehouse, so it was not completely pitch-black.
Yang Kai took out the many pills stored in the storehouse and sat on top of a huge pile of White Jades.
Tian Luo Hall’s financial resources were undoubtedly many times greater than those of Void Spirit Sword Sect. When Yang Kai emptied out the entire Void Spirit Sword Sect’s storehouse back then, he only managed to procure slightly more than 2,000 White Jades. He didn’t even see a single piece of Black Jade.
In contrast, Tian Luo Hall’s storehouse had nearly 20,000 White Jades as well as several hundred Black Jades. On top of that, there were about 300 bottles of different pills.
[So many resources! I wonder how far my cultivation will increase with these!]
Be that as it may, he had already reached the Earth Realm, so his need for cultivation resources was also greater now.
Yang Kai opened several bottles of pills and swallowed them whole. After that, he grabbed a handful of White Jades with both hands. Just as he was about to circulate the Void Spirit Art though, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
The Void Spirit Art could be considered a fairly impressive Secret Art in the Divine Armament World; if not, the True Void Sword Lord would not have been born in the past. As long as one cultivated steadily and had enough aptitude and resources, advancing into the Spirit Realm was not an issue.
There were two reasons as to why Void Spirit Sword Sect consisted of just a few mediocre disciples. The first was that their aptitude was insufficient, but the second and more important one was that they lacked adequate resources. If they had enough resources, Void Spirit Sword Sect would definitely be much stronger than it currently was.
Besides, the current Void Spirit Art had been modified by Yang Kai, resulting in its efficiency rising by some 30% compared to the original. But, no matter how extraordinary it was, it was still just a Secret Art from the Divine Armament World. It was unable to break free from the shackles of the Divine Armament World.
Yang Kai had been travelling across many Worlds for hundreds of years, and during that time, he killed countless enemies and plundered countless Secret Arts. Naturally, he had Secret Arts that were much more powerful than the Void Spirit Art.
[Perhaps… I can try using a different Secret Art to cultivate.] While considering all this, a certain Heaven-defying Secret Art suddenly leapt into his mind!
Yang Kai might have collected countless Secret Arts, but if he was honest, he never came across another Secret Art that was more amazing than this particular one. It was just that cultivating this Secret Art came with severe drawbacks, which was why he never tried it before even though he had mastered it long ago.
[I might be able to try and study the mysteries of this Secret Art inside the Divine Armament World! This place is a Small Source World after all, so even if something goes wrong, it won’t affect my true body too much.]
After various considerations, Yang Kai quickly made up his mind. This was a great opportunity and it would be such a waste to let it simply slip through his fingers.
Taking a shallow breath, he activated the Spirit Qi in his body and modified its circulation route to activate the most profound Secret Art he knew, the Heaven Devouring Battle Law!
In an instant, Yang Kai felt as though his body had turned into a bottomless pit. The Spirit Qi contained in the White Jades poured into his body at a terrifying speed and even the medicinal efficacies from the pills he previously consumed quickly dissolved into his body and seeped into his internal organs.
He was absolutely astonished and nearly stopped circulating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law as a result.
This was the first time Yang Kai had personally cultivated this strange Secret Art. Although he received the Heaven Devouring Battle Law in the past, he only allowed his Embodiment to cultivate this Secret Art. He had never tried it for himself before.
Following a series of coincidental encounters, Yang Kai later learned that not cultivating this Secret Art had been the right choice.
The Heaven Devouring Battle Law mainly worked by refining the energy of all things in the world for one’s own use; hence, the Secret Art could turn absolutely anything into a cultivation resource. Naturally, the benefits were extremely high. However, by using this Secret Art, a cultivator would refine both the good and the bad into his body, which would cause indelible damage to himself unless he could find a method to expel the massive amount of impurities this resulted in.
The Embodiment had the body of a Stone Spirit Clansman, so he had the innate ability to expel all forms of impurities. That was why he did not suffer any drawbacks from cultivating this Secret Art. It could be said that the Heaven Devouring Battle Law was perfectly suited for the Stone Spirit Clan.
Yang Kai did not know how Wu Kuang resolved this drawback, but he was certain he had some method.
Now that Yang Kai was properly using the Heaven Devouring Battle Law for the first time, he discovered that this Secret Art’s speed of refining was absolutely insane. The efficiency was not just several times greater than the Void Spirit Art, it could be said to be over 100 times more effective.
The light of the White Jades in his hand dimmed at a speed that was visible to the naked eye. As the Spirit Qi faded away, the medicinal efficacies from the pills in his stomach were simultaneously refined cleanly. That was not all though as even the Spirit Qi of the White Jades and the Black Jades around him surged madly and poured towards his body under the guiding force of the Heaven Devouring Battle Law.
In less than three days, the energy contained within the White Jades and the Black Jades surrounding Yang Kai was completely exhausted. The Spirit Jades turned into dull and dim waste as a result. That was not all. Over two hundred bottles of pills had also been cleanly devoured by him.
In exchange, his cultivation rose from the First-Step Earth Realm to the Third-Step Earth Realm.
This outcome surprised him. He originally thought that he could increase his cultivation by five or six Minor Realms with so many cultivation resources, but in the end, he was unable to continue after reaching the Third-Step Earth Realm.
There were many reasons for this outcome.
The Heaven Devouring Battle Law was powerful indeed. As soon as Yang Kai activated this Evil Art, his body would turn into a bottomless hole that refined all the energy in the world for his own use; however, his body was unable to withstand the burden.
It would not have been a problem for his Sixth-Step Open Heaven Realm body, but in the Divine Armament World, he was just a trivial Earth Realm Master. His body was unable to digest the enormous amount of power pouring into his body in such a short period of time.
Some of the energy was inadvertently wasted, but a larger portion of the energy was diverted to temper the physical quality of his body. That was why his cultivation only increased from the First-Step Earth Realm to the Third-Step Earth Realm.
With the improvement of his physique, his Dragon Vein was further stimulated. In turn, the power of his Dragon Vein further enhanced his physical quality…
It was worth the effort and sacrifice.
However, the improved strength of his physical body resulted in him needing more energy than ordinary to advance to the next Realm.
On another note, Yang Kai was starting to feel the drawbacks of cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law.
Most people would suffer from a weak foundation if their cultivation improved too quickly, and a weak foundation would put them at risk of experiencing cultivation dissonance one day. Fortunately, he did not have such worries. His original cultivation was in the Sixth-Step Open Heaven Realm after all, so there was nothing to worry about since his comprehension and consolidation were already far above the mere Earth Realm. This was a drawback he could ignore.
The more serious drawback was that the energy devoured by the Heaven Devouring Battle Law was very complex and filled with impurities. This Secret Art was meant to devour all the energy in the world for one’s own use, but it did not differentiate between what energy was useful and what was harmful, everything was simply devoured altogether.
Although he only started cultivating this Secret Art, he was already feeling the effects of this drawback.
Surprisingly, the power of his Dragon Vein was slowly removing the impurities in his body and refining it into pure, useful energy.
A sudden understanding washed over Yang Kai. It would seem that the Heaven Devouring Battle Law could be cultivated as long as the impurities drawn into the body could be purged.
[I’m not sure if I can do that when I return to the 3,000 Worlds. If it’s possible, then my speed when refining large amounts of cultivation resources will be increased significantly. I should find an opportunity to experiment in the future.]
Tian Luo Hall’s storehouse had now been emptied. There were a few remaining items that were valuable, but they were not beneficial for cultivation; thus, Yang Kai stood up and walked out the door.
A familiar figure stood outside the door, and when she heard movement, she quickly turned around and exclaimed in a mixture of shock and wonder, “Eldest Senior Brother, you really are here!”
The person who came was his Little Junior Sister Wan Ying Ying.
The newly-appointed Palace Master, Li Zheng Qing stood nearby and smiled when he heard those words, “Sir, Young Lady Ying Ying came here to look for you, so this Old Master told her you were cultivating in retreat inside. Unfortunately, she did not believe this Old Master and nearly resorted to violence.”
He turned to look at Wan Ying Ying, “How is it, Young Lady Ying Ying? This Old Master did not deceive you, right?”
A look of shame appeared on Wan Ying Ying’s face for a moment, but her embarrassment was quickly tossed to the back of her mind as she began shouting, “Eldest Senior Brother, what happened!? Yesterday, many people from Tian Luo Hall came to the Sect to help with mining the Black Jade mine. Moreover, they claimed that you sent them there. Sect Master and the two Elders didn’t know whether it was true or not…”
Yang Kai raised a hand and rubbed her head with a smile, “It’s true, I sent them over. En… Things happened so quickly that I didn’t have the time to report to Honoured Master. Come, let’s go back home. I’ll explain the situation to Honoured Master and the two Elders myself.” Turning around, he instructed Li Zheng Qing, “Prepare the horses!”
Li Zheng Qing quickly left to carry out his orders.
Wan Ying Ying couldn’t help feeling like she was in a dream when she saw Tian Luo Hall’s newly-appointed Palace Master acting so respectfully and deferentially to her Eldest Senior Brother.
Soon, Li Zheng Qing personally led two horses over, and a short while later, Yang Kai and Wan Ying Ying headed straight for the mountain gates of Void Spirit Sword Sect.
Meanwhile, Li Zheng Qing watched Yang Kai’s departure and secretly wiped away his cold sweat. When he turned around to check on the situation inside the storehouse, his vision turned dark and he nearly fainted at the sight.
Half a day later, Yang Kai and Wan Ying Ying returned to the Master Sect. They went straight to the Main Conference Hall to meet Su Chang Fa and the two Elders.
To their surprise, they saw many Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters gathered outside the hall in extreme wariness. They gave off the air of those preparing to give up their lives for their cause.
On the other hand, an elderly man stood outside the Main Hall with a bitter smile. He was all alone and looked to be in a rather awkward position.
Upon hearing movement, the elderly man turned around to look and immediately reacted as though he saw the arrival of his saviour. He stepped forward to greet Yang Kai, “Sir, you’re finally here!”
This elderly man was Tian Luo Hall’s Second Elder.
“What’s going on?” Yang Kai’s expression darkened. No matter how he looked at the situation, it seemed as though Void Spirit Sword Sect was prepared for battle.
The Second Elder wiped at the cold sweat on his forehead and laughed dryly, “Sir, please understand. Your Sect seems to believe that this Old Master is here to harm them, so they got into formation to stop us.”
Yang Kai was speechless, “Didn’t you explain the situation to them?”
The corners of the Second Elder’s brow twitched, “I did! But, they don’t believe me! They stubbornly claim that this Old Master is up to no good. In order to appease your Sect’s disciples, this Old Master doesn’t even dare to let a single servant remain by my side; however, they are still on guard.”
Yang Kai immediately understood the situation; after all, Tian Luo Hall’s Third Elder was killed here no more than a few days ago. Anybody would assume that the Second Elder was here for revenge when he suddenly brought several hundred people here for no apparent reason.
As for something as absurd as Tian Luo Hall submitting to Void Spirit Sword Sect, how could Su Chang Fa believe such words? If he didn’t even have this bit of common sense after living for such a long time, then he would have been swallowed whole by others a long time ago.
Therefore, this incident was not the fault of Tian Luo Hall’s Second Elder.
Yang Kai patted the Second Elder on the shoulder and said, “Wait here. I’ll go in and talk to Honoured Master.”
The Second Elder nodded in response.
“Eldest Senior Brother!” When Yang Kai strode forward, a group of Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters respectfully cupped their fists in greeting. Although they were curious as to why their Eldest Senior Brother was on such friendly terms with Tian Luo Hall’s Second Elder, they did not ask any questions. Ever since Yang Kai turned the tides and rescued the Sect from disaster, his position as the Eldest Senior Brother in their hearts had been elevated to an unreachable level.
“You’ve all worked hard!” Yang Kai responded and continued forward along the path they opened up for him.
A short while later, he entered the Main Hall and explained the situation to Su Chang Fa and the two Elders…
Su Chang Fa, Gu Kang Ning, and Hong Xiu were utterly dumbfounded by what they just heard!
What happened over the past few days was too ridiculous to believe. When Yang Kai resolved the annihilation crisis looming over the Sect, it was still possible to explain that incident away by saying that the Ancestor had shown himself and bequeathed his legacy upon his descendent. But now, Tian Luo Hall had surrendered and became Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Tian Luo Hall Branch!?
“So, you’re saying that Tian Luo Hall’s Second Elder was not joking?” Su Chang Fa asked with a little uncertainty.
Yang Kai replied, “How could he joke around about something like this? Rest assured, Honoured Master. The entire Tian Luo Hall is now under my control. Don’t we lack the manpower to mine the Black Jade lode? That’s why this Disciple took it upon himself to let them mine the Black Jade for us.”
Gu Kang Ning said, “And, Shu Wan Cheng agreed to cooperate so easily? He is not such an easy-going person.”
“I didn’t ask him. I made an example of him by killing him!” Yang Kai declared with a calm and relaxed expression.
Hong Xiu was flabbergasted, “Shu Wan Cheng is in the Ninth-Step Earth Realm! How can you possibly kill him!?” All of a sudden, she seemed to recall something, “Did you use the True Void Sword Qi again!?”
“You’re worrying too much, Second Elder. The True Void Sword Qi is an ultimate weapon, how could I possibly waste something like that on trash? This Disciple killed Shu Wan Cheng with his own abilities. En… I’ve already inquired around previously. Shu Wan Cheng has done many atrocious things in his life, so his death isn’t worth pitying! At the moment, Tian Luo Hall’s Palace Master is Li Zheng Qing.”
Su Chang Fa and the others looked at each other and wondered, [If a Ninth-Step Earth Realm Master like Shu Wan Cheng is trash, then what does that make us?]
Although they did not dare to believe what Yang Kai was telling them, there was no other reasonable explanation for the situation in front of them. When several hundred people from Tian Luo Hall came marching here yesterday, they thought that death was inevitable.
Who could have known that the other party would plunge directly into the Ash Mountain and leave only the Second Elder to communicate with them? Even so, Void Spirit Sword Sect was powerless against the other party.
Tian Luo Hall’s Second Elder was an Eighth-Step Earth Realm Master after all. If he wanted to harm Void Spirit Sword Sect, he would have taken action a long time ago!
Seeing that Su Chang Fa and the others were still doubtful of the truth, Yang Kai turned his head to the side and called out, “Hey, you! The one standing outside! Come inside and explain!”
Tian Luo Hall’s Second Elder… Actually, he should be regarded as the Great Elder now; Li Zheng Qing had taken over as the Palace Master, so the Second Elder would naturally be promoted too. It was just that Yang Kai was uncertain how to address him and had not bothered to ask clearly either.
Upon hearing Yang Kai’s shout, the elderly man hurriedly walked in with a deep bow and an ingratiating smile, “Sir, this Old Master is Shi Ming Hui. What orders do you have for me?”
Seeing his grovelling attitude made Su Chang Fa and the others’ eyes bulge in shock.
This man was an Eighth-Step Earth Realm Master! Eighth-Step Earth Realm Masters rarely even bothered to glance at a person below them under normal circumstances. When had they ever behaved so obsequiously before?
“Tell my Honoured Master about the current situation in Tian Luo Hall.” Yang Kai instructed.
“Yes!” Shi Ming Hui responded before he turned to face Su Chang Fa and the two Elders sitting in the hall. Then, he spoke righteously, “The entire Tian Luo Hall admires Sir for his great character and virtue; therefore, we decided to make a change and show our proper respect to him. From now onward, we will serve under him, come Hell or high water!”
Yang Kai nodded in satisfaction and waved Shi Ming Hui away, “You can go now.”
“Yes!” Shi Ming Hui retreated respectfully.
Meanwhile, Su Chang Fa and the two Elders stared down at Yang Kai from above with very complicated gazes. They seemed to have aged considerably in the blink of an eye, but they were mostly filled with excitement and gratification.
After a long while, Su Chang Fa finally said, “Child, I’m not going to ask you how you did all of this. Since the Ancestor passed his Legacy Inheritance down to you, it can only mean that you are the future hope of Void Spirit Sword Sect. It would now seem that the Ancestor has very good eyes. Even so, you need to be more careful. Tian Luo Hall is… much stronger than us after all. If you are not careful, you may get burned.”
“This Disciple understands. Please don’t worry, Honoured Master,” Yang Kai nodded solemnly.
“I’ll leave the matters regarding the Black Jade mine to you then,” Su Chang Fa waved his hand to dismiss Yang Kai. It could be seen that the incidents today had been a huge shock to him. He needed some time to digest the overwhelming information he received today.
After a few more questions, Yang Kai was preparing to leave when he suddenly remembered something and turned around to ask, “By the way, Honoured Master, did Roaring Tiger Sect send anything over?”
Su Chang Fa shook his head, “No.”
Yang Kai gently nodded, “This Disciple will take his leave!”
Outside the Main Hall, Yang Kai asked his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters who were standing guard to stand down and return to their cultivation. Only Wan Ying Ying remained, and Shi Ming Hui quickly stepped forward to greet him, “Sir!”
Yang Kai walked ahead while asking Wan Ying Ying a question, “I asked two Junior Brothers to go down the mountain and buy some herbs a few days ago. Have they returned?”
Wan Ying Ying replied, “Yes, but we didn’t know what to do with the herbs they purchased, so we placed them all in your home, Eldest Senior Brother.”
“Good,” Yang Kai responded and led the two of them in the direction of his secluded home.
A short while later, they arrived outside his house and Yang Kai asked Shi Ming Hui to wait for him before he entered with Wan Ying Ying.
The main reason Yang Kai sent his two Junior Brothers down the mountain to buy some herbs was so that he could use them to produce some medicine for Body Tempering purposes. Void Spirit Sword Sect was not only few in numbers, but the disciples also had very low cultivations. Even though he had taught them the modified version of the Void Spirit Art, there would not be obvious results in a short time.
In any case, cultivation was something that had to be done slowly and steadily. Using this Body Tempering Medicine to aid his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters in their cultivation would also help to build a strong foundation for them.
It was impossible for Yang Kai to continue doing something like this for the long term; fortunately, Wan Ying Ying was a good candidate. He could teach her about the methods to prepare the medicine.
Inside the secluded home, Yang Kai skillfully separated and categorised various herbs. At the same time, he patiently explained the process to Wan Ying Ying. It was a stroke of good fortune that she seemed talented in this regard. Although she had never been exposed to Alchemy before, she quickly learned the skills under his patient explanation and tutelage.
He taught her to prepare several medicines, and her performance was remarkable.
Something like this could not be considered complicated, not even qualifying as true Alchemy. It was simply mixing different herbs together in the correct proportions. When needed, they simply had to boil the herbs in water so that the medicinal efficacies would seep into the water. The disciples could then absorb the medicinal efficacies in the water while cultivating to strengthen their bodies.
“You can observe those within the Sect to see if there are any Junior Brothers or Junior Sisters who are interested in Alchemy. I will find an opportunity in the future to teach you all,” Yang Kai casually said while instructing Wan Ying Ying.
The Divine Armament World also had Alchemists; moreover, they held great status. It was just that a small Sect like Void Spirit Sword Sect had been too poor to raise an Alchemist. The several dozen bottles of pills that he found in the storehouse previously were bought at a high cost from other places.
“Eldest Senior Brother, you also know Alchemy!?” Wan Ying Ying shouted in disbelief.
To which Yang Kai just chuckled, “As you know, the Ancestor’s Legacy Inheritance is in my possession. The Ancestor knows many things. I’m just scratching the surface.”
“Oh!” She did not doubt his words at all.
After confirming that Wan Ying Ying had no issues with the proportions and methods of preparing the Body Tempering medicine, Yang Kai immediately left the rest to her and walked out of his secluded home alone.
Shi Ming Hui was still waiting outside and quickly approached Yang Kai when the latter appeared.
Yang Kai swept a glance at Shi Ming Hui and asked nonchalantly, “How does Roaring Tiger Sect compare with Tian Luo Hall in terms of strength?”
“The difference is not much,” Shi Ming Hui replied respectfully, “The Sect Master of Roaring Tiger Sect, Zhuang Ju He, is also in the Ninth-Step Earth Realm while their Left and Right Protectors are in the Eighth-Step Earth Realm. There are also several Elders in the Fourth-Step Earth Realm and above! But, this meagre amount of power is nothing in front of you, Sir. Are you planning to attack Roaring Tiger Sect, Sir?”
He had personally witnessed the Ninth-Step Earth Realm Master, Shu Wan Cheng, being killed in an instant by Yang Kai. Zhuang Ju He was not much different from Shu Wan Cheng in terms of strength, so how could he be Yang Kai’s opponent?
“They owe me something,” Yang Kai snorted lightly. Wan Tian He had boldly claimed that he would return with a gift of apology that would satisfy Yang Kai the other day. So many days have passed since then, but there has been no sight of him. Did he think that he was easy to bully just because he was young?
“It’s only right and proper to pay back one’s debts!” Shi Ming Hui’s expression was righteous, “I’ll be honest with you, Sir. Wan Tian He of Roaring Tiger Sect once contacted us. He was the one who told us about the Third Elder Zhan Bo Xiong’s death and the appearance of the True Void Sword. This man is despicable and cunning. He clearly wanted to instigate a fight between Tian Luo Hall and you so that Roaring Tiger Sect could swoop in at the last moment to enjoy all the benefits.”
“Is that so…” The corner of Yang Kai’s mouth lifted.
“It’s the truth,” Shi Ming Hui vowed.
Yang Kai pondered something for a moment before looking at Shi Ming Hui, “If I send you to deal with Roaring Tiger Sect…”
Shi Ming Hui’s expression stiffened, and he gave a dry laugh, “Sir, please understand. Roaring Tiger Sect has been operating for hundreds of years, so its foundation is very solid. Even if Tian Luo Hall dispatched all our elites, it is unlikely that we will come out on top in their territory.”
“Waste!” Yang Kai looked livid, “If I have to do everything myself, then what’s the point of having you!?”
Shi Ming Hui did not dare to make a single sound in response.
“Where is Roaring Tiger Sect Headquarters? Lead the way. We’ll set off right now,” Yang Kai instructed.
[It just so happens that I’ve run out of cultivation resources, and the mining of the Black Jade mine will still need some time. It’s not a bad idea to plunder Roaring Tiger Sect for resources. Besides, Roaring Tiger Sect will surely have many people. If I can rope them into mining for me, it will help to increase the efficiency.]
Two men on horseback departed from Void Spirit Sword Sect soon after.
Three days later, Shi Ming Hui led hundreds of people to Void Spirit Sword Sect. The Sect Master of Roaring Tiger Sect, Zhuang Ju He, also met with Su Chang Fa under Shi Ming Hui’s leadership to announce that these people were here to help with the mining; moreover, Roaring Tiger Sect had surrendered to Void Spirit Sword Sect and would be known as Void Spirit Sword Sect’s Roaring Tiger Sect Branch in the future.
After the previous experience, Su Chang Fa easily accepted this turn of events. Be that as it may, he still felt like he was experiencing a strange dream.
[How did the two largest great forces within the surrounding thousand kilometres suddenly become Void Spirit Sword Sect’s subordinates? Not to mention how hesitant and cautious Zhuang Ju He had been when he met me… I wonder why his face was bruised and swollen.]
Over a thousand people had now poured into Ash Mountain, and a constant stream of Black Jades were being mined. It had to be said that these 1,000 people were not ordinary commoners either as they were all cultivators whose strength ranged from the Mortal Realm to the Earth Realm. Their efficiency was naturally much higher than ordinary people.
A few days later, Yang Kai returned from Roaring Tiger Sect.
After devouring the abundant resources inside Roaring Tiger Sect’s storehouse, his cultivation had now reached the Fifth-Step Earth Realm! It had to be said that the Heaven Devouring Battle Law was simply Heaven-defying. If not for this Secret Art, Yang Kai could not have had such a speedy cultivation rate. This Heaven-defying Evil Art that he obtained from Wu Kuang had greatly accelerated his growth in this world.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was now the veritable overlord within a radius of 1,000 kilometres. The two strongest Sects, namely Tian Luo Hall and Roaring Tiger Sect, had already submitted to Void Spirit Sword Sect, so it was only natural that the remaining small fries could not do anything to change the situation.
In any case, Yang Kai had no plans to cause trouble for those small great forces. On the contrary, these small great forces themselves could not hold back any more. They did not know why Void Spirit Sword Sect rose up so suddenly or what attitude Void Spirit Sword Sect had towards others; therefore, they quickly sent representatives to give their greetings and express their willingness to submit to Void Spirit Sword Sect in the future.
Yang Kai was open to all those who came. These small great forces had no grudges against him and they might not have many resources themselves, but each Sect could always send some manpower over to help with the mining.
In less than a month, there were more than 2,000 people working day and night on Ash Mountain.
The number of Black Jades that were mined every single day ranged from 300 to over 1,000 pieces. Moreover, as the mine deepened, the number of Black Jades that could be mined in a day increased steadily.
80% of the mined Black Jades were delivered to Yang Kai’s secluded home, leaving only 20% for the development of the Sect. Even so, this amount was not enough to keep up with his consumption. The Black Jades were quickly swallowed up almost as soon as they entered his hands.
Two months later, Yang Kai’s cultivation reached the Ninth-Step Earth Realm! That was not all though as the cultivation of the Void Spirit Sword Sect disciples also began to show progress. Although the increase in their strength was not that great, their physical strength had been enhanced to a remarkable degree.
Aside from cultivating, Yang Kai spent his remaining time teaching Wan Ying Ying and two other Junior Brothers Alchemy.
Void Spirit Sword Sect would surely have a high demand for pills in the future; thus, it was necessary to train their own Alchemists.
Aside from Wan Ying Ying, the other two Junior Brothers were disciples with some talent in Alchemy whom Yang Kai recruited from the Sect. It was just that Void Spirit Sword Sect was too few in number. He could not ask for too much and could only make the best of what he had.
Even though the aptitudes of the other two might not be as great as Wan Ying Ying, they were not bad. Unfortunately, as their cultivation was still low, they were unable to use their Spirit Qi for Alchemy.
Moreover, Void Spirit Sword Sect had no Earth-Fire for them to use. Every time they performed Alchemy, they had to use something called a Radiant Flame Stone as their Alchemy Flame.
This was the path that many new Alchemists in the Divine Armament World had to take.
It was fortunate that Void Spirit Sword Sect had the Black Jade mine; otherwise, it would have been impossible to support Yang Kai’s consumption.
In addition, Roaring Tiger Sect and Tian Luo Hall operated many businesses. The profits from the various businesses were delivered directly to Yang Kai to satisfy his insatiable cultivation needs. Life might be a little difficult these days, but they managed to persevere.
Yang Kai was teaching Wan Ying Ying and the two Junior Brothers when a set of footsteps came from behind him. He remained seated and didn’t bother to turn around. It wasn’t until he finished what he needed to say that he finally addressed the person behind him, “What is it?”
Shi Ming Hui stood behind Yang Kai and cupped his fist, “Sir, I’ve gotten news.”
“Oh? So quickly?” Yang Kai raised his eyebrow in surprise.
“It was by luck!” Shi Ming Hui replied, “In half a month, the Heaven Grade Alchemist Gao Xin Peng will be staying in Heavenly Martial City for three days. Before Gao Xin Peng became famous, he became indebted to Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord. Not only is Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord old and frail, but he is also reaching the end of his life expectancy. Gao Xin Peng will personally come and help him refine some Life Extension Pills.”
“Heavenly Martial City!” Yang Kai raised his eyebrows, “How far is that?”
“It will take three days to arrive by horse!”
Yang Kai nodded lightly at those words and instructed, “Make preparations. We will set off for Heavenly Martial City in three days to meet Gao Xin Peng!”
“Yes!” Shi Ming Hui quickly replied and turned around to leave.
Yang Kai issued a few more instructions to Wan Ying Ying and the others before he entered the secluded room next door. The Black Jades that were mined today had been delivered. Aside from the 20% left behind, all the rest were here. There were as many as 700 pieces.
Yang Kai sat down cross-legged and activated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to swallow them! However, even though he devoured all the Black Jades cleanly, he continued to show no signs of advancing into the Heaven Realm.
“It looks like this is the World Principles Restriction of the Divine Armament World. If I want to advance into the Heaven Realm, I will really need the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill!”
With a Secret Art as Heaven-defying as the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, Yang Kai had already advanced into the Ninth-Step Earth Realm a month ago. He was only one step away from advancing into the Heaven Realm; however, he remained stagnant at this Realm even though one month had passed since then.
It was not that his cultivation resources weren’t sufficient. He refined and devoured hundreds of Black Jades every day. After accumulating bit by bit for a whole month, this amount was extremely terrifying. It should have been enough to meet the advancement requirements a long time ago.
It was not that his aptitude was lacking either. The identity given to him by the Divine Armament World might only have average abilities, but Yang Kai himself was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Something like aptitude would not limit his progress in any way.
When it came down to it, it seemed he was simply lacking a certain pill.
In the Divine Armament World, it was not difficult to advance from the Mortal Realm to the Earth Realm. Anybody with adequate aptitude and sufficient cultivation resources could advance from the Mortal Realm to the Earth Realm as long as they put in enough effort.
However, it was not as easy when it came to advancing from the Earth Realm to the Heaven Realm. One required the help of a pill known as the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill in order to succeed. Without that pill, one’s efforts would be futile no matter how great their aptitude or cultivation resources were.
Yang Kai originally wanted to borrow his many years of cultivation experience to force his way through this shackle, but to his dismay, he discovered that all his efforts were in vain after working hard for one month!
His cultivation seemed to be bound firmly by shackles. Furthermore, the invisible chains vaguely felt like the Principles of the Heavenly Way. It could be said that the Divine Armament World itself was preventing him from advancing into the Heaven Realm!
Unless he had the strength to go against the entire Divine Armament World, there was no way he could break these shackles.
Advancing from the Earth Realm to the Heaven Realm required the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill. On the other hand, advancing from the Heaven Realm to the Spirit Realm required the Hundred Revolutions Clear Heart Pill. The former could only be refined by a Heaven Grade Alchemist while the latter needed a Spirit Grade Alchemist. The Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill was a Heaven Grade pill while the Hundred Revolutions Clear Heart Pill was a Spirit Grade Pill!
Thanks to the memories from his Divine Armament World self, Yang Kai had long known that the status of Alchemists was extremely high in this damned place. In fact, it was even higher than in any other world that he had ever known in the past. That was because Alchemists were needed to refine both the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill and the Hundred Revolutions Clear Heart Pill. It could be said the advancement of a cultivator often depended on a tiny little pill!
It was somewhat incomprehensible.
In the outside world, many pills had the effects of aiding advancement and improving the success rate of breakthroughs. Be that as it may, it was never a necessary component. Even without those pills, there was hope for a cultivator to achieve a breakthrough by relying on their own efforts.
However, that was impossible in the Divine Armament World! The Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill and the Hundred Revolutions Clear Heart Pill were requirements for those standing at the peak of the Earth Realm and the Heaven Realm respectively.
Consequently, the status of Alchemists became absolutely unrivalled in this World. Not only were many Masters willing to act as bodyguards for Alchemists in the same Realm as themselves, but they were also very proud of such deeds.
While this was something that was inconceivable in the outside world, it was something very normal in the Divine Armament World.
Yang Kai had very profound accomplishments in the Alchemic Dao. All the Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills that were currently being consumed by Void Land’s disciples when advancing into the Open Heaven Realm came from his hands. Needless to say, he had handed this matter over to Little Senior Sister Xia Ning Chang and Wondrous Pill Great Emperor now.
With his attainments in the Alchemic Dao, refining a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill was not difficult. If not for the limitations of his cultivation, even refining the Hundred Revolutions Clear Heart Pills would not be a problem. The main issue was that… he did not have the pill recipe!
This was an extremely awkward problem.
Void Spirit Sword Sect was a run-down Sect in the Divine Armament World. It might have been glorious 1,000 years ago, but that glory was long since faded. They no longer had any Alchemists in their Sect, much less various rare pill recipes.
Regardless of whether it was Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill or Hundred Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, both were extremely valuable and they would never be sold to the general public.
More importantly, the pill recipes of each Alchemist were different, each one having slight variations and arrangements. However, all the results were ultimately the same. The Clear Heart Pills refined by any Alchemist would have the effect of helping cultivators break through to the next Great Realm. It was just that the subtle differences in their refining methods and materials would also result in slightly different effects.
If Yang Kai wanted a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, then aside from refining one himself, he could only spend copious amounts of money to purchase it.
Unfortunately, there were many cultivators in this world who were stuck at the peak of the Earth Realm and wanted to advance into the Heaven Realm. If nothing else, Roaring Tiger Sect’s Sect Master Zhuang Ju He, Tian Luo Hall’s former Palace Master Shu Wan Cheng and Great Elder Li Zheng Qing had been stuck at the peak of the Earth Realm because they had no Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.
Both parties had once paid exorbitant prices for a Heaven Grade Alchemist to help them refine a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill; however, that Heaven Grade Alchemist’s schedule was fully booked for years to come. Even though the Heaven Grade Alchemist accepted their luxurious gifts with no trace of politeness, there was a long waiting list before they could obtain their Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill!
Zhuang Ju He had a four-year wait before his turn for the Heaven Grade Alchemist to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill for him. On the other hand, Shu Wan Cheng was worse. He had to wait for ten years!
How could Yang Kai afford to wait for such a long time? Besides, a conservative estimate indicated that he would have to spend 100 years in the Divine Armament World. Running around on his own for such a long time would be too tiring. He would have to recruit some trustworthy people. Those in the Earth Realm were too weak while those in the Heaven Realm were just barely acceptable. Be that as it may, who would be willing to slave away for him without the temptation of the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill?
After thinking about it, Yang Kai felt that it was more secure to obtain this pill recipe for himself. As long as he could refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, he could easily obtain both cultivation resources and subordinates in the Heaven Realm.
Unfortunately, the Alchemists in the Divine Armament World were extremely respected. Each Alchemist had a large group of guards around them, so he could not conspire against them; thus, he had no choice but to think of a different method.
Gao Xin Peng was the Heaven Grade Alchemist who accepted Zhuang Ju He’s large payment but could only perform Alchemy four years later. According to Zhuang Ju He, Gao Xin Peng belonged to a great force known as the Profound Pill Sect. This Sect was built on the Alchemic Dao and their inheritance had been passed down for countless years. There were as many Masters in the Sect as there were clouds, which not only included a large number of Heaven Realm Masters, but also Spirit Realm Masters.
At present, the Profound Pill Sect was one of the top ten Sects in the Divine Armament World. The main reason was that the Sect Master of the Profound Pill Sect had won one of the Ten Great Divine Armaments during the last Divine Armament Tournament, the Medicine King Furnace!
Originally, there were several Sects in the Divine Armament World which dealt with Alchemy. They used to compete with the Profound Pill Sect on equal ground, but ever since the Medicine King Furnace came to the Profound Pill Sect, the Profound Pill Sect established its position as the top Alchemy Sect in one fell swoop.
For the next 100 years, the Medicine King Furnace would bring overwhelming prosperity to Profound Pill Sect, and it could be said to be at the peak of its power!
Gao Xin Peng was not only backed by a behemoth like Profound Pill Sect, but he was also a Heaven Grade Alchemist himself. It could be said that his status was extremely noble.
The truth was that Shi Ming Hui felt extremely uneasy about Yang Kai’s intention to meet Gao Xin Peng; even so, Yang Kai had already made up his mind. There was nothing Shi Ming Hui could do to stop Yang Kai.
Three days later, three people set off from Void Spirit Sword Sect on horseback and headed straight for Heavenly Martial City.
Aside from Shi Ming Hui, there was also a female Elder from Roaring Tiger Sect who was travelling with Yang Kai. She was known as Du Yu Yu. There was no saying what Zhuang Ju He’s intentions were, but Du Yu Yu was as beautiful as a cherry blossom; moreover, she had two majestic peaks, a soft and slender waist, and enchanting eyes. Even the way she spoke was very sweet and charming.
Yang Kai was not bothered by this as he only asked Zhuang Ju He to send somebody to accompany him to Heavenly Martial City. Zhuang Ju He probably sent Du Yu Yu here because he felt that a woman was easier to talk to.
Heavenly Martial City was not located near Void Spirit Sword Sect, but it was not far either.
After travelling for just over three days, a majestic city suddenly appeared in front of them.
Shi Ming Hui called out, “Sir, Heavenly Martial City is just ahead.”
Yang Kai lifted his head and looked at the sky; then, he nodded, “Let’s find a place to stay.”
Shi Ming Hui quickly said, “Rest assured, Sir. This one has made arrangements in advance. Tian Luo Hall has property here.”
“Very good.” Although Yang Kai was surprised that Tian Luo Hall had property here, he did not inquire any further.
It didn’t take long for the three of them to enter the city. Under Shi Ming Hui’s guidance, they soon arrived in front of a shop. The shopkeeper immediately greeted them and arranged living quarters for them in the inner courtyard as soon as they stepped inside.
There was another ten days before Gao Xin Peng was scheduled to arrive at Heavenly Martial City, so Yang Kai was not anxious. What he needed to figure out right now was how to meet Gao Xin Peng and obtain the pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill from him.
According to the information Yang Kai obtained, Gao Xin Peng came here to refine Life Extension Pills for Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord to whom he was indebted.
When he arrived, Gao Xin Peng would surely be welcomed into the City Lord’s Mansion. The City Lord himself was at the peak of the Heaven Realm and in addition, commanded a large number of Masters.
[I will lose all chance of contact if he enters the City Lord’s Mansion. Perhaps… I can approach Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord and enter the City Lord’s Mansion in advance to wait for his arrival?]
Yang Kai pondered for some time and a plan gradually forming in his mind. All of a sudden, a knock came from outside the door and he looked up reflexively, “Enter!”
The door opened and Du Yu Yu walked in with a tray. She was dressed very lightly; furthermore, there were several plates of exquisite dishes and a bottle of alcohol on the tray.
Yang Kai couldn’t help taking a second glance at the woman. The main reason was that she was very scantily dressed. Her clothes were as thin as gossamer and her chest and thighs exposed large patches of her snow-white skin. What’s more, she seemed to have just gotten out of the bath. As soon as she walked into the room, a faint fragrance filled the air. Her hair that was not fully dry also gave her a stunning appearance.
Seeming to notice Yang Kai’s gaze, Du Yu Yu lowered her head slightly and a red blush crept across her face as she sweetly announced, “Sir, it’s time to eat!”
“En!” He nodded lightly, “Put it down over there.”
Du Yu Yu placed the dishes on the table and personally poured him a glass of wine before she stood nearby with her hands hanging by her sides.
“I don’t need you to serve me here. Help me buy something instead,” Yang Kai instructed.
“What do you want this Mistress to buy?”
“First, bring me a brush and some paper!”
She made a sound in response and turned around to walk out again.
Not long afterwards, she brought the brush and paper. Yang Kai wrote something down before he handed it back to her.
Du Yu Yu glanced at the paper and saw a list of herbs. Unable to recognize the names but still understanding what she had to do, she bowed elegantly, “This Mistress will go and buy them now.”
Yang Kai had decided to bring 20% of the mining proceeds accumulated by Void Spirit Sword Sect over the past two months on this trip in case he needed to purchase something. As a result, there were close to 10,000 pieces of Black Jade in his wallet. Judging from the current situation, his decision had been a wise one.
The City Lord of Heavenly Martial City was getting old and frail and would not live for much longer; therefore, the reason for Gao Xin Peng’s visit was to refine some Life Extension Pills for him to extend his lifespan.
Yang Kai had many pill recipes for longevity, and their effects were extraordinary. If he could refine just one of them, he could guarantee that Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord would regain his vitality in an instant and his lifespan would increase significantly as a result.
The problem was that his pill recipes required extremely rare and valuable herbs. Leaving aside whether he could find them in the Divine Armament World, the chances of finding them in a small Heavenly Martial City were slim to none.
Besides, Yang Kai did not know anything about the Life Extension Pills that Gao Xin Peng planned to refine or what kind of effects they had.
But, if he could gain the trust of Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord, then he could enter the City Lord’s Mansion in advance. Under those circumstances, he was bound to run into Gao Xin Peng once the latter arrived.
That was why Yang Kai planned to prepare some pills that would strengthen and regulate one’s vitality. These pills were relatively easy to refine, and more importantly, the required herbs were not that rare. He should be able to find them in Heavenly Martial City.
If Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord consumed the pills that Yang Kai refined over the long term, living for a few additional years would not be an issue.
The night passed peacefully and when dawn broke the next day, Du Yu Yu returned with a large bundle of herbs.
“Good work,” Yang Kai nodded.
She smiled, “It’s an honour for this Mistress to share your worries, Sir. Do you need anything else?”
“No, you can leave.”
“Yes!”
Du Yu Yu retreated respectfully. Only then did Yang Kai take out a rudimentary and simple-looking Alchemy Furnace and several fiery-red stones. This Alchemy Furnace was something he found in Void Spirit Sword Sect’s storehouse. He did not know how many years it had been left there but it was probably a relic left behind by one of the Alchemists in the Sect from several generations ago.
There were quite a few of these Alchemy Furnaces in Void Spirit Sword Sect’s storehouse in fact. Wan Ying Ying and the two other disciples learning Alchemy had also obtained one each.
The fiery-red stones were the Radiant Flame Stones. Yang Kai had no Alchemy Flame of his own, and there was no Earth-Fire to borrow here either; hence, he could only use the Radiant Flame Stones for Alchemy.
The Vitality Pill that he planned to refine was not complicated. He would have easily succeeded in refining these pills in the outside world, but unfortunately, it would take some effort for him to refine them in this place.
Two days later, Yang Kai finished refining a bottle of Vitality Pills. These dark-red pills were around the size of soybeans, and one small bottle contained 100 pills in total.
Yang Kai summoned Shi Ming Hui and sent the latter to offer up two of the Vitality Pills to the City Lord’s Mansion. As long as the City Lord’s Mansion could verify the efficacy of the Vitality Pills, they would surely invite him over for a discussion. At that time, he could openly stay in the City Lord’s Mansion and wait for Gao Xin Peng to arrive.
Contrary to his expectations, however, Shi Ming Hui vanished without a trace. Despite waiting for an entire day, Shi Ming Hui did not return, and no one appeared from the City Lord’s Mansion. Thus, Yang Kai faintly realised that something had gone wrong and instructed Du Yu Yu to ask around for information.
The outcome left him stunned.
It would seem that women were indeed much easier to talk to, more so if the woman was as beautiful and well-endowed as Du Yu Yu. She easily managed to obtain some clues even though the information from the City Lord’s Mansion was tightly guarded.
According to what she learned, Shi Ming Hui had indeed offered up the Vitality Pills to the City Lord’s Mansion, but apparently, a problem arose during the testing of the pills. One of the Earth Grade Alchemists in the City Lord’s Mansion declared that the Vitality Pills Shi Ming Hui brought with him were poison and accused Shi Ming Hui of trying to assassinate the City Lord. Therefore, Shi Ming Hui was captured on the spot and thrown into Heavenly Martial City’s dungeons. It was currently unknown whether he was dead or alive.
Yang Kai was so furious that he burst out laughing!
[An Emperor Grade Alchemist like myself deigned to take the time and effort to refine those Vitality Pills! How dare they claim that they are poisonous!?]
Yang Kai immediately felt the urge to storm straight into the City Lord’s Mansion with his sword drawn.
Shi Ming Hui might have been subdued using rather unscrupulous means by him, but he had been a good subordinate for Yang Kai during this time.
Yang Kai could not ignore the situation now that something had gone wrong; moreover, seeing as nobody from the City Lord’s Mansion came searching for him, it was obvious that Shi Ming Hui had not revealed any information about them. Otherwise, the people from the City Lord’s Mansion would have come for him a long time ago.
However, Yang Kai quickly suppressed the impulse to act. He had the nagging feeling that this matter was more complicated than it seemed on the surface. He seemed to have gotten involved in some sort of power struggle, which meant that Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord was likely not just on the verge of dying from old age.
Hence, Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling doubtful about the current situation.
With his current abilities, charging straight into the City Lord’s Mansion was actually not difficult. The difficult part would be rescuing Shi Ming Hui. Yang Kai was confident that he could move about undetected if he infiltrated the City Lord’s Mansion, but it was different if Shi Ming Hui was added into the equation.
There were many Heaven Realm Masters in Heavenly Martial City after all. Not to mention, Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord himself was at the peak of the Heaven Realm. He also had the backing of Gao Xin Peng of Profound Pill Sect.
It would not be beneficial for Yang Kai or Void Spirit Sword Sect if things got out of hand here.
After pondering for some time, Yang Kai asked Du Yu Yu to find a way to inquire about Shi Ming Hui’s current condition. His main concern was to determine whether Shi Ming Hui was alive or dead; meanwhile, he decided to wait until nightfall to infiltrate the City Lord’s Mansion.
Du Yu Yu accepted the orders and left.
On the other hand, Yang Kai began making meticulous preparations. It was not until night fell that he changed into a set of black clothes, snuck out of his room, and headed straight for the City Lord’s Mansion.
As he ran forward, Yang Kai felt exasperated in his heart. A noble Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him was acting like a thief in the Divine Armament World. It was nothing less than a disgrace!
The perimeter of the City Lord’s Mansion was heavily guarded, to the point that even Heaven Realm Masters could only dream of sneaking into the building without anybody knowing. Nevertheless, these defences were useless against Yang Kai.
He concealed his aura and infiltrated the City Lord’s Mansion under the cover of the night, and it didn’t take long for him to slip through the outer perimeter and reach the inner courtyard.
The surroundings were quiet. From time to time, Yang Kai would pass by some patrolling cultivators or come across people talking in hushed voices. Unfortunately, their conversations held nothing of value.
At first, he wandered around aimlessly. As he did not know where Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord was located, he could only search slowly.
A short while later, Yang Kai quickly hid in the shadows of a rockery as he heard the pitter-pattering of light footsteps came from not far away. He snuck a glance in that direction and saw a luxuriously dressed woman walking along the corridor with several maidservants in tow.
The woman had a gorgeous appearance, an ample bosom, and a slim figure; however, she had a cold and indifferent temperament. She walked straight into one of the palaces. Meanwhile, the maidservants accompanying her stopped outside and quietly stood there waiting.
Yang Kai did not know the identity of the woman, but judging from the scene in front of him, her status in the City Lord’s Mansion was not low.
Just as he was preparing to leave, he suddenly heard another set of heavy footsteps accompanied by an extremely ferocious aura.
[A Heaven Realm Master!] Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed. Even though there was no Spirit Qi fluctuation around the other party, he could clearly sense that this person was in the Heaven Realm!
This was his first time meeting a Heaven Realm Master since entering the Divine Armament World; thus, he couldn’t help glancing in that direction curiously.
The approaching person was a strong and burly man. He was short and stocky, and his muscles were quite bulky.
Although Yang Kai was confident in the Secret Technique he was using to conceal his aura, he did not dare to act recklessly at such close distance. The other party had a much higher cultivation than him, so he only glanced briefly in that direction before he withdrew his gaze, lest the other party noticed him.
The burly man walked straight to the door of the palace that the woman had entered earlier. The two maidservants by the door bowed elegantly in greeting. On the other hand, he simply pushed the door open and entered the room without saying a word.
A short while later, some strange sounds came from within the room. It was a mixture of grunts and muffled moans…
Yang Kai’s expression turned black, and he took this opportunity to leave.
An incense stick later, Yang Kai hid in the shadows and studied the majestic palace in front of him. There were guards stationed outside the palace and pained groans sounded faintly from within, giving off a sense of breathlessness similar to when a lamp was running out of oil.
[If my guess is correct, then this place is the residence of Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord!]
After searching for so long, he finally came across the right place. Before coming here, Yang Kai had been thinking about how to approach Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord and explain his intentions, as well as how to convince the City Lord about the efficacy of the Vitality Pills he refined.
However, when he heard the sounds coming from within the palace, he realised that Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord was dying. The situation seemed to be more serious than what he had heard as he could even detect a weak Death Qi coming from within!
All the plans Yang Kai made earlier were now useless. He did not know when Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord would die, so he could not afford to hesitate any longer.
Yang Kai found an opportunity and tossed a stone to distract the guards outside the door. With that, he successfully infiltrated the palace from a skylight on the roof.
Inside a private room with a spacious area, Yang Kai unexpectedly found not a single person standing guard. There was only one person lying on top of a large bed, covered by a blanket. Moreover, this man was breathing weakly and would cough with great difficulty from time to time.
The dim candlelight inside the room only illuminated a small portion of the room. Yang Kai looked down from above and saw that the man lying on the bed did not look very old.
That man had the appearance of someone in his early forties, but his sickly complexion made him seem deathly pale. Be that as it may, it could be seen that this man had good facial features and could be considered quite handsome.
As Yang Kai was observing the situation, the man on the bed suddenly opened his eyes and stared straight at where he was hiding on the roof beam. The gaze might be a little turbid, but a piercing light flashed through those eyes at this moment.
Yang Kai was shocked as he did not expect to be discovered so quickly when he had taken such pains to hide himself.
Soon though, Yang Kai figured it was related to how he had been staring at the other party for such a long time. At the same time, it also went to show just how powerful the man on the bed was.
It was rumoured that Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord was at the peak of the Heaven Realm, only one step away from advancing into the Spirit Realm. It could be seen that he really lived up to his reputation! Even though his physical condition had deteriorated so badly, his perception was still extremely sharp.
“Who are you?” The man on the bed spoke calmly, showing no intention of calling for help and simply asking this question quietly.
Since Yang Kai had already been discovered, he couldn’t be bothered to hide any longer. He landed lightly on the ground without making the slightest noise and walked over to the bed. Then, he tentatively asked, “City Lord Miao?”
Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord had the surname Miao and the given name Hong. It was only natural that Yang Kai knew about such information.
“It is this Miao. Who are you, Little Brother?” Miao Hong glanced at Yang Kai calmly, “Why did you come to visit the City Lord’s Mansion so late at night?”
After confirming that this person was Miao Hong, Yang Kai cupped his fist, “Void Spirit Sword Sect, Yang Kai!”
“Void Spirit Sword Sect…” Miao Hong frowned, as though recalling the information he received about Void Spirit Sword Sect. Void Spirit Sword Sect was just one of the small great forces nearby, so he never really paid much attention to such things. For that reason, he could not recall much information at such short notice; thus, he frowned and asked, “Void Spirit Sword Sect is far from Heavenly Martial City. Why did you come here? Are you here to kill me?”
Yang Kai laughed and said, “There is no enmity between Void Spirit Sword Sect and Heavenly Martial City. You worry too much, City Lord Miao.” [Looks like this guy has many enemies; otherwise, he would not have asked me if I was here to kill him as soon as he saw me.]
After pausing for a moment, Yang Kai eventually continued, “I’ll be honest with you. I am an Alchemist. When I heard that you were ill, City Lord, I decided to try refining some pills for you. I sent my subordinate to offer the pills to you as a sign of my sincerity, but to my dismay, the City Lord’s Mansion claimed that the pills I refined contained poison and captured my subordinate on the spot.”
“You are an Alchemist?” Miao Hong glanced at Yang Kai in surprise.
Yang Kai didn’t just look young, he was young, probably no more than 17 or 18 years old. Having his cultivation at that age was surprising enough, so it was hard to believe that he was also an Alchemist!
It had to be said that Alchemists were highly revered in the Divine Armament World; moreover, their inheritance was very strictly guarded. Not just anybody could become an Alchemist.
“What Grade of an Alchemist are you?” Miao Hong asked curiously.
“Earth Grade!” Yang Kai did not dare to say too much. In truth, his Alchemy Grade could not be categorised according to the standards of the Divine Armament World. If he had enough materials and adequate strength to persevere, even refining a Spirit Grade Pill would be a simple task for him.
Miao Hong originally showed some interest, but his expression immediately turned cold and a trace of displeasure entered his eyes when he heard what Yang Kai said.
It was one thing to have such outstanding cultivation at such a young age. Somebody like that could be considered a talented individual, but an Earth-Grade Alchemist… How could a young brat achieve something like that?
It had to be said that Heavenly Martial City was a notable great force in its own right. Even so, they paid a huge fortune and spent hundreds of years just to nurture two Earth-Grade Alchemists.
It would take at least several dozen years of hard work to become an Earth Grade Alchemist.
“Little Brother, this City Lord has no idea why you came here. I don’t have the mood to ask, let alone be bothered to care. Just go back to where you came from,” After saying that, Miao Hong closed his eyes a little disinterested.
Yang Kai was astonished and asked, “You don’t believe me, City Lord?”
Miao Hong replied coolly, “There’s nothing interesting about mocking a dying man!”
Yang Kai nodded lightly and took a good look at Hong Miao before he started speaking, “If my guess is correct, your condition is not caused by old age but the relapse of an old injury. Isn’t that right, City Lord?”
Miao Hong’s tightly closed eyes opened slightly again, and he murmured approvingly, “You have a good eye, Little Brother. How could you tell?”
The public only knew that he was dying of old age. They did not know that he was actually suffering from the relapse of an old injury.
Yang Kai explained, “You don’t seem that old from your appearance, City Lord. Of course; when it comes to a Master like you, your cultivation makes it hard to tell your actual age from your appearance alone. However, the vitality in your body has clearly not been exhausted, yet is still strangely weak. Moreover, you seem to have a different force surging inside your body…”
Miao Hong finally revealed a surprised look at those words, “You can even tell that much!?”
Yang Kai asked, “City Lord Miao, if you can trust me, can you let me perform an examination on you?”
Miao Hong studied Yang Kai solemnly for a moment before he lightly said, “There’s nothing for a dying man to fear. You can take a look if you want, Little Brother.”
Yang Kai apologised for any offending actions and took Hong Miao’s hand. Placing two fingers on Hong Miao’s wrist, he probed Hong Miao’s condition with his Spirit Qi.
Hong Miao immediately noticed Yang Kai’s true cultivation as soon as his Spirit Qi flowed into his body. This boy was actually at the peak of the Earth Realm!
Although Hong Miao had been fairly certain that Yang Kai was at least in the Earth Realm after seeing him silently sneaking into this place, it wasn’t until this moment that his speculations were confirmed. Not only was Yang Kai in the Earth Realm, but he was at the peak of the Earth Realm! He was only one step away from advancing into the Heaven Realm!
“Little Brother, how old are you?” Miao Hong asked curiously.
“18… I think,” Yang Kai answered casually. In his memories, that was indeed the approximate age of this body in the Divine Armament World.
Miao Hong smacked his lips in wonder, “A true genius!”
It was unprecedented for anybody in the Divine Armament World to achieve such outstanding cultivation at such a young age. If there was a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill on hand right now, Miao Hong was certain that Yang Kai could break through into the Heaven Realm in one go.
[An 18-year-old Heaven Realm Master! Just how sensational is that!?]
Although he never had much expectations for Void Spirit Sword Sect in the past, Miao Hong now had a vague feeling that the rise of Void Spirit Sword Sect was just around the corner.
A short while later, Yang Kai retracted his hand, “There is indeed a strange force in your body, City Lord. It is devouring your vitality.”
Miao Hong replied, “I was injured in battle many years ago, and that energy has always been lurking inside my body. I can’t get rid of this energy no matter how hard I try to dispel it. Since you are aware of this, do you have any good solutions to the problem, Little Brother?”
Yang Kai mulled over the question for a moment, “I have both good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first, City Lord?”
“Tell me the bad news first!” Miao Hong decided.
“City Lord, you have very little vitality remaining, and what little is left is rapidly fading away. If left untreated, you will die within three days!”
Miao Hong couldn’t help snorting, “That sounds like pretty good news.”
Yang Kai replied, “I’m actually amazed you can still maintain consciousness, City Lord!”
Logically speaking, most people in Miao Hong’s condition would have lost consciousness or become confused and disoriented; however, Miao Hong was still capable of speaking coherently. It could be seen that his willpower was extremely strong.
“What’s the good news?” Miao Hong asked.
“The good news is that I can help you extend your lifespan, City Lord Miao. You won’t die so quickly, but to remove this energy from your body…” Yang Kai shook his head slightly, “I don’t have enough strength. I’m afraid I can’t help you with that.”
Miao Hong’s eyes lit up, “It’s fine. You only need to help this City Lord stay alive for another 7 or 8 days!”
[7 or 8 days…] Yang Kai calculated the time. That was probably when Gao Xin Peng would arrive at Heavenly Martial City. [It looks like Miao Hong is staking his hopes on Gao Xin Peng.]
That was not surprising. Gao Xin Peng not only had a long history with Miao Hong, but he was also a Heaven Grade Alchemist. Compared to a person of unknown origins like Yang Kai, it was only natural for Miao Hong to trust Gao Xin Peng more.
Going by this logic, it would seem that Gao Xin Peng was not coming here to refine Life Extension Pills. He was probably coming here to help suppress the strange energy in Miao Hong’s body.
“That’s not a problem.” Yang Kai nodded. Taking out the Vitality Pills he refined, he tipped two pills out of the bottle, “These are the pills I refined personally. They can enhance and stimulate the vitality in your body, City Lord. They should help improve your condition.”
Miao Hong glanced at the soybean-sized pills in Yang Kai’s hand, feeling uncertain whether he could trust Yang Kai.
While Miao Hong was hesitating, Yang Kai’s expression suddenly changed, “Somebody’s coming.”
Miao Hong had also detected the approaching presence. He might be terminally ill, but his powerful cultivation was not just a decoration. Besides, the visitor had no intention of hiding their movements. There was no way he could not hear them coming.
Hardening his resolve, Miao Hong sucked in a breath of air that drew up the two pills in Yang Kai’s hand into his mouth.
Yang Kai had no time to escape, so he could only leap back onto the roof beam where he had been hiding before.
A short while later, the sound of light footsteps approached from a distance and soon arrived in front of the door.
“Greetings, Madam!” The voice of the guard at the door rang out.
“How is the City Lord?” A cold voice sounded. It obviously belonged to this ‘Madam’.
The guard replied, “Same as usual.”
“Open the door. I’m going to take a look.”
Immediately after that, there were some sounds and the door was opened. Moonlight spilled into the room and a slender figure stepped inside.
Yang Kai looked down and couldn’t help feeling startled. That was because the Madam was somebody he had seen before. It was the woman he encountered while he was wandering around earlier.
[Their tryst ended so quickly?] Yang Kai couldn’t help muttering to himself in his heart; however, his expression soon became strange. [The guard at the door called her ‘Madam’… What kind of relationship does this woman have with Miao Hong? The only person in the City Lord’s Mansion with the right to be called ‘Madam’ is… the City Lord’s Wife.]
[This…] Yang Kai suddenly felt as though he had discovered a huge secret.
Nevertheless, he was not sure whether his speculations were correct. [It’s possible that this woman is not Miao Hong’s Wife. But, if they are not Husband-and-Wife, then why is she here in the middle of the night?]
When Miao Hong spoke to Yang Kai earlier, his voice had been weak but he still had some energy. At this moment, however, he just lay motionless on the bed. His aura was faint and gloomy, almost as though he might die at any time.
“Husband…” The woman came over to Miao Hong’s side and sat down by the side of the bed, calling out to him softly.
Yang Kai immediately knew this woman was really the City Lord’s Wife.
Lying on the bed, Miao Hong twisted with difficulty and tried his best to open his eyes to look at her. A low groan involuntarily came out of his mouth.
“Husband, your condition has gotten worse.” The woman’s beautiful brow was slightly wrinkled. Combined with her cold temperament, she seemed very pitiable, “Looking at you in this condition breaks this Mistress’ heart…”
Yang Kai sighed in his heart when he heard those words. [A married couple is devoted to each other for life after all, even if this woman betrayed Miao Hong with her actions, it must be hard for her to see him in this condition.]
Before he could finish his thought though, he heard the woman’s voice continue, “Why do you bother to struggle so hard? Why don’t you just die here? Death ends all troubles. How much longer can you live in this condition anyway? Two days? Three days?”
A gurgling noise came out of Miao Hong’s throat. There was no telling what he wanted to say.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was completely flabbergasted.
The woman smiled, and the dimly lit room suddenly became dazzling for a moment. Then, she leaned down and pushed her ample bosom into Miao Hong’s face. She gently said, “Smell this. This Mistress still has his scent on me. It’s very fresh!”
Miao Hong probably could not breathe properly with her twin peaks in his face. His hands tried to push her away weakly, but his efforts were to no avail.
Her laughter gradually became more sinister, “When you used such despicable means to snatch me from his arms back then, did you ever think that such a day would befall you? At this point, I’m not afraid to tell you this anymore. Our daughter is not yours. She is the product of Kou Yong and I.”
Those extremely vicious words came out of the mouth of this seemingly cold-tempered woman. If Yang Kai had not heard them with his own ears, he would never have believed it! He couldn’t help thinking of the saying, A wasp’s stinger and the fangs of a poisonous snake’s mouth were both venomous, but there was nothing more poisonous than a woman’s heart!
When Miao Hong spurted out a mouthful of blood, the City Lord’s Wife deftly got up and stepped to the side to avoid being splattered by the filth.
“B-Bitch!” His entire body shuddered, and he coughed up blood again.
She stood by the side of the bed and looked at him coldly. It was not until his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he lost consciousness completely that she turned around and walked out. A short while later, her commanding voice came from outside the door, “The City Lord coughed up blood again. Go in and clean it up.”
“Yes!”
Half an hour later, Yang Kai leapt down from the roof beam once more and nimbly came to stand beside Miao Hong’s bed.
A faint stench of blood remained in the air, but the blood Miao Hong coughed up earlier had already been cleaned up by the guards.
“I apologise for letting you see that, Little Brother,” Miao Hong abruptly opened his eyes.
Yang Kai jumped in fright. He thought that Miao Hong had fainted earlier, but it would now seem that Miao Hong was only pretending to be unconscious. Moreover, his tone of voice was so indifferent at this moment that Yang Kai couldn’t help wondering whether he had always known that his Wife was having an affair with another man.
In any case, the City Lord’s Wife was ruthless indeed. Miao Hong was already in this condition, but she still came over to specifically anger him. If it were anybody else, they might have died from rage just then. The fact that Miao Hong managed to survive showed that he was definitely a person who could endure pain, both physical and mental.
Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling amazed. Despite travelling across many worlds for so many years, he had never encountered something like this before. Be that as it may, this incident confirmed his previous conjecture. He had definitely gotten involved in a troublesome matter on this trip to Heavenly Martial City.
“Little Brother, your pill is very effective!” Miao Hong exclaimed approvingly. He could clearly feel his vitality recovering slowly. If he previously had the mentality that it couldn’t hurt to give a dead horse medicine, he now had much more trust in Yang Kai, “At this point, I’m sure you’ve guessed the truth. This City Lord did not capture your subordinate who came here to offer medicine. Rather, it was the doing of others. They… want this City Lord dead!”
Yang Kai frowned, “If that’s the case, why don’t they make a move against you directly?”
Given Miao Hong’s current condition, he would probably be helpless to fight back if they attacked him.
Miao Hong coldly snorted, “If they make a move, they will leave behind too many traces. I have a friend who is coming to Heavenly Martial City in a few days. Those people would not survive if he noticed any issues.”
Realisation struck Yang Kai. He immediately understood why the City Lord’s Wife ran here specially and used such vicious words to anger Miao Hong. It was all to aggravate his injuries and hasten his death.
The friend that Miao Hong mentioned earlier was probably Gao Xin Peng. With the perception and experience of a Heaven Grade Alchemist, Gao Xin Peng would definitely notice if Miao Hong was murdered by somebody. On the other hand, there was nothing he could do if Miao Hong died of natural causes.
“Fortunately, the Heavens never close off all paths. This City Lord is thankful to have met you, Little Brother. Do you have more of the pills you gave me earlier, Little Brother?”
“I do.” Yang Kai nodded, “But, there’s another problem.”
“What problem?”
Yang Kai wrinkled his brow, “I did not know about your current condition when I refined these pills, so I didn’t consider something like this. These Vitality Pills will stimulate the vitality in your body after being consumed, but you also need to be supplemented with rich nutrients after taking them; otherwise, you will overdraw your remaining strength. Even if you can get through your current hardships, you will face endless troubles in the future.”
Miao Hong understood, “So, that’s how it is!”
He could tell that Yang Kai was not lying. Having consumed the Vitality Pills himself, he was the most aware of their effects on his body. After some consideration, he looked at Yang Kai earnestly, “Little Brother, I am afraid I must ask for your assistance. Can you help this City Lord bring in some supplements for the next few days. With your skills, you won’t have any trouble coming and going from this place as long as you’re careful. If this City Lord can survive this crisis, I will definitely reward you handsomely in the future.”
Yang Kai helplessly said, “That seems to be the only way.”
He only wanted to come and investigate the situation in the City Lord’s Mansion, but how could he have known that things would turn out like this? Yang Kai couldn’t help feeling speechless.
“City Lord Miao, my subordinate is still locked up in your dungeon currently. I don’t even know whether he is dead or alive!” Yang Kai said after a pause.
Miao Hong pondered in silence for a moment, “I’ll give you my Faith Token. Go and find a man named Huang Da. He is the Deacon of the City Lord’s Mansion. With his help, your subordinate will not be in danger.”
Although he was basically placed under house arrest by his own Wife, Miao Hong still had some loyal subordinates under him. This Deacon named Huang Da was probably one of them.
While speaking, Miao Hong took out a jade token the size of his palm from under his pillow.
Yang Kai took the jade token, which felt cool to the touch, and asked, “City Lord Miao, if Huang Da asks about your condition…”
Miao Hong’s eyes flashed, “You can tell him the truth!”
“Good!”
Afterwards, Miao Hong told Yang Kai how to find Huang Da’s residence. Only then did Yang Kai take his leave.
The City Lord’s Mansion was not small. Fortunately, Yang Kai still had a faint recollection of the layout after his earlier exploration. With the help of Miao Hong’s directions, he quickly found Huang Da’s residence.
It was only natural that their first meeting was laced with some misunderstanding.
After Yang Kai revealed the Faith Token though, Huang Da became very emotional and asked about Miao Hong’s condition. As such, Yang Kai explained everything to him. Huang Da was both pleased and surprised by the news. It was not until Yang Kai mentioned Shi Ming Hui that he finally realised that the latter was Yang Kai’s subordinate.
“Don’t worry. Your subordinate is only being locked up in the dungeons for the time being and is in no real danger. The City Lord’s Mansion is currently facing troubled times with many people plotting in secret who do not want to raise any further fuss, so he won’t be in danger until the dust of this huge incident settles. If anything unexpected happens, this Old Master will help to watch out for him,” Huang Da promised.
“Many thanks, Deacon Huang.” Yang Kai responded politely.
After a busy night, it was almost morning by the time Yang Kai returned to his living quarters.
A short while later, Du Yu Yu came to greet him. Yang Kai handed her the note he prepared in advance and sent her to purchase some items.
Miao Hong needed a large amount of nutrients to support his waning vitality; however, his body could not currently withstand the burden of strong supplements. Even his cultivation, which was at the peak of the Heaven Realm, could not help in this particular case; therefore, Yang Kai needed to think of a gentler method. After some consideration, Yang Kai determined that preparing a medicinal soup was the safest option.
Du Yu Yu did not know what Yang Kai wanted these ingredients for, but her biggest merit was her obedience. It didn’t take long before she returned after buying the listed items.
In the meantime, Yang Kai casually asked about Kou Yong.
Kou Yong was the man who had an affair with the City Lord’s Wife. According to the City Lord’s Wife, her Daughter was the result of her affair with him.
“Kou Yong?” Du Yu Yu pondered for a moment, “Is Sir referring to Heavenly Martial City’s Vice City Lord? I think he is in the Seventh-Step or Eighth-Step Heaven Realm!”
Yang Kai raised a brow at those words. It was not judgemental… He just felt that Miao Hong’s life was quite pitiful.
Yang Kai was busy all day, and when night fell, he secretly snuck into the City Lord’s Mansion again, this time to deliver food to Miao Hong…
The effects of the Vitality Pill were evident, and after finishing off a huge pot of medicinal soup, Miao Hong’s complexion became noticeably rosier. He was full of praise for Yang Kai, complementing him on being a promising young man. It was clear that he was trying to win Yang Kai over; after all, it was impossible to find another person in the Divine Armament World who not only stood at the peak of the Earth Realm but was also an Earth-Grade Alchemist at such a young age. It would surely be helpful if he could win Yang Kai over.
In the following days, Yang Kai would head to the City Lord’s Mansion at night to deliver nutrient-rich tonics to Miao Hong in order to supplement the Vitality Pills he had provided.
Miao Hong’s condition improved by the day, but his underlying injuries did not heal. There was no saying exactly how much strength he could exert, so he continued to endure under these circumstances and he would deliberately pretend to be dying whenever his Wife came to visit him.
The City Lord’s Wife would visit every few nights, and each time she came, she would viciously provoke him until he coughed up blood before she left in satisfaction.
On one occasion, Yang Kai was hiding on the roof beam when he saw the City Lord’s Wife and Kou Yong visiting together. They kissed and flirted openly right in front of Miao Hong…
This time around, Miao Hong was probably so angry that he passed out for real as it took Yang Kai a lot of effort to wake him up again.
On a certain day, Yang Kai was here to deliver the medicinal soup and Vitality Pills. After Miao Hong finished consuming both, he lay back on the bed and said, “Little Brother, I need to ask you for a favour.”
Yang Kai put away the items he brought and said, “Please speak freely, City Lord Miao.”
“I want you to go and welcome the Heaven Grade Alchemist of Profound Pill Sect, Gao Xin Peng!” Miao Hong panted for breath, “According to the plan, Alchemist Gao will arrive at Heavenly Martial City in three days’ time, but that cheating couple will not wait that long. You’ve seen the current situation over the past few days. They can’t wait for me to die. If I’m still alive when Gao Xin Peng arrives, they will probably risk making a move directly. That’s why I want you to meet Alchemist Gao and ask him to hasten his arrival, preferably without allowing anyone to find out.”
Yang Kai smiled, “Don’t worry, City Lord Miao. I’ve already taken care of this matter. There’s no need to disturb Alchemist Gao.”
Yang Kai had anticipated the situation that Miao Hong mentioned. Knowing that the City Lord’s Wife and Kou Yong would become desperate, he had made preparations in advance.
“Oh?” Miao Hong was surprised, “What have you arranged, Little Brother?”
Yang Kai reached into his pocket, took out a small jade bottle, and tipped out a longan-sized black pill from the bottle, “This is a Turtle Breath Pill. City Lord Miao, you will fall into a kind of false-death state after consuming this pill. Both your vitality and aura will be suppressed to the point that even those two will not be able to detect it.”
Miao Hong was extremely astonished. Taking the Turtle Breath Pill from Yang Kai’s hand, he asked a little hesitantly, “Is this pill really that effective?”
“City Lord Miao, do you not trust me?”
Miao Hong shook his head, “I might not have known you for long, but I can tell that you’re a brave and righteous young man. If you really wanted to harm this City Lord, you could have made your move a long time ago. Besides, you saved this City Lord’s life, so how can I not trust you?”
“It’s best if you can trust me, City Lord Miao. You don’t need to worry either as this Turtle Breath Pill does not have any negative side-effects. You just need to consume the antidote later and you will wake up within a quarter hour.” Yang Kai paused for a moment, “Besides, meeting Alchemist Gao now will only tip them off. They also know that Alchemist Gao is your only hope, City Lord Miao, so I’m sure they’re already monitoring his approach. There’s no saying what consequences we might face if we rashly contact him at this time.”
Miao Hong pondered for a moment and nodded, “Your words make sense, Little Brother. Let’s follow your plan.”
Yang Kai did not know how much Miao Hong trusted him, but it was clear that someone as stubborn and forbearing as Miao Hong would not be a kind man at heart. The betrayal of his closest confidante would surely have caused him to lose his trust in others. Nevertheless, he could probably sense that Yang Kai had no ill will towards him. Coupled with the fact that he had experienced Yang Kai’s abilities over the past few days, it was reason enough to accept Yang Kai’s suggestion.
Two nights later, Yang Kai hid on the roof beam and personally witnessed as the City Lord’s Wife, Qin You Shuang, and Kou Yong angered Miao Hong so much that he spat up three litres of blood and ‘died’ on the spot!
The sudden death of Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord caused the entire city to mourn!
Everybody knew that the City Lord was old and frail. It was public knowledge that he was reaching the end of his life expectancy; even so, many people had trouble accepting the truth when this news was announced.
Many shops and houses voluntarily hung white silk cloth above their doors to express their condolences to City Lord Miao Hong.
Yang Kai stood beside the window on the second floor of Tian Luo Hall’s shop.
Du Yu Yu stood beside him. Following his gaze, she looked out the window but did not see anything unusual, so she asked curiously, “Sir, what are you looking at?”
“A storm is coming!” He said.
Du Yu Yu looked up at the sky where the scorching sun was obviously shining brightly and thought, [Is there something wrong with his eyes?]
“Somebody might come looking for me later. Just let me know at the time.” After saying that, Yang Kai returned to his room. He had handed the antidote for the Turtle Breath Pill to Huang Da in advance. It was foreseeable that there would be a bloody battle at the City Lord’s Mansion, but Yang Kai had no plans to participate in something like that. It was enough for him to quietly wait here.
The only thing that interested him was the Heaven Grade Alchemist, Gao Xin Peng, who was coming soon. The pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill was in that person’s hands after all.
Less than a day after Miao Hong’s death, Gao Xin Peng arrived. A Heaven Grade Alchemist held an extremely high status in the Divine Armament World, so his arrival created a great sensation in the city and many people went to look at the excitement from afar.
As a Heaven-Grade Alchemist of Profound Pill Sect, Gao Xin Peng was quickly welcomed into the City Lord’s Mansion.
It was not until late at night that Du Yu Yu suddenly knocked on Yang Kai’s door, “Sir, a Deacon from the City Lord’s Mansion named Huang Da is here to see you. Also, Shi Ming Hui is back.”
“Good,” Yang Kai responded as he stood up and walked out.
Huang Da stood waiting outside the shop, and Shi Ming Hui stood next to him, looking ashamed. When he saw Yang Kai, he quickly spoke with chagrin, “This subordinate was incompetent. Please punish me, Sir.”
He was only supposed to offer up two pills, but he was captured and detained for eight days instead. Even he felt that he was very incompetent.
Nevertheless, it was exactly as Huang Da had mentioned before. The City Lord’s Mansion was facing troubled times, so the City Lord’s Wife, Qin You Shuang, and the Vice City Lord, Kou Yong, had no intention of causing further trouble. As a result, Shi Ming Hui was only captured and fortunately, was not subjected to torture.
“It’s not your fault. Go and have a good rest,” Yang Kai waved Shi Ming Hui away and cupped his fist at Huang Da, “Deacon Huang!”
Huang Da returned the greeting, “You are too polite, Little Brother Yang. The City Lord sent this humble one here to invite you to the City Lord’s Mansion.”
Yang Kai had already expected this outcome so he simply nodded, “Lead the way.” Turning back, he called out to Du Yu Yu, “Come with me.”
Du Yu Yu quickly responded with a confused look. She clearly heard Huang Da saying that the City Lord had extended his invitation, but… wasn’t the City Lord dead? Did Heavenly Martial City obtain a new City Lord so quickly?
Even though Yang Kai had gone in and out of the City Lord’s Mansion on numerous occasions, this was actually his first time walking in openly.
Upon entering the premises, Du Yu Yu was horrified. The guards around them were busy cleaning up the place as there were bloodstains that had not dried up all over the ground and traces of battle in many areas. It was obvious that a huge struggle had occurred in this place; however, she could not understand why people were killing each other in the City Lord’s Mansion.
Soon, the two of them arrived at a Grand Hall under Huang Da’s leadership. This hall was brightly lit, but a bloody aura permeated the air. Heavenly Martial City’s City Lord, Miao Hong, sat majestically on the main seat. As soon as he saw Yang Kai, he laughed loudly and stood up in greeting, “Little Brother, I was waiting for you.”
“This Yang is reassured to see that you are safe, City Lord Miao.” Yang Kai greeted warmly.
“It’s all thanks to you that this City Lord can stand here today! Come, come, come! Let me introduce you to an honoured guest!”
While saying so, Miao Hong enthusiastically grabbed Yang Kai by the arm and led him into the hall.
Yang Kai immediately saw the man sitting at the first seat on the left at a glance. There was nothing special about this man’s appearance. Rather, he seemed extremely ordinary. He was dressed in pale blue robes and at this moment, he was looking over with an inquisitive gaze.
Behind him stood a man and a woman. Their auras were concealed, but Yang Kai could clearly sense that they possessed horrifying strength. Similar to Miao Hong, these two were most likely Masters at the peak of the Heaven Realm!
At this moment, they were standing behind the seated man like bodyguards. Thus, Yang Kai immediately knew that this man was the target of his visit, Heaven Grade Alchemist, Gao Xin Peng.
Sure enough, Miao Hong pointed at Gao Xin Peng and introduced them, “Little Brother, this is Alchemist Gao of Profound Pill Sect!”
Yang Kai gently nodded, “This Junior has long admired Senior Gao!”
Gao Xin Peng looked at Yang Kai with interest. On the other hand, the expressions of the two guards behind Gao Xin Peng turned cold and a chilly pressure loomed down on Yang Kai. The status of a Heaven Grade Alchemist was highly revered so most people would bring large gifts and act worshipful; nobody would ever act as open and aloof as Yang Kai. It was only natural that these two were unhappy with his conduct.
Even Miao Hong was slightly surprised. It was just that he was not in the position to say anything, considering all the help that Yang Kai had given him; thus, he simply chuckled and continued with the introductions, “Brother Gao, this is the one I mentioned to you before, Little Junior Brother Yang. It’s all thanks to Little Junior Brother Yang’s help that this Miao turned misfortune into great fortune in this situation. Like you, he is this Miao’s saviour.”
Gao Xin Peng nodded lightly and smiled, “I didn’t quite dare to believe it when I first heard about you from the City Lord, but now that I see you, you are indeed a brave and talented young man. I’ve taken a look at both the Vitality Pills and the Turtle Breath Pill you refined. Your methods are quite unusual but profound. Even the way you proportioned the herbs is very innovative. I gained a lot from studying those pills. Are you an Earth-Grade Alchemist?”
“Probably!” Yang Kai smiled.
Gao Xin Peng was stunned, “If you are, then you are. If you’re not, then you’re not. What do you mean by probably? Forget it; seeing as you can refine those two pills, you definitely have the foundation of an Earth-Grade Alchemist. It looks like your Master is not an ordinary person.”
As a Heaven Grade Alchemist, Gao Xin Peng was qualified enough to take no notice of Earth Grade Alchemists, but Yang Kai was a little different. He was so young that his future was unlimited; otherwise, Gao Xin Peng would not have been this polite.
Yang Kai casually replied, “Perhaps. It’s just that the Master who taught me Alchemy has no origins, so I’m not too certain either.”
Gao Xin Peng nodded lightly, “There are many such hidden Masters in the world. If possible, can you introduce us, Little Brother? I would like to meet your Master!”
To teach a Disciple like Yang Kai, this hidden Alchemist was bound to be a Heaven Grade Alchemist or higher; thus, he was qualified to discuss Alchemy with Gao Xin Peng.
Yang Kai slowly shook his head, “I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Alchemist Gao. I won’t hide the truth. My Master only taught me for a few years when I was younger before he left. I’ve not heard from him since.”
As expected, Gao Xin Peng revealed a disappointed expression and sighed, “Is that so? What a pity!”
Miao Hong smiled by the side and said, “Let us sit and talk.” After Yang Kai sat down, he finally continued, “Both of you are my saviours. If not for your help, this Miao Hong would have died a tragic death.”
Yang Kai had helped him to prolong his life buying him time until Gao Xin Peng arrived. On the other hand, Gao Xin Peng brought two Masters at the peak of the Heaven Realm with him to help clean out the traitors in the City Lord’s Mansion and regain authority over Heavenly Martial City!
As for what happened to Kou Yong and the others, Yang Kai could not be bothered to ask. They most likely were met with a tragic end. In fact, Kou Yong might have contributed to the smell of blood in this very hall.
“Brother Gao and I have known each other for several dozen years and have a deep and inseparable friendship, so this City Lord won’t bother offering his thanks.”
Gao Xin Peng chuckled, “If not for your help back then, City Lord Miao, this Gao would not be standing here today. If you need help, this Gao will naturally come to your aid!”
Miao Hong nodded lightly and turned to look at Yang Kai, “Little Brother, we had not met until a few days ago, but you’ve already done a great kindness for me. This City Lord is extremely grateful. Besides, this City Lord promised to reward you handsomely! Little Brother, do you have any wishes? If you do, please do not hold back. This City Lord will not refuse as long as it is within my means!”
It could be seen that he was in a jubilant mood; moreover, it was a gesture of sincerity to speak of such matters in front of Gao Xin Peng.
Yang Kai pondered for a moment before nodding, “There is indeed something I’d like you to do for me, City Lord.”
“Go ahead and speak freely!” Miao Hong looked at Yang Kai with a smile.
Yang Kai turned to look at Gao Xin Peng “I wish to compete with Alchemist Gao in Alchemy!”
The smile on Miao Hong’s face stiffened while Gao Xin Peng looked surprised. As for the two bodyguards behind Gao Xin Peng, they shouted in unison, “How dare you!”
Gao Xin Peng raised his hand slightly and looked at Yang Kai curiously, “You want to compete with me in Alchemy?”
“Yes! I hope you will fulfil my wish, Alchemist Gao!” Yang Kai said seriously.
Gao Xin Peng burst out laughing, “You are an Earth Grade Alchemist while I am a Heaven Grade Alchemist. We are in different Grades altogether. How can we compete?”
Yang Kai replied, “I’ve never competed with other Alchemists before, so I’m curious about the difference between myself and the others. It is a rare opportunity to encounter Alchemist Gao, so… I have a bit of an itch!”
Miao Hong spoke up from the side with a strange expression, “Little Brother, didn’t your Master tell you that a competition between Alchemists is a very serious matter? Unless they have grievances against each other, they would never make such requests easily.”
Yang Kai was extremely astonished, “Is there such an etiquette?”
He turned to look at Du Yu Yu. Her complexion was ashen, but she nodded, “Yes!”
When she heard that Yang Kai wanted to compete against Gao Xin Peng in Alchemy, she had been so frightened that she nearly fell to the ground weakly.
Miao Hong burst into laughter and shook his head, “Little Brother, your actions are equivalent to pointing a sword at this Miao and declaring a battle to the death!”
Yang Kai was stunned, [No wonder the two bodyguards behind Gao Xin Peng reacted so strongly. It seems that my request is no different from challenging Gao Xin Peng. Thank goodness Gao Xin Peng is not such a petty man; otherwise, we could have fallen out with each other right here and now.]
Yang Kai was ashamed and cupped his fist apologetically, “It appears this Yang is truly ignorant and uninformed. Please forgive me, Alchemist Gao!”
Gao Xin Peng laughed, “It looks like your Master did not tell you much about the taboos among Alchemists.”
Yang Kai did not know what to say to that as he did not have a Master to speak of. The only Master he had in the Divine Armament World was the Sect Master of Void Spirit Sword Sect. His random excuse was only to deal with Gao Xin Peng’s questions. [But, if I can’t compete with Gao Xin Peng, then how am I going to get my hands on the pill recipe of the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill?]
Just as Yang Kai was feeling extremely conflicted, Gao Xin Peng suddenly spoke up, “It’s been a while since I’ve encountered something so interesting. Let’s do this instead; we can exchange some pointers with each other.”
“Really?” Yang Kai raised his brow at those words. He thought that he would need to change his plans, but who could have known that Gao Xin Peng would agree to his request? It was an unexpected surprise.
Gao Xin Peng smiled, “It’s just a friendly match. Since it’s not a competition, it’s not a big deal. Besides, this Gao is interested in your Alchemy Techniques.”
He was certainly an honest person who said what he was thinking. If he was not interested in Yang Kai’s Alchemy Techniques, he would never have agreed to this request; after all, he was a Heaven Grade Alchemist. It was impossible for an Earth-Grade Alchemist to surpass him in Alchemy Techniques.
Miao Hong hesitated, “Brother Gao, is this really alright?”
Gao Xin Peng smiled slightly, “Why? Are you afraid that this Gao will bully the weak, City Lord?”
Miao Hong quickly waved his hands in denial, “Brother Gao, you know that’s not what I meant. It’s just… Forget it. Since you’ve already agreed to this request, Brother Gao, this Miao won’t say any more. I just hope that you know when to stop. Don’t harm the peace!”
“Of course,” Gao Xin Peng turned to look at Yang Kai, “Little Brother, since you wanted to learn from me, I’ll let you decide on the topic. What pill do you think we should refine?”
“The Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill!” Yang Kai immediately replied.
Gao Xin Peng was slightly stunned, “The Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill? Little Brother, are you sure you want to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill?”
Yang Kai said, “I’m already at the peak of the Earth Realm and I currently need a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill to advance into the Heaven Realm. After I complete this pill, I can also make the best use of the pill.”
Gao Xin Peng asked, “Little Brother, could it be that you’re not aware? The Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill cannot be refined by those who are not in the Heaven Realm.”
“Why is that?” Yang Kai furrowed his eyebrows.
Gao Xin Peng explained, “The Spirit Qi in Earth Realm Masters is not sufficient to support the refining of the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill. Only those in the Heaven Realm can refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.”
Seeing Yang Kai’s ignorance, he couldn’t help doubting whether the Vitality Pills and the Turtle Breath Pill were refined by Yang Kai.
Yang Kai had never heard of such things before. Although the Divine Armament World had given him some memories along with an identity to move around in the world, he didn’t know much of the common knowledge about the Alchemic Dao here.
Upon further consideration though, Yang Kai realised something. Cultivators needed the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill to advance from the Earth Realm to the Heaven Realm, but the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill could only be refined by those in the Heaven Realm. If that was the case, then how did the first Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill come about?
This question was similar to the question of ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg?’ There was no answer.
“You won’t have any advantages if we refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill. Why don’t you change it to something else instead?” Gao Xin Peng suggested.
Yang Kai slowly shook his head, “I am confident that I can refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.”
Leaving aside the fact that the Spirit Qi in his body was much stronger than general Earth Realm Masters, his own accomplishments in the Alchemic Dao were enough to allow him to figure out a solution when faced with various problems. His top priority was to obtain the pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill!
Seeing Yang Kai’s persistence, Gao Xin Peng became slightly annoyed. He felt as though Yang Kai was deliberately trying to show off in front of him. No matter how good-tempered he was, he was still a highly revered Heaven Grade Alchemist. Nobody had ever been so presumptuous in front of him before.
As a result, Gao Xin Peng’s voice turned frosty and he declared, “If you’re so insistent, then we’ll refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.”
There was no denying that Yang Kai was extremely talented. He had heard from Miao Hong that Yang Kai was only 18 years old. Be that as it may, Yang Kai not only stood at the peak of the Earth Realm but was also an Earth Grade Alchemist. Such a person was incredibly outstanding in the Divine Armament World.
[His extraordinary talent must have made him arrogant. It might not be a bad thing for somebody like him to face some hardships in life.] Gao Xin Peng quietly vowed to himself. [I’m going to put him in his place during our Alchemy exchange. I have to show him that there’s always somebody better than him out there.]
Seeing that the two had come to an agreement, Miao Hong laughed, “This Miao is very fortunate to be able to witness two Alchemists competing with each other. What herbs do you need to prepare? This Miao will send somebody to purchase them immediately!”
Yang Kai immediately perked up his ears. How could he know what herbs he needed to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill? All his hopes were pinned on Gao Xin Peng right now. All his efforts in Heavenly Martial City were only for this moment.
A complete pill recipe not only included the list of herbs though, the refining steps, techniques, as well as the strength of the fire required was also needed. Nevertheless, it would be easier for him to deduce the pill recipe if he knew what kinds of herbs were needed.
Gao Xin Peng smiled, “There’s no need to trouble you, City Lord Miao. This Gao will send his subordinate to purchase the necessary herbs.”
After saying that, he turned around to the two Heaven Realm bodyguards behind him and issued some instructions. The female Heaven Realm Master immediately walked out.
Yang Kai nearly spat out a mouthful of blood at the sight! Despite knowing that it would not be easy to get his hands on the pill recipe of the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, the scene in front of him still made him exceptionally gloomy.
[No wonder they say that the pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill is an Alchemist’s greatest secret.] Gao Xin Peng’s actions were naturally to prevent others from learning what kind of herbs he used in this refinement process. But, if he was acting so secretive, then how was Yang Kai going to know what kinds of herbs were needed in the pill recipe?
Miao Hong turned to look at Yang Kai, who forced out a smile, “Many thanks for your concern, City Lord. I will also prepare my own herbs.”
“Good!” Miao Hong stopped insisting, “It’s getting late today and I’m sure the two of you have many preparations to make. In that case, let’s do this tomorrow. When the two of you are ready, this Miao will open up the Pill Room so that you may compete to your hearts’ content.”
The City Lord’s Mansion was in turmoil today and many people had been killed and injured. Miao Hong himself had barely escaped from the jaws of death earlier; thus, he was dead tired after forcefully pushing his energy to the limits and talking so much. Even so, he made sure to personally arrange for Gao Xin Peng and Yang Kai’s living quarters before he left to get some rest.
That night, Yang Kai sighed and put on his familiar black robes. Instructing Du Yu Yu to keep watch, he silently left on his own.
In order to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, he had to know what kind of herbs Gao Xin Peng had purchased; therefore, he could only go out and investigate by himself.
It was fortunate that he had been wandering around the City Lord’s Mansion recently and he had perfected his stealth techniques over the past few days. After a short search, he quickly found the place where Gao Xin Peng was staying. Concealing his aura, Yang Kai silently crouched beside the skylight and looked down into the room.
There was a single flickering candle inside the room. Gao Xin Peng sat on the bed, seeming to be resting in meditation. There was no sight of the male bodyguard, so he was probably outside the door.
Thus, Yang Kai breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Both of Gao Xin Peng’s bodyguards were at the peak of the Heaven Realm and not people he could oppose right now.
There was already a precedent of being discovered by Miao Hong previously, so Yang Kai did not know whether his presence would be discovered if he kept spying into the room; therefore, the fact that the bodyguard was not inside the room was something to be celebrated.
Although Gao Xin Peng was also in the Heaven Realm, his cultivation was not at the peak of the Heaven Realm. Besides, an Alchemist like him would spend most of his energy on Alchemy. Despite being a Heaven Realm Master, he probably could not exert the strength corresponding to his cultivation.
As long as Yang Kai was careful, he would not be discovered.
After waiting for about an hour, Yang Kai suddenly heard the sound of footsteps entering the room. His spirits lifted, knowing that the female bodyguard had returned from buying the herbs.
Sure enough, the female bodyguard knocked on the door and entered the room. She placed the bag in her hands on the table and cupped her fist, “Sir, I’ve bought the herbs.”
Gao Xin Peng didn’t even bother to open his eyes, “Good. You may leave.”
“Yes!” The female bodyguard responded and respectfully took her leave.
Yang Kai’s gaze latched firmly upon that bag like a leech. He knew that all the herbs needed to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill were inside. As long as Gao Xin Peng opened the bag to check the contents, he could get a glimpse of what he needed.
And so he waited quietly…
What made Yang Kai so depressed that he wanted to spit blood though, was that Gao Xin Peng continued to meditate without moving. Dawn was about to arrive, but Gao Xin Peng remained calm and peaceful. It was obvious that he was extremely confident in his subordinate’s ability to carry out her duties.
However, Yang Kai was waiting for Gao Xin Peng to open the bag. [What am I supposed to do in this situation!?]
Yang Kai was beginning to contemplate luring the two bodyguards and Gao Xin Peng away with some sort of trick in order to investigate the contents of the bag himself, but just as he was preparing to move, Gao Xin Peng, who had been sitting cross-legged all this while, finally roused from his meditation.
Under Yang Kai’s scrutinising gaze, Gao Xin Peng got out of bed and boiled a pot of tea. While sipping slowly on his tea, he seemed to recall something and opened the bag, taking out all the herbs and checking them one by one.
Seeing this, Yang Kai was tempted to summon the Azure Dragon Spear and stab Gao Xin Peng to death! Unfortunately, he knew that the idea was unrealistic, so instead, he quickly memorised all the quantities and the types of herbs.
A short while later, Yang Kai quietly slipped away. He led Du Yu Yu out of the City Lord’s Mansion and returned to Tian Luo Hall’s shop. Taking all the Black Jades that he previously brought with him, he hurriedly rushed to the various medicine shops.
When the sun was high up in the sky, everyone gathered at the Pill Room in the City Lord’s Mansion. Miao Hong personally opened the Pill Room, then he led Yang Kai and Gao Xin Peng inside, smilingly reporting, “This is the Pill Room of the City Lord’s Mansion. You can access the Earth Fire here. Of course, it cannot compare with your Alchemy Flame, Brother Gao, but it is enough for the lowly Alchemists in Heavenly Martial City.”
Gao Xin Peng nodded reservedly, “Since this is a learning exchange with Little Junior Brother Yang, it’s only right for everybody to use the same Alchemy Tools. This is fine!”
He obviously did not wish to seem as though he was bullying the weak; otherwise, it would not be an honest victory even if he won. It was a symbol of fairness for both of them to use the same Earth Fire and Alchemy Furnaces in this place.
Miao Hong personally explained to Gao Xin Peng and Yang Kai about how to use their Spirit Qi to draw upon the Earth-Fire; then, he asked the two of them to each find an Alchemy Furnace of similar standards. Only then did he stand to the side with a proud expression. As the witness of this competition, he was full of smiles.
Although he was a Master at the peak of the Heaven Realm, he rarely had the chance to observe Heaven Grade Alchemists like Gao Xin Peng personally performing Alchemy.
Under normal circumstances, the Alchemy Techniques of Heaven Grade Alchemists were absolutely confidential. Except for a few assistants, it was impossible for others to observe and emulate their actions from up close.
Miao Hong had known Gao Xin Peng for decades, but he had never seen Gao Xin Peng refining pills. It was only natural that he was extremely interested in this matter.
“If the two of you are ready, then this exchange competition can begin now.” Miao Hong gestured.
Gao Xin Peng nodded lightly. He opened his bag, took out the herbs, and arranged them by the side.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai continued to activate his Spirit Qi and familiarize himself with the Earth Fire. The strength of the fire was extremely important in Alchemy, so it was very important to familiarise himself with his new tools.
Needless to say, Yang Kai’s main reason was to buy more time so that he could observe and emulate Gao Xin Peng’s refining process.
Under normal circumstances, it was impossible to obtain the secrets of the pill recipe just by observing an Alchemist during the process of refining a pill; however, Yang Kai was not comparable with ordinary Alchemists. His profound attainments in the Alchemic Dao were his greatest capital.
Besides, he had partially deduced the pill recipe in his mind while buying the herbs. At this point, he already had several ideas in mind.
If there was a complete Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill in front of him right now to further supplement the information he received already, he was 60% confident that he could fully deduce the pill recipe. Naturally, this process would take a long time, possibly taking several months to several years to complete.
On the other side, Gao Xin Peng finished arranging and preparing his herbs. He activated his Spirit Qi and stimulated the Earth-Fire; then, he skillfully placed herb after herb into the Alchemy Furnace to condense the medicinal liquid.
In the meantime, he also glanced over to see what Yang Kai was doing. When he saw that Yang Kai was still getting familiarised with the Earth Fire, he couldn’t help shaking his head slowly. He wondered whether he had been a little too hasty when he agreed to this competition as Yang Kai’s current performance was very disappointing.
It was not until Gao Xin Peng had tempered most of his medicinal liquid that Yang Kai finally made a move. Under Yang Kai’s instructions, Du Yu Yu opened the bag they brought and took out the herbs one by one.
Gao Xin Peng glanced over and couldn’t help being startled. Even the Earth Fire below his Alchemy Furnace flickered for a moment. It was obvious that his mental state had been affected quite badly. He panicked for a moment and quickly controlled the Alchemy Flame again.
The reason for his reaction was that he noticed the herbs Yang Kai brought were practically identical to what he took out earlier; moreover, even the quantities were similar.
This was very strange. Although the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill could be refined as long as one was a Heaven Grade Alchemist in the Divine Armament World, the pill recipe owned by each Sect was bound to have subtle differences. The most obvious manifestation of these differences was the difference in the type of herbs. Naturally, the medicinal efficacies of different Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill also varied in strength.
As one of the current top ten Sects in the Divine Armament World today, Profound Pill Sect boasted an impressive heritage and long-standing inheritance. The pill recipe for their Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill had thus undergone countless generations of improvements and modifications. Even if they dared not claim to be the best in the world, they would still rank among the top three.
Hence, it was impossible for the pill recipe mastered by other people or other Alchemy Sects to be identical to that of Profound Pill Sect! That was why Gao Xin Peng was so shocked to see that the herbs Yang Kai brought out were almost identical to his own.
On the other hand, Yang Kai looked up and nodded lightly at Gao Xin Peng. He knew that Gao Xin Peng was feeling suspicious.
He had previously considered buying several extra portions of herbs to disguise his intentions. His main purpose in performing Alchemy today was to imitate Gao Xin Peng; by doing so, he could then deduce and perfect the pill recipe during the process. Those additional herbs would not only prove to be useless at the end of the refinement process, but they would also serve to highlight his guilty conscience instead. So, he decided against that method.
Fortunately, Gao Xin Peng said nothing even though he did not understand why the herbs that Yang Kai brought were so similar to his own. The only difference was in their quantities. He simply suppressed his doubts and decided to inquire about this matter after he finished the refinement process.
As time passed, Yang Kai formed various hand seals that changed constantly. His Spirit Qi fluctuated wildly, and the Earth Fire he controlled also became stronger and weaker accordingly.
Yang Kai looked like he had fully immersed himself in condensing his medicinal liquid, but in reality, he had separated a thread of his consciousness to observe Gao Xin Peng’s movements. He then mimicked all of Gao Xin Peng’s methods, though he did not copy everything exactly.
His own attainments in the Alchemic Dao were extremely deep, so even though he was imitating Gao Xin Peng’s refining process, the truth was that many different concepts would instantaneously appear in his head. This allowed Yang Kai to use his own special means to replace Gao Xin Peng’s secret Alchemy Techniques. Be that as it may, their Alchemy refining process looked extremely similar.
There was too little time and he needed to keep up with Gao Xin Peng’s various Alchemy processes, so Yang Kai could not afford the time to conceal his actions too much.
Even Miao Hong, who didn’t know anything about Alchemy, could tell that something was wrong from where he stood watching by the side. His gaze would flicker between Gao Xin Peng and Yang Kai from time to time with a puzzled expression.
With Miao Hong noticing something was off, there was obviously no fooling Gao Xin Peng. Even though Yang Kai had tried to change things up as much as possible, Gao Xin Peng could tell that Yang Kai’s movements when refining the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill were performed at practically the same rhythm as himself, only slightly slower.
This realization made his expression change subtly.
At this point, Yang Kai could not be bothered to care so much anymore. Things had already progressed to this point, so he could only continue until the end. As long as he could completely observe and emulate Gao Xin Peng’s refining process, it would be a success!
As more and more medicinal liquid was condensed at a steady rate, the temperature in the Pill Room increased accordingly. Gao Xin Peng’s expression remained unchanged. For a Heaven Grade Alchemist like him, refining the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill was not a difficult matter. All he needed to worry about was whether or not he could succeed in producing a pill at the end.
In contrast, Yang Kai was drenched in sweat and his complexion was pale. It looked like the process was consuming a lot of his energy.
He was not faking it either. Refining the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill required a considerable amount of Spirit Qi and it was only now that he finally understood why Gao Xin Peng had said that it was impossible to refine this pill unless one was in the Heaven Realm. The Spirit Qi in the body of an Earth Realm cultivator could not satisfy this level of consumption.
Yang Kai was the only exception as his heritage was incomparable to ordinary Earth Realm cultivators. That was why he managed to persevere until now. If it had been any other Earth Realm cultivator, their Spirit Qi would have been exhausted long ago.
That was not all though as he also needed to keep an eye on Gao Xin Peng’s situation at all times and prevent the other party from finding any flaws in his performance. The mental consumption was not small.
Yang Kai was indeed rather tired, but his fatigue was not as severe as it seemed on the surface.
Half a day later, both of their refining processes reached the final stages.
Miao Hong’s expression was filled with shock and amazement. At this stage of the refining process, the pill was almost formed. He never imagined that Yang Kai might actually be a Heaven-Grade Alchemist.
Even so, Yang Kai remained steady and did not make any mistakes. The only difference between him and Gao Xin Peng was that his complexion was so pale that it was frightening. It would seem that refining the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill with a cultivation in the Earth Realm was still a little too much. Nevertheless, this was enough to showcase his attainments in Alchemy. All that was lacking was his cultivation.
An 18-year-old young man who not only stood at the peak of the Earth Realm but was also very likely to be promoted to the Heaven Realm soon. Not to mention, he had the heritage of a Heaven-Grade Alchemist, such a person was… absolutely terrifying!
Miao Hong felt that he needed to reassess his opinion of Yang Kai. The status of a Heaven Grade Alchemist was enough to leave even him behind in the dust, not to mention that Yang Kai’s cultivation was superb for his age as well.
At this moment, Gao Xin Peng suddenly reached his hand into his pocket and took out a clear bottle. The bottle contained an unknown substance that looked like some sort of viscous liquid. Opening the Alchemy Furnace, he uncorked the bottle and tipped the bottle slightly. A drop of amber liquid dripped into the Alchemy Furnace.
Yang Kai’s expression instantly became gloomy…
After all the effort he went through to reach this point, he never imagined that Gao Xin Peng would have a hidden ingredient! He had already figured out the necessary herbs and basic processes to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.
[But, what is inside that bottle!?] It was fortunate that his mental strength was still strong; otherwise, his Alchemy Furnace could have exploded on the spot if he was not careful.
All he could do at this point was pray that the ingredient inside that bottle was not a necessary ingredient in the refining process; otherwise, his attempt to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill would end in a failure.
After Gao Xin Peng dripped a drop of the unknown medicinal liquid into the Alchemy Furnace, he quickly began condensing his pill. It didn’t take long before an unusual medicinal fragrance spilled out from within.
Miao Hong became excited. He knew that Gao Xin Peng was about to condense the pills. Success or failure would depend on this moment.
Gao Xin Peng was indeed worthy of being a veteran Heaven Grade Alchemist. Under the everchanging hand seals he used, he executed a Pill Condensing Technique and a soft sound immediately came from inside the Alchemy Furnace.
Taking a small breath, he was in no rush to open the furnace; instead, he looked up at Yang Kai and stared fixedly.
Similarly, Yang Kai was about to condense his pills. His tense nerves slowly relaxed. He discovered that even without the unknown medicinal liquid, the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill he refined were not affected. It would seem that the medicinal liquid Gao Xin Peng added at the end was not a necessary one.
When he reached the final stage to condense his pills, Yang Kai did not use his Nine Heavens Profound Pill Method as this Pill Condensing Technique was far too powerful for the Divine Armament World. Hence, he only used another Pill Condensing Technique that was neither too good nor too bad.
A series of clanging sounds rang out soon after and the medicinal fragrance in the Pill Room became denser than ever.
Yang Kai’s complexion was so pale that it was frightening. Pretending as though he was about to die, he stumbled and collapsed face-first towards the ground. Fortunately, Du Yu Yu moved quickly and caught him before he fell, calling out anxiously, “Sir!”
Gao Xin Peng hurried over and stated, “He is suffering from overconsumption. It should have been impossible for an Earth Realm Master to refine a Heaven Grade pill in the first place. I can’t believe he actually did it. Hurry up and let him lie down!”
Du Yu Yu laid Yang Kai down as she was told. Then, Gao Xin Peng took out a pill and handed it to her and ordered, “Give this to him.”
She took the pill but hesitated slightly; on the other hand, Yang Kai just weakly said, “Many thanks, Alchemist Gao.”
Gao Xin Peng waved his hand dismissively, “Don’t talk. Just focus on recovering. There’s something I want to ask you after.”
Yang Kai sighed in his heart. He knew that Gao Xin Peng was very concerned about his performance earlier. Whether it was in terms of Alchemy ingredients or the refinement process, he was being suspected of imitating Gao Xin Peng. Anybody who encountered something like this would probably be unable to get over it so easily.
He secretly felt thankful that Gao Xin Peng was good-natured and did not kick up a fuss on the spot, but how was he supposed to explain this situation now?
The current Void Spirit Sword Sect could not afford to upset a Heaven-Grade Alchemist. If he offended Gao Xin Peng here, he would probably suffer greatly in the future.
After being fed the pill by Du Yu Yu, Yang Kai’s Spirit Qi quickly recovered.
On the other side, Miao Hong walked over with two jade bottles in his hand and smilingly said, “This Miao has taken the initiative to collect the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill that you two refined. This is what Brother Gao refined. There are four pills. Three of them are Mid-Rank pills and one of them is a Low-Rank pill.”
He handed one of the jade bottles to Gao Xin Peng. Gao Xin Peng accepted the bottle without reservation.
“This is what you refined, Little Brother.” Miao Hong’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Yang Kai, “You produced one Low-Rank pill!”
“Alchemist Gao, your skills are truly superb. This Yang is very lacking in comparison. I’ve learned a lot!” Yang Kai cupped his fist slightly.
Regardless of everything else, he had succeeded in secretly learning the pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, so it made no difference to him even if he admitted his loss in this competition.
Besides, he deliberately made it so that he produced only one Low-Rank pill at the end. If he really put his mind to the task, it would have been impossible for him to produce such poor results even if it was his first time refining the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.
Gao Xin Peng shook his head, “This Gao was unable to refine a Heaven Grade pill with the strength of an Earth Realm Master. It is this Gao who is lacking.” He turned to look at Miao Hong, “Brother Miao, please prepare a secret room. I need to have a good chat with Little Junior Brother Yang.”
“No problem.” Miao Hong immediately agreed.
Yang Kai sighed in his heart. He knew that it might be a blessing and not a curse, but even if it was a curse, it couldn’t be avoided.
The traces of how Yang Kai had imitated Gao Xin Peng were far too obvious. Gao Xin Peng probably suspected something a long time ago. He probably did not ask anything earlier because he did not want to be distracted during the competition. Now that the competition was over though, it was only natural to get to the bottom of the matter.
[How should I explain this situation?] Yang Kai was a little perplexed. [I can’t say that the pill recipe I obtained is identical to his. How can something so coincidental happen? But, there is no other reasonable explanation otherwise.]
At this point, he could only take one step at a time. Gao Xin Peng did not look like a pedantic person; furthermore, he was a Heaven-Grade Alchemist. Yang Kai did not wish to have a falling out with him if possible.
Miao Hong quickly prepared a quiet room and Gao Xin Peng and Yang Kai entered it with their entourages. Then, Gao Xin Peng turned to the two Heaven Realm bodyguards who had been following behind him all this while and said, “Leave us.”
“Sir…” The female Heaven Realm Master hesitated slightly.
“Leave us!” He instructed once more, in a firmer tone.
Only then did the two bodyguards take their leave. Before they left, they shot a deep glare at Yang Kai, as if to say that they would immediately rush in and chop him into pieces if he dared to harm Gao Xin Peng.
“You stand down too,” Yang Kai ordered Du Yu Yu.
Du Yu Yu said nothing in particular and respectfully left the room.
As soon as the door closed, Gao Xin Peng and Yang Kai were the only ones left in the room. Gao Xin Peng stared fixedly at Yang Kai with a measuring look. The way he observed Yang Kai up and down was as though it was his first time getting to know him.
Yang Kai was watched so keenly that he felt uncomfortable all over; thus, he began mulling over how to end things later once the truth was exposed.
There were two more Sword Qi attacks that he could activate in the True Void Sword, but those attacks were ridiculously overpowered. If he used the True Void Sword here, forget Gao Xin Peng, the entire City Lord’s Mansion would be razed to the ground.
He neither wished to be pursued by Profound Pill Sect as a wanted man nor drag Void Spirit Sword Sect into his mess; therefore, he could not use the True Void Sword Qi unless it was absolutely necessary.
“Little Brother, do you know the identity of the Master who taught you Alchemy? What was his name?” Just as Yang Kai’s thoughts were bouncing around in his head, Gao Xin Peng suddenly popped out this question.
Yang Kai shook his head solemnly, “Unfortunately, I don’t. I’m sure you know that I’m a Void Spirit Sword Sect disciple, Alchemist Gao. Master came to Void Spirit Sword Sect, taught me Alchemy for a few years, and then left to travel around the world again. From the start to the end, he never revealed his name.”
He casually responded to the question while thinking to himself, [How would I know what my non-existent Master is called? It’s unrealistic to make up a name now. If Gao Xin Peng decides to investigate, my secrets will quickly be discovered. I can only be as ambiguous as possible.]
Gao Xin Peng raised his eyebrows, “That Senior… Why did he teach you Alchemy?”
Yang Kai shook his head again, “I was only six or seven years old when my Master taught me Alchemy. I was too young at the time, so I don’t remember much from back then.”
“Six or seven years old…” Gao Xin Peng quietly made some calculations, “So, this happened approximately ten years ago?”
“En!”
“Do you remember how he looked?” Gao Xin Peng continued asking.
Yang Kai was helpless and could only continue talking nonsense, “I don’t quite remember. I think he is quite old as his hair was greying. He also always wore a set of dirty clothes…”
Gao Xin Peng’s eyes immediately lit up at those words, frightening Yang Kai so much that he quickly said, “As you know, I was very young back then. I don’t remember much.”
“I understand! I understand!” Gao Xin Peng nodded repeatedly, “Think about it carefully. What other more specific special characteristics did your Master have?”
“More specific? Which aspect?” Yang Kai was honestly at his wits end by now. He no longer knew how to continue with his story.
“His hand!” Gao Xin Peng raised his left hand and waved his hand around in front of Yang Kai’s face.
Yang Kai was stunned for a moment before the realization struck him, “Yes, there was something. I think he either had an extra finger or was missing a finger!”
“An extra finger!” Gao Xin Peng’s expression was serious.
Yang Kai slapped his thigh, “Yes, that’s right! He had an extra finger!”
He didn’t dare to say more. If he said anything else, he might end up exposing his own secrets. At this point, he had the vague feeling that this nonsensical Master he created on the fly was an actual person. It was just that Gao Xin Peng seemed to have misunderstood something; therefore, he quickly tried to take control of the conversation by asking, “Alchemist Gao, do you know my Master?”
Gao Xin Peng breathed out lightly. Yang Kai could sense that the way Gao Xin Peng looked at him had become much more cordial. Nodding lightly, Gao Xin Peng replied, “Of course! How can I not know him? If that’s the case, everything makes sense now.”
Yang Kai sat up straight, “Please enlighten me, Alchemist Gao!”
Gao Xin Peng smilingly said, “Didn’t you realise that the herbs you and I both needed to refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill, as well as the refining process and the steps are basically the same?”
Yang Kai was astonished, “Is that so?”
Gao Xin Peng nodded and explained, “You were very focused on performing Alchemy earlier, so you probably didn’t have the time to observe your surroundings; however, I saw everything clearly. The pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill that you and I have is almost identical! This should have been impossible as there are countless pill recipes for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill in the Divine Armament World. Moreover, each pill recipe will have subtle differences unless they come from the same Sect. I was puzzled earlier and wondered why you had the pill recipe belonging to Profound Pill Sect, but everything makes sense now.”
Yang Kai pretended to humbly ask for advice.
Gao Xin Peng smiled, “Do you still not understand? The one who taught you Alchemy belongs to Profound Pill Sect!”
“Huh!?” Yang Kai was genuinely shocked. [I can’t believe that the non-existent Master I randomly created became related to Profound Pill Sect! This is quite a pleasant surprise.]
“Alchemist Gao, this…” Yang Kai didn’t know what to say. After careful consideration, he realised that the main reason for Gao Xin Peng’s speculation lay in the fact that their pill recipes were identical. As for the special characteristics of his fabricated Master, half came from his imagination and the other half was guesswork thanks to Gao Xin Peng’s guidance.
“Why are you still calling me Alchemist Gao?” Gao Xin Peng looked at Yang Kai with a smile.
It was said that great fortune brought wisdom, and Yang Kai’s wits were keen thanks to the good luck that came to him. He stood up and cupped his fist, “Greetings, Senior Brother Gao!”
“Sit down and talk!” Gao Xin Peng seemed even more amicable now.
Yang Kai sat down as he was told, not knowing whether to laugh or to cry. He had been worried about what Gao Xin Peng would do to him, but things had taken such a sudden turn instead. By some unfathomable circumstances, he was now Gao Xin Peng’s Junior Brother.
“Of course, it’s hard to talk about the specifics since I have not met your Master in person. It’s only my speculation that you are the Disciple of that person, but I’m quite certain that is the case. Only that person will… uh, well, act in such a manner. The pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill that you obtained is the best proof.”
In this world, there was nobody who could deduce a complete pill recipe just by observing and imitating another person performing Alchemy once. That was why Gao Xin Peng never suspected Yang Kai of imitating his refinement process on the spot. From the beginning, he suspected that Yang Kai was a Disciple taught by one of the wandering Senior Experts of Profound Pill Sect. His subsequent inquiry was only to confirm his speculation.
“Senior Brother Gao, what kind of person is my Master?” Yang Kai took the opportunity to inquire more about his fabricated Master; otherwise, he might accidentally expose his own lies in the future.
Gao Xin Peng pondered the question for a while before he gave a short and helpless laugh, “That person… How do I put it? His manner of conduct is very eccentric. It’s not something you can guess by using common sense. In any case, you only need to remember this, that man is one of the oldest and most authoritative Seniors in the Sect. Even I have to call him Martial Uncle if I run into him! It’s just that it has been many years since I last saw him. He doesn’t really like to stay in Profound Pill Sect. He prefers to travel all over the world. Only the Heavens know what he does out there.”
Yang Kai was stunned, “It turns out that Master comes from such a prominent background…”
“But, I’m surprised that person actually took in a Disciple,” Gao Xin Peng turned to look at Yang Kai with a pensive look. All of a sudden, the realization struck him. [Martial Uncle has such discerning eyes! No Earth Realm Master in Profound Pill Sect could have refined a Heaven Grade pill. Could Martial Uncle have noticed that Junior Brother Yang is incredibly talented? Is that why he made an exception and took in a Disciple?]
Yang Kai shook his head, “Master only taught me Alchemy for a few years. Moreover, he never allowed me to call him Master. He claimed that it was a disgrace to him.”
Gao Xin Peng failed to stifle his laughter, “That’s definitely how he does things! Don’t worry about it, Junior Brother Yang. Seeing as you were taught by that man, that makes you part of Profound Pill Sect. You should pack up your things later and follow me back to Profound Pill Sect to greet your Seniors!”
“But, Void Spirit Sword Sect…” Yang Kai hesitantly said, “I’ll be honest with you, Senior Brother Gao. This Junior Brother is the Eldest Disciple of Void Spirit Sword Sect. Furthermore, I grew up in Void Spirit Sword Sect and am deeply indebted to the Master Sect for raising me. This Junior Brother cannot be ungrateful.”
Gao Xin Peng was slightly taken aback, “I forgot about that.”
He pondered in silence for a moment before he continued, “In that case, I’ll return to Profound Pill Sect and ask for instructions first. We’ll see what the Sect Master decides. Your situation is rather special after all. Profound Pill Sect has never had such a precedent before. I’ll visit Void Spirit Sword Sect to inform you once I have further information.”
“Then I shall have to trouble you, Senior Brother Gao,” Yang Kai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He definitely had no intention of going to Profound Pill Sect. The Master he casually created on the spot had accidentally gotten him involved with Profound Pill Sect. Although he managed to fool Gao Xin Peng, he was bound to face more inconveniences if he went to Profound Pill Sect. It would be bad if his lies were exposed in some way.
“Why are you being so polite with me, Junior Brother?” Gao Xin Peng was clearly in a good mood. Reaching his hand into his pocket, he took out a jade bottle, “Since you are already at the peak of the Earth Realm, you will need a Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill to advance into the Heaven Realm. Don’t use that Low-Rank pill of yours as its effects won’t be good. Your aptitude might be extraordinary, but it’s better to be careful. I have a High-Rank Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill here. It’s just right as a welcome gift from me as your Senior Brother.”
This High-Rank pill was clearly not the one he refined earlier. Nevertheless, Gao Xin Peng was a veteran Heaven Grade Alchemist. It was not strange for him to have such a pill on him.
Yang Kai did not refuse and accepted the pill gratefully.
Man… it’s another thing to get justice from trashes but Gao Xin Peng is so nice…
With a High-Rank Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill in hand, Yang Kai’s advancement into the Heaven Realm was as good as an accomplished fact.
Afterwards, Yang Kai asked about the amber liquid that Gao Xin Peng added at the end of the refining process.
Gao Xin Peng only said that it was a secret recipe he developed himself, which could increase the success rate of pill condensation by a slight margin. Its presence or absence had nothing to do with refining the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.
Something like this was very common. Even if everybody had mastered the same pill recipe, each person would have a different understanding of it. That was why many Alchemists had their own special tricks. It was just that Yang Kai was meeting another Alchemist for the first time in the Divine Armament World, so such practices were very curious and strange to him.
“With your talent, Junior Brother, you might even be able to modify the pill recipe for the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill if you work hard in the future. By doing that, you will leave your name in history. You will be famous for countless generations to come!”
Yang Kai was embarrassed, “You’re praising me too much, Senior Brother.”
Gao Xin Peng shook his head, “I have high hopes for you. To successfully refine a Heaven Grade pill as an Earth Realm Master, as far as I know, you’re the first person to ever succeed. Good, let’s end our idle chat here. Let’s go out now. I need to return to Profound Pill Sect as soon as possible and report about today’s matters.”
It would have been different if Yang Kai was an Alchemist with mediocre aptitude, but the key point was that his aptitude was extremely outstanding, so much so that he might even become the next Master of the Medicine King Furnace in 100 years. This matter was related to the glory of the Profound Pill Sect, so it could not be handled sloppily.
The two of them pushed open the door and walked out, smiling and chatting with each other.
Miao Hong, who had been standing outside the door, hurried over to greet them only to be stunned by the sight.
Gao Xin Peng then briefly explained the situation.
Miao Hong was shocked by the turn of events. Even his gaze became solemn when he looked at Yang Kai. He initially planned to recruit Yang Kai into Heavenly Martial City, but it would now seem that his plan was hopeless.
Yang Kai had not only gotten a connection with Profound Pill Sect, but he also considered Gao Xin Peng as his fellow brother. How could he take interest in Heavenly Martial City?
In addition, Miao Hong had also planned to prepare a banquet. There were two reasons for his actions. The first reason was to welcome Gao Xin Peng. The other reason was to thank both Gao Xin Peng and Yang Kai for helping him.
Unfortunately, Gao Xin Peng was in a hurry to return to Profound Pill Sect to report about Yang Kai’s matters and politely declined the invitation.
Miao Hong did not insist.
Afterwards, Miao Hong and Yang Kai saw Gao Xin Peng out of Heavenly Martial City.
It wasn’t until the luxuriously decorated carriage disappeared from view that Yang Kai turned around and cupped his fist, “City Lord Miao, I must take my leave too. I apologise for all the trouble I caused over the past few days.”
“Alchemist Yang, you are too polite. This Miao has received your life-saving grace. If there is anything this Miao Hong can help with in the future, please don’t hesitate to let me know! This Miao and Heavenly Martial City will never refuse!”
Ever since he learned about Yang Kai’s connection with Profound Pill Sect, he recognised Yang Kai’s terrifying potential; therefore, these words came out decisively. Next, Miao Hong abruptly changed the subject, “Alchemist Yang, are you really not going to stay a few more days?”
Yang Kai shook his head with a smile, “No. I need to return to the Master Sect, but we might meet again very soon.”
Miao Hong was overjoyed to hear those words, “In that case, this Miao will quietly wait to hear from you.”
While he was speaking, he clapped his hands smartly. Two carriages immediately drove out from behind him. The furnishings might not be as luxurious as the carriage Gao Xin Peng took, but they were not bad either. Not to mention, the carriages seemed to be filled with something very heavy. The body of the carriages was clearly weighted down by something.
“This is…” Yang Kai looked at the carriages questioningly.
“100,000 pieces of Red Jades to show you my sincerity. Alchemist Yang, please don’t refuse!”
Despite listening to those words, Yang Kai did not react. On the other hand, the eyes of Du Yu Yu and Shi Ming Hui standing behind him immediately gleamed brightly!
100,000 pieces of Red Jade was equivalent to 1 million pieces of Black Jade or 10 million pieces of White Jade! This was a great display of sincerity indeed!
Void Spirit Sword Sect might own a Black Jade mine, but they could only mine 10 to 20 thousand pieces of Black Jade a month at most. It would take them at least 7 to 10 years just to accumulate an amount that was equivalent to 100,000 pieces of Red Jade.
Therefore, Du Yu Yu and Shi Ming Hui were blown away by Miao Hong’s generosity.
Miao Hong laughed, “Alchemist Yang, you will advance into the Heaven Realm soon. When your cultivation reaches this level, it’s best to cultivate using Red Jades. The efficiency is far too low if you use Black Jades.”
Yang Kai cupped his fists, “Your kindness is appreciated, City Lord. It would be impolite for this Yang to refuse.”
Yang Kai currently required a large amounts of resources for his cultivation. Besides, Miao Hong was showing his favour in advance. There was no reason to refuse.
The value of two carriages worth of Red Jades was not small. For that reason, Miao Hong further arranged for people from Heavenly Martial City to escort them back. It took several days, but Yang Kai and his companions finally returned to Void Spirit Sword Sect.
The escorts left immediately after delivering the items; even so, the appearance of such a large force frightened Su Chang Fa and the others badly. They thought that somebody else was here to pick a quarrel with them again.
After receiving an explanation from Du Yu Yu and Shi Ming Hui, Su Chang Fa’s mouth fell wide open. It was not until a long while later that he shook his head in amazement and disappointment, “I’ve gotten old…”
Upon returning to Void Spirit Sword Sect, Yang Kai recounted the events at Heavenly Martial City to Su Chang Fa and the others. During the conversation, he secretly revealed that he was taught Alchemy by a strange man when he was younger.
There was no choice. Gao Xin Peng would surely come to Void Spirit Sword Sect in the future. At that time, Su Chang Fa and the others would learn about this matter. Rather than letting them hear about this from somebody else, it would be better for him to disclose this information in advance to give them some buffer time.
Sure enough, Su Chang Fa and the others were completely stunned by the news.
Gu Kang Ning frowned, “When you were 6 or 7 years old? Weren’t you spending all day long thinking about how to peek on your Martial Aunt Hong Xiu while she was bathing? Where would you find the time to learn Alchemy from others?”
As soon as those words left his mouth, Hong Xiu immediately shot a sharp glare at him.
Yang Kai was shocked, “Did I do that when I was younger?”
Cold sweat dripped down the back of his head in waves. Hong Xiu’s sharp knife-like gaze immediately swept over him and his cold sweat oozed out even harder.
Su Chang Fa lightly coughed, “If it was a Senior Expert from Profound Pill Sect, we would not have been able to detect anything. That’s a good thing. I just never imagined that a brat like you would have such amazing talent in Alchemy. You even managed to refine a Heaven Grade pill.”
However, when he recalled that even the Ancestor had handed his Legacy Inheritance to Yang Kai, Su Chang Fa found that it was not that surprising after all.
Gu Kang Ning and Su Chang Fa exchanged a glance with each other before they nodded lightly in unison and said happily, “It is a joyous occasion for Void Spirit Sword Sect!”
The True Void Sword replica that had been missing for so many years finally reappeared. The three True Void Sword Qi fortified the fate of the Sect. Now that Yang Kai was a Heaven Grade Alchemist who had connections with Profound Pill Sect, it was easy to see that Void Spirit Sword Sect would soon rise to glory.
“Honoured Master, I’m afraid I have to enter retreat immediately even though I just returned to the Sect. Senior Brother Gao gave me a High-Rank Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill before he left. By the time this Disciple exits retreat, I will probably be able to advance into the Heaven Realm!”
Hong Xiu couldn’t be bothered to be annoyed by what happened in the past upon hearing that; instead, she exclaimed in astonishment when she heard those words, “What is your current cultivation!?”
“The peak of the Earth Realm!” Yang Kai surged his Spirit Qi while speaking. The aura belonging to a Master at the peak of the Earth Realm immediately permeated the air.
Su Chang Fa and the others instantly became dumbstruck! The three Elders of Void Spirit Sword Sect were astonished by how fast Yang Kai’s cultivation speed was. They could not wrap their heads around how a cultivator in the Fourth-Step Mortal Realm could reach the peak of the Earth Realm in a short span of three months.
Ignoring their reactions, Yang Kai went off to cultivate in retreat on his own.
He had tried to break through before, but there was a layer of shackles formed by the World Principles of this world. The help of an external source was required to advance from the Earth Realm to the Heaven Realm; otherwise, it was impossible to break through to the next Realm just by relying on his strength alone.
He did not know the reason behind this phenomenon and could only assume that it was a special characteristic of the Divine Armament World.
Yang Kai sat beside a pile of Red Jades inside his secluded home and took out the High-Rank pill that Gao Xin Peng gave to him. After a quick check, he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the pill and swallowed it.
The process of advancing from the Earth Realm to the Heaven Realm was a process of transformation for any cultivator. It was their first baptism in life; it was a sublimation of their power; it was a test of life and death. If they crossed this threshold, they would step into a wider world and see greater sights. If they failed to cross this threshold, they would suffer endless troubles in the future.
Be that as it may, Yang Kai’s heritage as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was not just for show. Not to mention that he had a High-Rank Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill to support him, so there was no need to worry that he might fail.
He activated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law and the medicinal efficacies in his abdomen quickly dissolved. In addition, the pure Spirit Qi contained within the Red Jades around him seemed to be pulled by a strong guiding force and transformed into a wave of Spirit Qi that poured into his body through his pores.
His aura was released without any reservations; then, it began to climb with a steady momentum and soon reached a peak.
During his past attempts, Yang Kai would feel an invisible layer of shackles restricting his body whenever he reached this point. As a result, he became powerless to proceed any further.
However, things were different this time. When he felt the invisible shackles wrapping around his body, he also felt the medicinal efficacies of the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill in his body simultaneously flowing throughout his body and quickly shattering the shackles around him.
He immediately felt lighter, as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
His aura that had reached the peak earlier continued to climb once more; moreover, it grew in leaps and bounds. An overwhelming force burst out with him as the centre, along with a ripple of air waves visible to the naked eye. The loose rock around his secluded home cracked and heaved noisily.
All the cultivators in Void Spirit Sword Sect sensed something at that moment and quickly stopped what they were doing to look in the direction of Yang Kai’s secluded home.
Su Chang Fa, Gu Kang Ning, and Hong Xiu had been standing guard not far away from Yang Kai’s home all this while.
At this moment, the old man’s aged face became emotional, “A Heaven Realm Master! There is finally a Heaven Realm Master in Void Spirit Sword Sect! Our Ancestors have finally taken pity on us and have given us their blessings!”
While speaking, tears flowed down his cheeks freely.
Gu Kang Ning and Hong Xiu were similarly moved.
Su Chang Fa was getting older and his vitality was beginning to decline. His Martial Dao would forever stay in the Third-Step Earth Realm.
But, that was not the case for Gu Kang Ning and Hong Xiu. They still had the potential to move forward.
The main reason for the slow growth of their cultivation was the lack of resources that could not keep up with their demands; fortunately, the situation was getting better by the day. There were Black Jades being mined from the Black Jade mine every single day, and Yang Kai was a Heaven Grade Alchemist who could refine the Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pill.
As long as they worked hard in their cultivation, they would eventually reach the Heaven Realm in their lifetime. For a moment, their eyes were filled with great hope!
On the other side, Du Yu Yu and Shi Ming Hui stood together. Having followed Yang Kai out on his trip this time, it could be said that they experienced many new things.
Besides, their cultivation was not low. One was in the Seventh-Step Earth Realm while the other was in the Eighth-Step Earth Realm. It would not take more than a few years for them to reach the peak of the Earth Realm.
At that time, Yang Kai would be their biggest hope of advancing into the Heaven Realm! After all, it was not difficult for a Heaven Grade Alchemist like him to refine some Ten Revolutions Clear Heart Pills for his own subordinates.
After considering all this, the two of them exchanged a glance with each other and understood what the other was thinking. Even if Yang Kai were to remove the poison from their bodies now, they would not leave. They had made up their minds to follow him to the end.