Refining the World Force of a Universe World was a despicable act that went against the Heavenly Way. After all, doing so would damage the foundation of a Universe World which in turn would bring calamity to the trillions of living beings.
What the Great Demon God had done back then was more or less the same.
Only the lawless and wicked would do something so disgraceful. No matter what else, Zuo Quan Hui was from Thousand Crane Paradise. Before he was labelled as a traitor by Thousand Crane Paradise, he was an Inner Sect Elder, so it really was unthinkable for him to do something like this.
However, when everyone remembered how he had not hesitated to have Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch wreak havoc in Void Territory’s Three Brilliance World in order to lure Yang Kai out, killing countless people in the process, it became apparent that there was nothing he would not do.
Zuo Quan Hui had resorted to unscrupulous means before in order to avenge his Disciple, so he would naturally do so again.
Supplementing your own energy by refining a Universe World’s foundation was not something that could be done so easily, however. It was only possible if the Universe World’s foundation was compatible with one’s own Small Universe; otherwise, if their energies conflicted with each other, the cons would outweigh the pros.
Since Zuo Quan Hui was doing something like this, it meant that the foundation of this Universe World was compatible with his Small Universe.
Nonetheless, even if he could refine it successfully, Zuo Quan Hui would still need to spend a great deal of time and effort to eliminate the sequelae caused by this. There was no doubt that the foundation of the Universe World here was beneficial to him, but if he failed to remove the harmful energy, it would damage his foundation instead.
It was not as safe as painstakingly refining Open Heaven Realm Pills and cultivation materials of different Orders, but it won in speed!
Apparently, Zuo Quan Hui’s condition wasn’t very good; otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken such a risk.
“Let’s go!” Yang Kai shouted as he took the lead and rushed towards the Universe World. Since he knew what Zuo Quan Hui was scheming, how could he let him have his way?
On the Blue Clouds Continent, Lu Bai Yang was leaning against a large tree with his body drenched in blood, his hair dishevelled, and his face completely pale.
He was the strongest Master in the Blue Clouds Continent. He had gained some insights into the Heavenly Way and had gone into retreat for hundreds of years just to comprehend his own Dao. He didn’t know what kind of mysteries lay further ahead on the Martial Dao, but he could faintly feel that his path had not yet reached its end and that there was still a vast future ahead of him.
He could not prove this point, nor could anyone tell him about this; no one on the entire continent had this qualification.
After being invincible in this World for so many years, he longed for an even stronger Master to guide him. He had once fantasized about a wider world outside the continent, where cultivators stronger than him existed.
He even once thought that it would be great if a stronger Master really came to the Blue Clouds Continent. No matter if the other party was someone good or evil, he could at least ask for some advice from them. Even if he had to pay a steep price, it was still acceptable to him.
And such a day had really come.
When the world shook, it shook Lu Bai Yang wide awake. He immediately came out of retreat and looked around. The next moment, he spotted seven figures descending from the sky and landing on Tranquil Heavens Peak where he lived.
This was the Sacred Peak of the Blue Clouds Continent, the Holy Land of the Martial Dao that everyone on the continent yearned for, because this was where Lu Bai Yang lived!
Tranquil Heavens Peak was the source of all Earth Veins of this world, and Lu Bai Yang was its protector.
The auras of these seven people were as deep as the sea and Lu Bai Yang could tell each of them had a cultivation far greater than his own with a single glance. Even someone like Lu Bai Yang didn’t know how to face them.
He had longed for a stronger cultivator to guide him, but he hadn’t expected that when such a cultivator arrived, their cultivation would be so high that he couldn’t even see the opposite party’s back.
Just a casual attack from the other party had left him severely injured; his Foundation almost collapsed and his cultivation had nearly been crippled because of this.
He hadn’t even been able to clearly see how the other party had attacked. In the eyes of the other party, Lu Bai Yang’s title of strongest under the Heavens was no different than a scrap of paper.
What caused Lu Bai Yang to be bitterly disappointed even more was the fact that after attacking him, the other party no longer paid any attention to him. They did not even care if he was dead or alive. They let him lie on the ground, barely breathing, not even showing the slightest bit of vigilance.
Only if the disparity between them was too great would they ignore their opponent like this.
Lu Bai Yang coughed up a mouthful of blood, leaning against the tallest tree on Tranquil Heavens Peak. He didn’t know what these uninvited guests had done, but half a day ago, the Heavenly Way roared and the wind and clouds changed colour. Immediately, Lu Bai Yang noticed that the Blue Clouds Continent was losing something very important at a rapid rate.
He had been able to comprehend a trace of the Heavenly Way after painstakingly cultivating for so many years in the retreat, so he was able to faintly perceive the changes in the world.
It was not just World Energy that was being drained away, but something far more important.
This was the foundation of the entire world!
*Hong long long…*
Deafening rumbles came from the ground as it cracked and the sky shook to no end.
Lu Bai Yang felt as if he was hearing the wails of all living beings in the World, each and every one of the heart-wrenching cries were so real that they seemed to echo in his ears.
He shook his head vigorously, but he was unable to shake off the noise.
He heard countless prayers and pleas.
He saw the world collapsing, volcanoes erupting, and living beings fleeing in a desperate attempt to seek shelter.
The world was ending!
Lu Bai Yang’s eyes went wide. He didn’t know why he was hearing these strange noises and seeing these strange scenes, but he knew that they were real and were happening all over the Blue Clouds Continent.
This was the home where he was born and raised, yet these invaders wanted to destroy it!
Lu Bai Yang actually broke into a fit of coughing as he braced himself and slowly stood up.
Not far away, Zi Yan, who was recovering, opened her eyes and glanced at him. Her eyes flickered with a cold gleam as she indifferently stated, “If you don’t want to die, just lie there!”
[I actually failed to kill him. This guy is quite tenacious.]
Lu Bai Yang coughed violently again, spitting out pieces of his internal organs before lowering his head and mumbling in a low voice, “This is Blue Clouds Continent!”
“I, Lu Bai Yang… am the strongest Master of the Blue Clouds Continent!”
“Everyone in the world knows that even if the sky collapses, someone will always appear to hold it up. If I, Lu Bai Yang, don’t stand now that it is collapsing, who will?”
He stated his inner thoughts word by word, taking a step with each one he spoke, leaving behind clear bloody footprints. After a few steps, his dispirited face slowly brightened as his hunched back straightened.
The world hummed.
The next moment, a cracking sound rang out.
Lu Bai Yang stopped in his tracks. He felt as if something had appeared in his body. The Grand Dao that had always eluded him, like it was covered in a layer of fog even after having been in a retreat for so many years, suddenly became as bright as day at this moment as a seal appeared in his body!
A steady stream of energy was flowing out from the seal, causing Lu Bai Yang to feel as if he possessed the same power as the Heavens and the Earth, and that he was able to control this omnipresent might of the World.
“Oh? You obtained the acknowledgement of the World’s Will and became a Great Emperor, allowing you to form a Dao Seal?” Yin Xin Zhao looked towards Lu Bai Yang with interest.
Red Sun Heavenly Monarch indifferently stated, “This world is sentient, it doesn’t want to be destroyed. So naturally, it will strive to find a chance to survive, but unfortunately…”
So, what if Lu Bai Yang had become a Great Emperor? In front of several Sixth-Order, and a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, he was still nothing more than an ant. If he had found such a genius in the past, Dan Yang might have been interested in taking him under his wing and meticulously nurturing him.
However, after the battle with Void Land, Heavenly Sword Union had almost been wiped out, with only him and Huang Mao surviving until now. There would be no Heavenly Sword Union in the future.
Dan Yang even didn’t have the heart to take in Disciples and teach them at this point.
While Lu Bai Yang was still in a daze, Zi Yan had already lifted her hand. The next moment, she sent a burst of energy towards Lu Bai Yang’s heart with a flick of her wrist.
In the moment of crisis, Lu Bai Yang instinctively dodged to the side, borrowing the might of the world to instantly teleport to another location, but the energy followed after him like it was alive.
This time, Lu Bai Yang was unable to dodge and his chest was pierced through, causing a fountain of blood to spurt.
Lu Bai Yang was shocked and fell into despair!
Originally, he had thought that he would be able to fight against these invaders after his strength had greatly increased. He would be able to take a few of them down along with him even if he lost his life.
However, he now finally realized that the gap between him and these people was simply too great. The woman had heavily injured him with a flick of her wrist, so it would obviously be a simple matter for her to kill him.
Lu Bai Yang looked up in anger and roared, grounding his teeth, “You will surely suffer the Heavens’ judgment for committing such vile acts! The trillions of dead souls of my Blue Clouds Continent will haunt you day and night, we will not let you rest in peace!”
Hearing this, Yin Xin Zhao sneered, “Haunt us? The Heavens’ judgment? Ignorant foo…”
Mid-speech, Yin Xin Zhao looked up and a look of fear appeared on his face as he shouted, “How did they find us!?”
The others also felt that something was wrong and all of them looked up as if they were facing a great enemy.
Even Zuo Quan Hui, who was refining the foundation of the Blue Clouds Continent, suddenly opened his eyes as a dark and malicious gleam flashed across his eyes.
Lu Bai Yang finally realized what was happening and also looked up as well. He then saw an upheaval in the void as a giant crack appeared in the sky. From the crack, a group of more than twenty people appeared, descending upon the world like divine soldiers from the Heavens.
The person in the middle was a young man who looked even more youthful than himself. He wore a tight-fitting outfit and had a majestic and dignified expression.
In an instant, everyone became tense. The invaders who were ridiculing Lu Bai Yang just now wore ugly expressions, as if their parents had just been murdered.
Although Lu Bai Yang didn’t know where this second group of guests came from, it was clear that these two groups were enemies. More importantly, the first group was obviously afraid of the newcomers.
Lu Bai Yang’s heart was filled with joy as he burst into loud laughter, “Those who act unjustly will die, the Heavens’ judgment has arrived!”
No one was in the mood to pay attention to this fellow who had just become a Great Emperor. Yin Xin Zhao and the others became extremely focused as they began circulating their World Force.
Up in the sky, Yang Kai stated in a calm and composed manner, coldly staring down, “Zuo Quan Hui, you won’t escape this time!”
Zuo Quan Hui clenched his teeth and coldly snorted, “And how are you going to fight me exactly? You can’t borrow the World Strength after leaving that Great Territory, can you?”
Previously, Yang Kai had advanced to the Seventh Order by borrowing World Force from the Star Boundary, obtaining the qualifications to fight him. Now that he had left the Great Territory, his cultivation had reverted to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Although he only had six Sixth-Order Masters beside him, including one more who had just broken through, a Seventh-Order Master like him alone was enough to bridge the gap between them, so the current situation was not necessarily worse than before.
As long as he could take down Yang Kai, he would be victorious!
Looking down at the Blue Clouds Continent, Yang Kai sighed softly and sympathetically mumbled, “Many people are going to die today…”
If so many Open Heaven Realm Masters were to fight here, it would definitely have a huge impact on the entire Universe World. If the fight went on for too long, this Universe World might even be torn to pieces; however, they could not remain still either. Once Zuo Quan Hui had refined this Universe World’s foundation, he could do as he pleased and this continent would plunge into misery anyway!
All Yang Kai could do was quickly end this battle to reduce the losses!
Yang Kai’s gaze turned to the nearby Great Emperor, who was lying in a pool of blood. Lu Bai Yang also happened to have noticed him.
As their eyes met, Lu Bai Yang requested in a low voice, “Blue Clouds Continent’s Lu Bai Yang begs for Your Excellency’s assistance in slaying these evil people and returning peace to this world!”
“I won’t disappoint you!” Yang Kai nodded slightly before raising his spear and pointing it towards Zuo Quan Hui.
[Today, either he dies or I perish!]
Seeing this, Lu Bai Yang’s figure flickered and he instantly disappeared from his spot. After having obtained the acknowledgement of the World’s Will and becoming a Great Emperor, he was able to travel freely on the Blue Clouds Continent. Even if he had never cultivated the Dao of Space, he could still travel to any corner of this world with its assistance.
A great battle was about to break out! Although he had no way of speculating what kind of profound cultivation both sides had, he knew that the gap between him and them was too great. If he stayed here, not only would he not be of any help, but he might even be accidentally injured.
Since that was the case, the better choice was to quickly evacuate everyone in the vicinity. Regardless of how many he could actually save, he had to at least try!
Zuo Quan Hui and the others had no intention of stopping him. The life and death of an indigenous Great Emperor did not matter to them.
The next moment, the aura of 22 Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters slowly spread out, causing the entire world to freeze.
Zi Yan and the others couldn’t help but let out muffled grunts as they felt as if a great mountain was pressing down on them, making it hard to even properly breathe. They had no choice but to use their full strength to resist the pressure. At the same time, they quickly moved towards Zuo Quan Hui. The gap in their numbers was simply too great, with Yang Kai’s group being almost three times bigger than theirs. They had no choice but to rely on Zuo Quan Hui, a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm, to even the odds.
The atmosphere instantly became tense as both sides unleashed their auras, seemingly wanting to seize the initiative in this silent battle, but neither of them actually took the initiative to attack. Immediately after, Void Cracks began to appear right in the middle of the two groups, distorting the surrounding space.
They were evenly matched!
Surprisingly, they were able to block the invisible pressure emanated by Void Land’s Masters under Zuo Quan Hui’s leadership.
Zi Yan and the others were ecstatic, and they pushed their auras even harder.
Void Land was losing ground! Among the 22 people who stood in mid-air, a few of them suddenly stumbled and their faces went slightly pale. They looked like they were about to collapse.
Heavenly Sword Union’s Masters became even more excited at the sight of this. They immediately wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to push further and crush the arrogance of Void Land.
If they could achieve this, Void Land would be at a disadvantage in the actual battle.
With such a huge disparity in numbers, Heavenly Sword Union’s side should have been at a disadvantage even if they had a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but the fact was that Void Land were the ones losing momentum. They appeared to have the upper hand, but actually didn’t.
Zi Yan failed to understand why they were gaining the upper hand and could only guess that Void Land’s side had consumed too much energy in the last battle and had yet to recover.
This was great news for Heavenly Sword Union’s group.
Yin Xin Zhao, Pei Wen Xuan, Dan Yang, and Huang Mao also had similar thoughts. Perhaps this time, they would be able to turn defeat into victory.
But the next moment, something happened that took everyone by surprise!
Palm shadows filled the sky as they rained down on Zuo Quan Hui’s back like a violent storm. Then, the fearsome World Force of someone in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm suddenly erupted. Zuo Quon Hui fell victim to this sneak attack even though he was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. His eyes widened in anger as he slashed his sword behind him without a moment of hesitation.
This sword light seemed to be able to cut through space, leaving only the brilliance of the attack behind.
A figure quickly retreated, but it was still unable to avoid that sharp attack and was slashed from head to toe, almost splitting in two as a result.
Fortunately, the figure immediately retreated after launching their sneak attack. Its quick escape saved its life, but it was still seriously injured. This attack left a huge gaping wound spanning from the middle of its brow to its abdomen. Red hot blood immediately gushed out of the wound as the figure was sent flying, crashing into Tranquil Heavens Peak.
The 10,000 metres tall mountain split and collapsed into rubble.
This sneak attack came out of nowhere, and Zuo Quan Hui’s counterattack was not slow either, so everything was over in a flash.
It wasn’t until this moment that Zi Yan and the others came to their senses. When they turned their heads, they recognized the attacker to be the Myriad Demons Heaven disciple named Mo Sheng, who claimed to have broken through at the last moment and fought his way out.
Pei Wen Xuan’s mind went blank as he instinctively felt that something was wrong.
He could not believe his Junior Brother Mo Sheng launched a sneak attack on Zuo Quan Hui. Why would he do that? As impossible as it seemed, the truth was right in front of him. Mo Sheng had already been sent flying, and no one knew whether he was dead or alive, so Pei Wen Xuan had to accept the reality before his eyes.
Suddenly, he felt a cold gaze focused on him, filled with murderous intent.
Pei Wen Xuan was startled and quickly turned his head, explaining himself in horror, “Martial Uncle Zuo, I don’t know…”
Before he could finish his sentence, an incomparably terrifying pressure descended from the sky. It was none other than Void Land’s cultivators who had been forced to retreat previously and were now counterattacking.
The pressure emanating from the Void Land Masters was tremendous, completely opposite to the weakness they showed before. The pressure felt like it could topple the mountains and overturn the seas, sweeping away the world as it passed.
[They were feigning weakness?]
In an instant, Pei Wen Xuan understood everything. [No wonder they didn’t attack just after they arrived and deliberately used their pressure to suppress us instead. They wanted to distract us so that Zuo Quan Hui would have no choice but to exert his pressure to resist, allowing Mo Sheng to launch a sneak attack.]
Once Zuo Quan Hui fell into this trap and used his pressure to counterattack, he could not stop.
Their every step was meticulous and carefully planned. Those from Void Land were too cunning!
Pei Wen Xuan also finally understood how those from Void Land had found them so quickly.
This Great Territory was vast, and they had not left any trail behind on their way here. Furthermore, it was just a coincidence that they found this continent. However, those from Void Land had arrived here less than half a day later; it was simply too quick!
Since Mo Sheng was a traitor though, it was naturally not difficult for him to secretly leave behind some clues.
Mo Sheng was a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple like him, so after Zuo Quan Hui was ambushed, one did not need to be a genius to understand why he was showing such murderous intent towards him. However, Pei Wen Xuan couldn’t come up with anything to prove his innocence. He had no intention of betraying Zuo Quan Hui, but he had been implicated by Mo Sheng.
The only thing he couldn’t figure out was why Mo Sheng had betrayed Zuo Quan Hui and when he had teamed up with Yang Kai!
Now, after he gave it another thought though, he found Mo Sheng’s breakthrough to the Sixth Order extremely suspicious. However, when Mo Sheng had rushed over, no one had the time to look deeper into this matter. In addition, he was also a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple, so asking too much would inevitably cause the other party to feel some displeasure, which could lead to a conflict they couldn’t afford right now.
In their situation, even one more Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master meant better chances of survival.
At this moment, none of them had the time to think about these things. Everyone, including Zuo Quan Hui, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, buckled under the fearsome wave of pressure. Their energy was sent into turmoil as they spat out mouthfuls of blood.
“Kill!” Yang Kai angrily roared as he raised his spear. Immediately after, the 22 people on his side, who had been suppressing their auras since they appeared, rushed down like a tiger hunting its prey as they each went looking for their opponent.
Iron Blood Great Emperor and Bustling World Great Emperor headed straight towards Pei Wen Xuan together.
Martial Beast and Serene Soul charged straight at Yin Xin Zhao.
Flower Shadow and Ice Feather attacked Dan Yang together.
Wondrous Pill and Heavens Revelation fought Huang Mao together.
Fang Yue and Xiang Ying were thus left with no choice but to go after Zi Yan.
As men, they really did not want to gang up on a lone woman, but since everyone had already decided on this strategy, they had no choice but to accept it.
The eight Great Emperors, as well as Fang Yue and Xiang Ying, were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who had advanced in recent years. Their foundations were shallow, and could not compare with veteran Sixth-Order Heavenly Monarchs like Dan Yang and Huang Mao, or even Zi Yan, Pei Wen Xuan, and Yin Xin Zhao.
In a one-on-one fight, they were definitely not their opponent.
But two against one was naturally not a problem.
They were also in desperate need of a fierce battle to consolidate their cultivations and adapt to the battles between Open Heaven Realm Masters. In the Star Boundary’s Great Territory, the Great Emperors had not had a chance to act because they had all gone to the Star Boundary to support Yang Kai. Now, their wish had finally come true.
Although the Void Land cultivators weren’t at their peak because of the last battle, the same was true for Yin Xin Zhao, Pei Wen Xuan and the others. Everyone’s situation was similar and neither was better off than the other.
On top of that, Yin Xin Zhao and the others had just suffered under the joint pressure exerted by those from Void Land just now, which had put them at a disadvantage.
For the moment, Void Land had the absolute upper hand in their respective battlefields, leaving Yin Xin Zhao and the others bruised and battered.
The peaks in the vicinity collapsed one after another as the Heavens were torn asunder and the Earth was split apart. The fallout from a battle between Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were extremely terrifying. Lu Bai Yang would have lost his life had he not left, even if he was a Great Emperor.
On the other side, the Three Mountain Lords, Hua Yong and Shu Mu Dan, Qing Kui, Su Ying Xue, Yue He, Mo Mei, Hui Gu, Luan Bai Feng, and Yang Kai as the leader together fought the Seventh-Order Master, Zuo Quan Hui in a twelve vs one battle.
To be honest, even twelve ordinary Sixth-Order Masters might not be able to defeat a Seventh-Order Master. Even if they somehow won by putting their lives on the line, the price they had to pay would be quite steep, and they might even be dragged down with them. Fortunately, Yang Kai was no ordinary Sixth-Order Master.
The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were extremely precious to Void Land, so how could Yang Kai bear to let Zuo Quan Hui kill anyone?
Wu Kuang’s sneak attack played an important role here. Zuo Quan Hui had not expected that a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple would attack him from behind.
When he had lured Yang Kai into attacking and piercing through the Territory Barrier, he had suffered severe injuries from Yang Kai’s Azure Dragon Spear. On his way here, he did not have the time to heal himself and had only thought of a way to disperse the Golden Crow’s True Fire lingering around his wound. And the sneak attack had only made his injuries worse.
At this moment, Zuo Quan Hui could only exert about 70% of his peak strength! Perhaps even worse.
If Zuo Quan Hui escaped even in these conditions, Yang Kai would simply stab himself to death with his own spear.
As soon as they began fighting, Zuo Quan Hui was forced to retreat again and again. Although he was recklessly waving his sword and spending his World Force, he was still unable to withstand the combined onslaught of twelve Sixth-Order Masters. Yang Kai’s spear struck his shoulder and sent him flying in just a few breaths of time as a dozen or so Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques followed closely behind. It immediately caused Zuo Quan Hui’s eyes to widen in anger as he drew a circle with his sword, barely managing to block the oncoming attacks.
Even so, his vitality was sent into turmoil from the impact.
Void Land’s group launched another salvo without giving Zuo Quan Hui even a moment to catch his breath. One after another, multi-coloured flashes of their Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques glimmered before bursting into dazzling halos, destroying everything in their path!
With a loud crash, dust and pieces of rocks flew into the air, as a figure draped in Demon Qi flew out from the cloud of dust and smoke. It just so happened that Zuo Quan Hui’s back was towards the figure. The Demon Qi in the figure’s hands transformed into two Demon Dragons as they flew straight towards Zuo Quan Hui, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws. Close behind the Demon Dragons was the figure, heading straight at Zuo Quan Hui.
Zuo Quan Hui let out a cold snort and slashed out with his sword, blasting the Demon Dragons into smithereens. Afterwards, the long sword that was wrapped in intense World Force continued moving straight towards the figure’s head.
With a deranged smile on its face, the figure wrapped in Demon Qi didn’t even try to dodge. Its body was covered in blood as if it didn’t seem to care about its life and was ready to die with Zuo Quan Hui.
Just when the sword wave was a hundred metres away from the figure, the Azure Dragon Spear broke through the barrier of space and shot straight towards Zuo Quan Hui’s back. There was a fist-sized black ball on the tip of the spear, releasing the aura of nihility and chaos.
Zuo Quan Hui furrowed his brow and he flicked his wrist, sending his sword flying towards the spear.
The black ball instantly exploded, transforming into a black hole that swallowed everything around it.
Yang Kai was also sent back flying by the violent blast of energy. From the left, Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, and Zhou Ya left three long streaks of light as they brushed past Yang Kai, while from the right, Luan Bai Feng, Hui Gu, and Hua Yong swooped in, filling the gap in their defences.
The seven of them used their Divine Abilities to bombard Zuo Quan Hui, not giving him a single moment to regain his balance.
At the same time, Yue He and Mo Mei flew over, supporting Yang Kai’s tumbling body and stabilizing him in mid-air. Yang Kai, taking a deep breath and rejoined the attack with the two women as their momentum soared!
In this chaotic confrontation, the twelve Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Void Land were like a wheel, attacking Zuo Quan Hui in turn without rest. Even though Zuo Quan Hui was a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, he was struggling to defend himself.
“Not dead yet?” Yang Kai glanced over at Wu Kuang, taking a moment away from the intense fight. The figure clad in Demon Qi was none other than Wu Kuang. He had been sent flying by the sword strike when he tried to sneak attack Zuo Quan Hui. The sword attack left a gaping cut on his face, as well as on his chest and abdomen; however, he didn’t seem to feel any pain. Rather, the more he fought, the more berserk he became.
Wu Kuang laughed loudly, “A good man does not live long, but a scourge lives a thousand years. This King is destined to exist for as long as the Universe does!”
Yang Kai curled his lips and stated, “At least you have some self-awareness!”
Wu Kuang’s expression suddenly became serious, “You owe me this time. I expect to be compensated fairly!”
Yang Kai replied, “Fine, if you have any requests, feel free to ask. Whether or not I’ll fulfil them will depend on my mood though.”
Wu Kuang moved to Zuo Quan Hui’s flank, waiting for an opportunity to unleash a series of Divine Abilities as he shouted, “I want this old dog!”
As he stated his request, his eyes lit up as he stretched out his tongue, licking his lips as an evil aura started emanating from him. Yue He and Mo Mei beside Yang Kai suddenly shivered at the sight of this.
They still didn’t know what kind of friendship Yang Kai had with this Myriad Demons Heaven disciple for him to be willing to cooperate with them and ambush Zuo Quan Hui, a Seventh-Order Master, but they instinctively felt that this guy wasn’t a good person.
Wu Kuang’s request further caused Yue He and Mo Mei’s brows to inexplicably furrow.
Yang Kai’s face twitched as he resolutely declared, “Ask for something else!”
Others might not know what Wu Kuang meant, but Yang Kai did. Wu Kuang cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, so it was obvious he was interested in Zuo Quan Hui’s Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivation.
“No!” Wu Kuang firmly refused. The last time he had devoured a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with his Heaven Devouring Battle Law, his cultivation had soared tremendously. After having tasted such sweetness, Wu Kuang simply found anyone in the Third, Fourth, or even Fifth-Order bland now.
How could he be willing to give up such a big pie like the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Master before them? As long as there was a glimmer of hope, he was willing to risk his life.
“Arrogant brat!” Zuo Quan Hui roared in anger. Yang Kai and Wu Kuang were talking like he was already a fish on the chopping board, completely at their mercy. As a Seventh-Order Master, how could he not be angry?
He had never suffered such humiliation in his life.
However, no matter how angry he was, he could not reverse this situation.
The last time he was in Void Territory, Yang Kai and the three Mountain Lords of the Profound Yang Mountain had been able to barely match him. Although they had been at a disadvantage in every aspect, they were already qualified to fight him.
Now, there were twelve Sixth-Order Masters of Void Land fighting him, three times more than previously. He had also suffered multiple injuries and was no longer at his peak, so how could he be their opponent?
With a dazzling strike, Zuo Quan Hui split the ground and the sky before putting a distance from his attackers. The next moment, his figure flickered and actually transformed into three clones.
Everyone promptly spread their Divine Sense, but the next moment, all of them looked surprised.
The three figures were exactly the same. They were unable to differentiate which one was real and which one was a decoy. They had never heard or seen such Divine Ability before.
The three Zuo Quan Huis wore the same expression and even their movements were fluid and lifelike. As soon as they appeared, they rushed forward in three different directions. As everyone worked together to block the three Zuo Quan Huis, they were shocked to discover that these three Zuo Quan Huis possessed the full strength of his true body!
For a moment, everyone was thrown into confusion.
The power of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master was really frightening!
Suddenly, two of three Zuo Quan Huis distorted and collapsed, leaving behind only one of them who had broken through everyone’s encirclement and was now less than 1,000 metres away from Yang Kai. He wore a grim and serious look on his face. The sword in his hand thrummed as he poured his World Force into it and swung it towards Yang Kai. Immediately after, a shocking sword wave shot out, shattering space wherever it passed.
An indescribable sense of crisis engulfed Yang Kai, causing his heart to clench tight. He realized that Zuo Quan Hui knew that it would be difficult for him to fight everyone at once, so he had decided to attack him.
Everyone understood the principle of killing a General to subdue his men!
Yue He and Mo Mei, who had been standing together with Yang Kai, transformed into two streaks of light as they fearlessly rushed forward. They released their Divine Abilities, but were still unable to slow the sword wave even a bit.
Muffled grunts escaped from their mouths as the Sword Intent struck them. Under the unbearable pressure of the World Force, both of them spat out a mouthful of blood and were thrown back.
Yang Kai promptly put his Azure Dragon Spear aside and quickly formed a series of hand seals.
The next moment, the Golden Crow cried out and a Great Sun rose, brightly illuminating the world.
After the Sun, a cold, round Moon also rose up as frigid moonlight slowly spread out.
The sight of the Sun and Moon shining together was a wondrous sight!
Yang Kai pushed both his Space Principles and Time Principles to their limit.
The golden Sun and the silver Moon began rotating, transforming into a golden and silver wheel that seemed to cut through thousands of years of time. Everything else in this world seemed to have come to a standstill at that moment, with only the lone High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master remaining unaffected.
The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel had appeared again!
Zuo Quan Hui’s pupils instantly shrank.
Last time, he had been injured by Yang Kai’s Sun and Moon Divine Wheel in a moment of carelessness, which forced him to retreat from Void Territory and head to Heavenly Sword Territory to recuperate.
He still remembered the strange power that gnawed at him like maggots on rotting bones. He had never seen such a strange power in his entire life. It was a mixture of Time and Space Principles, a might that transcended anything he had comprehended or experienced before.
He had spent a great deal of effort to disperse the Space-Time Strength which had invaded his body and had lost hundreds of years of his lifespan as a result.
He knew better than anyone how difficult and terrifying this strange power was.
Originally, Zuo Quan Hui thought that Yang Kai wouldn’t be able to grow much in just a few years, but now that Yang Kai’s Sun and Moon Divine Wheel appeared before him again, he realized he was wrong.
In just a few short years, Yang Kai’s comprehension of this Divine Ability had clearly risen to a whole new level. Compared to when he had used it that day, the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel today was far more powerful!
The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel’s foundation was its composite Space-Time Strength. It contained both Time and Space Principles. The Dao of Space was Yang Kai’s Grand Dao, and Yang Kai had already reached the seventh level, Summiting the Peak, in his comprehension of it, bordering on Transcending the Mundane.
However, his comprehension of the Dao of Time was vastly inferior to that of his Dao of Space.
Fortunately, Void Land had the Legacy Inheritance of Flowing Time Great Emperor! Flowing Time Great Emperor was the true Master of the Dao of Time.
Entering retreat in the Flowing Time Temple while engaging in discussion with Yang Xiao and Yang Xue had allowed Yang Kai to make a breakthrough in his Mastery over the Dao of Time. Although it still wasn’t as good as his own Dao of Space, it was more than enough for him to improve the might of his Sun and Moon Divine Wheel.
The current Sun and Moon Divine Wheel was more than 20% stronger than the past!
Yang Kai had specially kept this as a surprise for Zuo Quan Hui. Originally, he had wanted to use this move to end everything, but the situation on the battlefield had completely changed. Since Zuo Quan Hui wanted to consign him to death, regardless of the cost, Yang Kai had no choice but to reveal this card.
At this moment, each passing breath felt like a million years had passed.
A loud bang reverberated through the sky as a terrifying shockwave spread out in all directions. The shocking sword wave shattered and transformed into countless thin strands of Sword Qi, causing the surrounding space to be riddled with cracks. Even the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Void Land were unable to withstand this fallout and were all covered in blood.
Yang Kai was also struck in the chest by the remnants of the Sword Qi and was sent flying with wounds so deep that even his bones were visible.
Zuo Quan Hui didn’t fare any better. Although the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel’s power had been reduced by more than half by his sword wave, the remaining Space-Time Strength still continued to head towards him.
Even with his cultivation, he was unable to avoid this blow. Just like last time, when the golden and silver Divine Wheel crashed into his body, a terrifying power burst out and strangely seeped into his body, directly attacking his Small Universe.
In an instant, Zuo Quan Hui’s footing became unstable and everything went white before his eyes. His Small Universe became even more unstable and, at the same time, his exposed skin began to wrinkle and crack.
A Dragon swimming in the shallows could be toyed with by a shrimp, a Tiger could be bullied by a dog if it left its mountain! Zuo Quan Hui was livid.
In order to lure Yang Kai into breaking the Territory Barrier, he had taken a great risk. Although he had successfully forced Yang Kai to open a Territory Gate, he had not been able to completely avoid the blow at that time and was seriously injured.
If not for this, he wouldn’t have come to this Blue Clouds Continent to refine its foundation to supplement his energy.
On top of that, he had been caught off guard by the sneak attack of the Myriad Demons Heaven disciple, making a bad situation worse.
If that wasn’t the case, how could he be at such a disadvantage?
After a while, the shockwaves from the collision gradually subsided.
Yang Kai’s figure left a trail in the air as he struggled to stabilize his retreating figure. When he finally stood firm and looked up, he saw a streak of light flying towards the horizon.
“You want to run?” Yang Kai fiercely shouted as he raised his Azure Dragon Spear, and chased after him.
The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel had exhausted him greatly and he had not fully recovered to begin with, so now he was even more exhausted. However, Yang Kai could not miss this opportunity. If he did not eliminate Zuo Quan Hui this time, he might not have such a good opportunity next time.
Pushing his Space Principles, Yang Kai’s figure flickered and disappeared from his original position. When he reappeared, he turned around and thrust his spear out.
He happened to be standing right before Zuo Quan Hui, who was fleeing straight towards him!
Zuo Quan Hui was obviously prepared for this, as escaping in front of someone who was proficient in Dao of Space was simply too unrealistic. As a result, this spear strike didn’t do anything to him and instead, he managed to hit Yang Kai several times until the latter was coughing up blood.
In a one-on-one fight, Yang Kai was no match for Zuo Quan Hui.
Fortunately, Void Land’s Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had caught up in this brief delay, unleashing their respective Divine Abilities as their World Force surged violently, pushing Zuo Quan Hui back down to the ground.
A strong wind blew and his clothes fluttered.
Next to Tranquil Heavens Peak, Zuo Quan Hui stood with dishevelled hair, his long robe stained with blood. It was unclear whether this blood belonged to him or his enemies, but he no longer possessed the aloof air of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
With Yang Kai in the lead, a total of thirteen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters surrounded Zuo Quan Hui from every direction, firmly locking him in place.
He could not escape, not to the sky, nor towards the ground! He had never imagined that he would one day fall into such a predicament.
Be that as it may, Zuo Quan Hui didn’t show any sign of anger or frustration. His expression remained the same as he swept his eyes over everyone present, seemingly trying to imprint their faces into the depths of his soul.
His indifferent gaze was like a sharp blade, and when it swept across them, even these Masters felt their skin being pricked.
Yang Kai took out a handful of Open Heaven Pills and tossed them into his mouth and started chewing them, taking this opportunity to restore some of his energy. He then pointed his Azure Dragon Spear at Zuo Quan Hui and stated, “The sooner you die, the sooner you can be reborn. You’re already so old, why bother making things difficult for yourself?”
Zuo Quan Hui turned his eyes towards Yang Kai as he indifferently replied, “This Monarch has underestimated you. This Monarch has only himself to blame for falling into such a state today.”
Yang Kai praised, “It’s good to know one’s own limits. Since you have realized this, just obediently stand still. Don’t worry, I’ll end this in one thrust so you won’t feel any pain!”
Zuo Quan Hui slowly shook his head, “It won’t be that easy to kill this Monarch. Yang Kai, how about this Monarch makes a deal with you?”
“A deal?” Yang Kai looked at him with an arrogant look on his face, “Do you think you have the qualifications to negotiate a deal with me in this situation? If I give the order, do you believe you’ll immediately be reduced into a pile of mud?”
As he spoke, he kept tossing the Open Heaven Pills into his mouth, and at the same time, signalled the others with his eyes, making sure they were ready to respond.
Although Zuo Quan Hui seemed to be at his wit’s end, if a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master were to lash out without regard for his own life, Yang Kai couldn’t predict what kind of methods he could use. It was impossible for Zuo Quan Hui to escape, but Yang Kai had to be on guard against him dragging some of them down with him before he died.
Thus, even though he had the upper hand, Yang Kai didn’t dare to lower his guard in the slightest. On the contrary, he became even more vigilant than before, madly urging his Divine Sense. The moment he noticed Zuo Quan Hui doing anything suspicious, he would instantly go for the kill.
“You can give it a try!” Zuo Quan Hui calmly stated, showing a fearless expression.
Yang Kai instinctively felt that this guy was purposefully trying to mystify things, but he didn’t dare to take the risk, so he could only follow up, “Then tell me, what kind of deal do you want to make with me?”
Yang Kai threw bunches of Open Heaven Pills into his mouth like he was eating candy. He was more than happy to delay things so he could restore more of his strength. In this short time, he had already consumed more than 100 Open Heaven Pills.
*Munch Munch Munch*
Those from Void Land followed suit and began chewing on Open Heaven Pills loudly, annoying Zuo Quan Hui.
They could take this opportunity to recover, but he could not. He could guarantee that once he tried, he would be swarmed with attacks from every direction.
“Put today’s matter to rest right here and now and let me leave with Zi Yan. Everything that happened in the past will be written off.” Zuo Quan Hui earnestly looked at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai quietly looked at him for a while, and when he realized that there was nothing else Zuo Quan Hui had to add, he mumbled incoherently, “Just like that?”
Zuo Quan Hui nodded his agreement, “Yes!”
“Hmm…” Yang Kai mumbled to himself. His throat bobbed as he swallowed before he took out a Spirit Fruit from somewhere. He then lowered his head and carefully wiped it after finding a clean spot on his clothes, “I need to think about it. Your request is a bit excessive, it’s not something I can easily agree to.”
Zuo Quan Hui sneered in his heart. Yang Kai was clearly stalling and using this opportunity to recover; how could he not see through this little trick? But even though this kind of recovery could have some effect, it wasn’t very useful.
However, when Yang Kai took out the Spirit Fruit, Zuo Quan Hui furrowed his brow.
Because even with his knowledge and experience, he couldn’t tell what kind of Spirit Fruit it was.
Under his watchful gaze, Yang Kai opened his mouth wide and stuffed the entire fruit into his mouth, chewing it a few times before swallowing it whole.
His throat bobbed up and down once more, clearly showing him swallowing something.
The next moment, Yang Kai’s expression changed as he reached out and covered his mouth before sealing his seven orifices. Immediately after, loud rumbles came from inside Yang Kai’s body as if thunder was rolling inside him. His clothes even started fluttering on their own as rich World Force escaped from his pores.
“What did you just eat?” Zuo Quan Hui suddenly felt that something was not right as he could clearly see Yang Kai’s aura rising rapidly!
Yang Kai still had his mouth covered as he madly refined the Spirit Fruit’s pulp. He narrowed his eyes and smiled at Zuo Quan Hui as if he was looking at prey trapped in a cage.
Zuo Quan Hui’s eyes narrowed as he finally reacted, “A World Fruit?”
“Burp…” Yang Kai loudly belched, burping up a gush of World Force visible to the naked eye. At the same time, he waved his other hand like a rattle drum, “No, no, you are mistaken.”
How could Zuo Quan Hui listen to his explanation? He angrily shouted, “You cunning brat, you forced me to do this! Let’s see who dies today, whether it will be you or me!”
Yang Kai also shouted at the same time, “Attack!”
From beginning to end, Yang Kai had no intention of letting Zuo Quan Hui off. Without even mentioning his ridiculous request to ‘negotiate’, even if he had proposed a feasible offer, Yang Kai wouldn’t have listened to it.
After having paid such a huge price to force this old bastard into a desperate situation, how could he let him escape so easily?
Allowing a tiger to return to the mountain would only lead to disaster as it would surely return to bite him in the future.
The only reason Yang Kai even bothered talking just now was to allow his side to recover slightly, hopefully allowing them to use just one more Divine Ability at the critical moment to save themselves.
Be that as it may, using Open Heaven Pills to recover was simply too slow.
It was while Yang Kai was grumbling to himself about this that he suddenly remembered he had a number of World Fruits on him.
In the Great Ancient Ruins Boundary’s Primordial Land, Yang Kai had obtained a total of sixteen World Fruits from the World Tree, three Mid-Rank, and thirteen Low-Rank!
The three Mid-Rank fruits had already been used up. He had used one to advance from Fifth-Order to Sixth-Order, one had been used by Yue He, and one was used to help Lu Xue advance from the Fourth-Order to the Fifth-Order.
On the other hand, Yang Kai had only used one of the thirteen Low-Rank World Fruits, giving it to Guo Zi Yan, which helped him advance from the Second-Order to the Third-Order Open Heaven Realm.
Yang Kai still had twelve Low-Rank World Fruits left.
Although World Fruits were rare and valuable treasures, a Low-Rank World Fruit was quite useless to him now, strictly speaking. This fruit could at most allow a Second-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to advance to the Third-Order directly, but it was not enough to allow someone in the Third-Order to advance to the Fourth-Order, only a Mid-Rank World Fruit could do that.
Therefore, Yang Kai had simply held onto the remaining twelve World Fruits.
It wasn’t until this moment that he had a flash of inspiration.
He had personally consumed a Mid-Rank World Fruit before and knew that it was filled with extremely rich World Force. And to top it off, it had no impurities; it could easily be refined, it just would not help an Open Heaven Realm Master advance by an Order.
A Low-Rank World Fruit naturally couldn’t allow him to break through to the Seventh Order, but it shouldn’t be a problem to supplement his consumption.
Figuring it was worth a try, he ate one.
The effect was immediate!
The World Force in his Small Universe was rapidly growing and he swiftly regained his strength. Although he had not recovered completely, Yang Kai still recovered about half of his energy. Furthermore, he was slowly recovering the rest of his energy as he refined the rest of the World Fruit.
Zuo Quan Hui had obviously noticed this as well, so he could not hesitate anymore. The trapped beast immediately began fighting back.
At Yang Kai’s command, the Sixth-Order Masters had already prepared their Divine Abilities in advance and fired them straight towards Zuo Quan Hui like a storm at this moment.
This time, Zuo Quan Hui did not dodge though and instead, a Universe World illusory phantom suddenly expanded with him at its centre!
The next moment, Zuo Quan Hui’s resolute voice rang out in Yang Kai’s ear, “Manifest my Universe and eliminate my foes!”
Heaven and Earth started spinning, and by the time Yang Kai thrust his spear out, the sight before him had completely changed. Zuo Quan Hui was nowhere to be seen, and even the twelve Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had disappeared.
Even the environment around him had changed dramatically.
Originally, they were above Tranquil Heavens Peak. The picturesque scenery of the Blue Clouds Continent’s Sacred Peak had been shattered by their battle, the sky had cracked and the ground was split apart, flipping the mountains and rivers. The entire sight looked quite apocalyptic. But at this moment, Yang Kai found himself standing in a green field.
The sky was blue and there was vast wilderness around him. There was nothing else in sight.
Yang Kai’s face turned pale. He instinctively thought that he had fallen into some kind of illusion and promptly used the Demon Eye of Annihilation, but he found nothing strange.
Zuo Quan Hui was nowhere to be seen, but his aura was all around Yang Kai, making Yang Kai feel as if Zuo Quan Hui was everywhere.
Realization suddenly dawned upon Yang Kai as he shouted, “His Small Universe!”
Yang Kai was not taken aback after realizing this, rather he burst into laughter, “Oh, Zuo Quan Hui, are you out of tricks? You even manifested your Small Universe!”
Had he not been at the end of his rope, why would Zuo Quan Hui have taken such a risk?
A High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master’s Small Universe had already transformed from ethereal to corporeal and was capable of accommodating living beings. It could even be said that if one were to raise some living beings in their own Small Universe, its foundation would be constantly enhanced as they multiplied, which was equivalent to constantly cultivating!
Inside Blood Monster Cave Heaven, the ancestors of Abundance City’s cultivators were the ones who had been raised by Blood Monster Divine Monarch in his Small Universe in the past.
Blood Monster Divine Monarch had fallen, but his Small Universe had not collapsed; instead, it transformed into a Universe Cave Heaven and survived. This allowed Yang Kai to bring Mo Mei and the others out of Abundance City.
Blood Monster Divine Monarch was an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but even though Zuo Quan Hui was just a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he too was able to accomplish this.
Basically no Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would do this, however, because it was extremely taxing to raise living beings in one’s Small Universe. The environment of their Small Universe was not necessarily suitable for living beings to live and reproduce, and if they did not take care of this population well enough, all their efforts would wind up being fruitless.
What’s more, when fighting others, once their Small Universe became unstable, it could quite possibly lead to natural disasters, causing the many living beings inside it to die.
Therefore, Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were extremely cautious when it came to raising living beings in their Small Universes. Being qualified to do so was one thing, but whether or not one would was another.
Zuo Quan Hui wasn’t rearing any kind of living beings in his Small Universe, so he knew his limits. A Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master wasn’t invincible, so instead of wasting his time and energy on such a risky pursuit, he might as well refine Open Heaven Pills.
Nonetheless, as a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe had indeed become tangible.
At this moment, Yang Kai was inside Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe!
Yang Kai had brought over 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters from Void Territory all the way to the Star Boundary’s Great Territory by putting them into his Small Universe.
However, sending people into one’s Small Universe required their cooperation. The people he had placed inside could not have any thought of resisting; otherwise, Yang Kai would have had to spend a great deal of effort even if he could put them inside.
Zuo Quan Hui was obviously using a different approach because Yang Kai didn’t feel any force pulling him in.
Zuo Quan Hui had actually done the reverse, summoning his Small Universe and manifesting it into the outside world, essentially engulfing everyone and everything that was in his Small Universe’s range.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but recall some of the things the Proprietress had told him before she went into seclusion, including how Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters used their Small Universes!
The Proprietress said that once a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master used his or her Small Universe like this against an enemy, it would mean that he or she had really decided to fight with their life on the line. This was also the most powerful method a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master could use, a trump card every High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master possessed.
Because in their own Small Universe, they ruled over everything, just like how Yang Kai once ruled over the Small Sealed World.
So, when he noticed that Zuo Quan Hui had actually summoned his Small Universe, Yang Kai was both surprised and happy.
What surprised Yang Kai was that Zuo Quan Hui had decided to go all out. He might have really decided that he would not rest until either Yang Kai was dead or he was. Yang Kai was happy because if he could resolve this situation, Zuo Quan Hui would definitely die today!
This was a crisis, but also an opportunity!
Yang Kai took a long, deep breath as he immersed himself in his thoughts, carefully recalling what the Proprietress had said before she went into seclusion.
The injured Zuo Quan Hui was besieged by over a dozen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Zuo Quan Hui realized that he was no match for them, so he summoned his Small Universe without a moment of hesitation. It wasn’t that he didn’t know the risks of doing so, but rather that he had no other choice.
By pulling everyone in his Small Universe, he would be able to control the battle more easily. At the very least, he had dispersed Void Land’s Masters. Now, he could fight them individually rather than as a group.
It was just like how Yang Kai was all alone at this moment. Everyone had clearly been with him, but they had all disappeared now.
However, doing so was extremely risky as well.
Firstly, by manifesting his Small Universe, Zuo Quan Hui could only use his full strength to control the various elements inside the Small Universe and could no longer interfere with the outside world. In other words, the Small Universe he summoned became a fixed target. If someone tried to attack him from the outside, he would be unable to resist and could only passively endure.
Secondly, taking more than a dozen Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters into his Small Universe posed a huge risk. All the damage Yang Kai and his friends caused to the Small Universe would damage Zuo Quan Hui’s foundation directly. This kind of damage to one’s Small Universe was extremely dangerous.
Only if there was no other choice would a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master be willing to use such a method.
As such, Zuo Quan Hui was obviously desperate!
Yang Kai was also certain that not only had Zuo Quan Hui taken him into this place, but he had also not let any of the dozen or so Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters of Void Land escape. After all, everyone had been standing not too far away from him, so he would otherwise have to be on guard against any attacks from the outside!
Thinking this, Yang Kai couldn’t help but break into laughter. “Zuo Quan Hui, you really outthought yourself! No one can save you from dying today!”
Without any more delay, Yang Kai’s body rapidly expanded as he let out a Dragon Roar. His small body transformed into a several thousand metres tall Half-Dragon and the Azure Dragon Spear in his hand grew proportionally bigger.
He then mobilized his World Force as he thrust his spear forward, releasing a violent burst of energy that caused the world around him to collapse.
Since this place was Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe, Yang Kai did not have any scruples when he acted. All he needed to do was use his most powerful methods and wreck the surrounding world as much as possible.
There was also no need to seek out Zuo Quan Hui as he could come and go as he pleased in this place. Even Yang Kai, who was proficient in the Dao of Space, might not be able to catch him.
Zuo Quan Hui was nowhere, but he was also everywhere. All the damage Yang Kai caused to this world would cause some degree of damage to Zuo Quan Hui.
What Yang Kai could do now was try his best to attract Zuo Quan Hui’s attention. Yang Kai wanted to make Zuo Quan Hui divert at least 60% of his focus onto him; this way, Zuo Quan Hui wouldn’t be able to focus much of his strength on dealing with the other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Void Land.
After all, not everyone was as strong as him. If Zuo Quan Hui were to use his full strength to deal with any one of them, the others would find it very hard to resist.
The ground split apart as huge ravines spread out like a spider web. Even the sky was riddled with tiny cracks.
Yang Kai was unleashing his strength to his heart’s content, not caring about anything else. Space Principles pulsated violently and every time he thrust his spear out, a giant black ball would explode from its tip, transforming into a black hole that swallowed everything around it.
His Rupture Secret Technique was the best method Yang Kai had to destroy the foundations of Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe.
Coupled with his enormous Half-Dragon Form, the entire space around Yang Kai had been shattered after a dozen or so strikes. But much to his surprise, Zuo Quan Hui did not even try to counterattack.
Yang Kai clenched his teeth and coldly snorted. “You dare ignore me? Zuo Quan Hui, you’re quite courageous!”
Yang Kai hadn’t encountered any obstructions up until now. Obviously, Zuo Quan Hui hadn’t paid any attention to him. Zuo Quan Hui also knew that Yang Kai was the strongest among the Sixth-Order Masters from Void Land, far surpassing what should be possible for an ordinary Sixth-Order Master. He could not possibly kill him in just a few moves.
As such, his intentions were clear. He was planning to deal with the others first, then he would slowly handle Yang Kai.
How could Yang Kai allow Zuo Quan Hui to do as he wished? He used his entire strength to cause as much damage as possible here in order to draw Zuo Quan Hui’s attention as the more he could cause Zuo Quan Hui to divert his focus, the safer the others would be.
Seeing that ordinary methods weren’t effective, Yang Kai decided to go all out. A Golden Crow let out a cry as a Great Sun rose into the sky, followed by a round silver Moon. The Sun and Moon began cycling as a gold and silver wheel expanded and Space and Time Principles spread into the surroundings.
The Sun and Moon Divine Wheel had appeared again!
This time, he did not have to worry about Zuo Quan Hui blocking or dodging. This was the latter’s Small Universe, so Zuo Quan Hui was everywhere and had nowhere to hide!
Originally, Yang Kai had expended a great deal of his energy, so he was unable to display the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel again, but after consuming a Low-Rank World Fruit, he was simply brimming with energy, allowing him to use it once more.
The strange Space-Time Strength filled the air. Wherever the Divine Wheel passed by, everything cracked, crumbled, and withered away. Not only did the solid ground become like this, but it was even true for the empty sky. Moreover, the Space-Time Strength was crazily spreading in all directions, forming a crystallized world wherever it passed by. It looked beautiful, but it was also filled with endless murderous intent.
Right then, the surrounding World Force started surging before transforming into a series of Divine Abilities that flew straight towards the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, intercepting it.
Since Zuo Quan Hui had pulled the Void Land Masters into his Small Universe, he naturally wouldn’t sit back and wait for death. Once Yang Kai displayed the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, he had no choice but to stop him no matter how unwilling he was.
He had been affected by this Space-Time Strength before, so he was well aware of how terrifying this strange energy was. If he allowed Yang Kai to do as he pleased, his foundation would be greatly damaged even if he managed to escape this time.
Boundless Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques blotted out the sky and earth. Furthermore, Zuo Quan Hui did it with just one thought. As the ruler of his Small Universe, he naturally had many advantages in this place.
After spending a great deal of energy, Zuo Quan Hui was finally able to completely block the Sun and Moon Divine Wheel, but the battlefield was already a mess and the strange Space-Time Strength had begun corroding his Small Universe’s foundation.
Zuo Quan Hui had no choice but to use even more of his strength to seal this Space-Time Strength, hoping to slowly eliminate it after this battle was over.
Elsewhere, Hui Gu stood there with cold sweat dripping down his forehead and blood dripping down his nose.
Just now, he thought he was going to die, but for some reason, the might of the sword wave attacking him had greatly reduced at the critical moment, allowing him to survive.
He vaguely guessed that someone else must have pulled Zuo Quan Hui’s attention, saving his life.
Without delaying for even a single moment, he promptly pushed his strength to the limit and destroyed everything around him.
Since Yang Kai could figure out that this was Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe, naturally everyone else understood this as well, especially the veteran Sixth-Order Masters like Hui Gu. Even if they had never fought with a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master before, they had at least heard of their unique methods and could match them with their current situation.
Similar to the Hui Gu, Luan Bai Feng’s figure kept moving like a nimble snake. She never stopped at one place to avoid being targeted by Zuo Quan Hui.
She was holding a bunch of Array Plates in her hand and was continuously throwing them out. These Array Plates would form Killing Arrays one after another after they were activated, wantonly destroying everything around them.
She had used up all of the Array Plates she had amassed over nearly 1,000 years in no time, causing her a great deal of heartache.
Ever since her name had been put on Yang Kai’s Loyalty List, the Array Plates she had amassed were being rapidly consumed one after another. Previously, she had used up many Array Plates to set up a number of Illusion Arrays and Bewildering Arrays in the Star Boundary’s Great Territory. Now, she had expended most of her Killing Array Plates.
The wealth she had gathered over these years was all gone.
She secretly made up her mind that after this was all over, she would make Yang Kai compensate her ten times or even a hundred times over.
Mao Zhe, Geng Qing, Zhou Ya, Hua Yong, Shu Mu Dan, Qing Kui, Su Ying Xue, Mo Mei, and Yue He were all separated, but each of them was simultaneously launching their strongest attacks.
Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe instantly became unstable as his World Force churned. Even with his Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivation, he still ran himself haggard, dealing with everyone.
One figure in particular, clad in Demon Qi, stood atop a tall mountain. After entering this Small Universe, Wu Kuang’s eyes lit up as he sensed everything around him.
The surroundings were filled with extremely rich World Force. It was like a mouth-watering feast was spread before him, exuding a delicious scent!
“Since Martial Uncle Zuo is being so hospitable, then your Martial Nephew won’t stand on ceremony with you!” Wu Kuang grinned maliciously as he sat down cross-legged and activated his Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Immediately after, his body seemingly transformed into a bottomless pit as the World Force in the surroundings swirled towards him.
In an extremely short period of time, Wu Kuang had pushed his Heaven Devouring Battle Law to its limit and devoured all of the nearby World Force! Wu Kuang couldn’t help the look of glee that appeared on his face, feeling the endless stream of pure energy.
His expression gave the impression of a perverted hungry ghost holding a warm and fragrant body, as if he could devour its body and soul!
When others were pulled into this Small Universe by Zuo Quan Hui, they could only use everything they had to wreak as much destruction as possible. This was even true for someone as strong as Yang Kai, but Wu Kuang was different. He could devour the Small Universe’s foundation directly and strengthen himself in the process.
Zuo Quan Hui had not expected this, and this was his biggest mistake.
He thought that Wu Kuang had advanced to the Sixth Order from the Fifth Order during the last battle, but he had no idea that Wu Kuang had reached the Sixth Order long ago. It was just that he had been carefully hiding his Sixth-Order cultivation to the end in order to track down Zuo Quan Hui and inform Yang Kai.
They might not have discussed any plans beforehand, but Wu Kuang was sure that Yang Kai understood his thoughts, and Yang Kai was sure that Wu Kuang understood his. To a certain extent, their hearts were connected.
Destruction and devouring were two completely different things. The reckless destruction Yang Kai and his friends had caused to the Small Universe would undoubtedly bring great damage to Zuo Quan Hui’s foundation, but their efficiency was far lower than Wu Kuang’s.
The Small Universe’s foundation began to rapidly deplete as the devouring took place! On the other hand, Wu Kuang’s aura gradually grew stronger.
Yang Kai could clearly feel that Zuo Quan Hui’s interference with him had taken a huge dive and laughed loudly as he continued to bombard his surroundings, “You finally noticed? But what to do? It’s too late!”
A figure suddenly appeared not far from Yang Kai. It was none other than Zuo Quan Hui, who had been hiding all this time. At this moment, this High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master’s face was slightly pale and he was fuming in rage. He raised his long sword and asked, pointing it at Yang Kai and glaring at him, “You knew this was going to happen!?”
Yang Kai thrust his spear towards him, blotting the sky with spear shadows, his face beaming with joy as he taunted, “Guess!”
Zuo Quan Hui’s figure did not move, but an enormous sword wave shot forward, shattering the spear shadows and heading straight towards Yang Kai.
Yang Kai quickly retreated, blocking that enormous sword wave that spanned across the sky, but the next moment, his heart suddenly clenched as he threw himself to the ground.
A bolt of lightning came rumbling from behind, brushing past his scalp, burning a few strands of his hair.
Yang Kai stood back up again, but he had broken into a cold sweat. It was indeed difficult to fight with someone inside their Small Universe, not to mention that this opponent was a High-Rank Master. Although Zuo Quan Hui had not fully recovered from his injuries, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse.
But he had no choice but to fight on!
“Who are you? You are definitely not a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple!”
On another side, Wu Kuang was no longer able to calmly continue devouring in peace. In fact, when he activated his Heaven Devouring Battle Law, Zuo Quan Hui appeared before him out of thin air, slashing at him.
Wu Kuang was so flustered that he quickly counterattacked and fled. However, after exchanging blows with Zuo Quan Hui, Wu Kuang discovered that there was something wrong with this Zuo Quan Hui. He didn’t appear to be real, but more like a projection; he also didn’t have the strength of a Seventh-Order Master.
Wu Kuang might be fleeing in panic at the sight of Zuo Quan Hui chasing after him, but he was not completely helpless.
He realized that Zuo Quan Hui could not divert too much attention to his side, which was why he was so weak. Having realized this, Wu Kuang greatly calmed down. While running around in circles, he circulated his Heaven Devouring Battle Law, greedily devouring the surrounding World Force. There was a malicious grin hanging on his face as he responded, “Of course I’m a Myriad Demons Heaven disciple, why is Martial Uncle Zuo asking such a question?”
Zuo Quan Hui didn’t appear to have taken any action, but he appeared in front of Wu Kuang like a ghost and gently thrust out his sword. Had Wu Kuang not been constantly changing his position, it would have been next to impossible to avoid this sword strike for him.
“Myriad Demons Heaven definitely does not have such an evil technique, what kind of Secret Art are you cultivating!?” Zuo Quan Hui shouted, gnashing his teeth as a sliver of fear could be seen in his eyes. He had never seen such an evil technique before, and much to his surprise, it could actually swallow his Small Universe’s foundation and make use of it. This kind of Secret Art went against the Heavens. If everyone could cultivate it, it would not be this difficult to break through to the Open Heaven Realm.
Among the dozen or so Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters he had pulled into his Small Universe, Yang Kai’s was undoubtedly the strongest, but if there was anyone who posed the greatest threat to him, it would be this Myriad Demons Heaven disciple before him!
Even now, Zuo Quan Hui still couldn’t understand why Myriad Demons Heaven’s own men would ambush him!
Meanwhile, Zuo Quan Hui’s projection also appeared in front of the other Sixth-Order Masters of Void Land. Be that as it may, these projections weren’t very strong at all; they were at most on par with their respective opponents, some of them even slightly weaker. Occasionally, they would launch a fierce attack, but it was clearly not working. Obviously, Zuo Quan Hui was too distracted to control them all.
At first, everyone was shocked by Zuo Quan Hui’s sudden appearance. Even a sickly tiger was quite fierce, so no one was confident facing a Seventh-Order Master.
But after exchanging a few blows, they discovered the truth and no longer panicked.
The dozen or so battlefields were like a raging wildfire. Each time they clashed, they would cause damage to Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe to a certain extent, whereas Wu Kuang was constantly using his Heaven Devouring Battle Law to devour Zuo Quan Hui’s foundation.
Yang Kai’s several thousand metres tall Half-Dragon Form was riddled with wounds and had many places where his Dragon Scales were blown off, a shocking sight to behold. Zuo Quan Hui had placed most of his attention on him, giving Yang Kai a really hard time. Although his life was in no danger, being constantly suppressed was not very enjoyable.
Be that as it may, Yang Kai was more than happy to see this status quo maintained. The longer this dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for Zuo Quan Hui, and once he reached his limit, he would lose for sure!
Zuo Quan Hui was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so how could he fail to realize this? He was thinking of taking down Yang Kai first and then dealing with the others one by one. As long as Yang Kai died, it did not matter how many Sixth-Order Masters Void Land had.
But after a while, he realized that it was easier said than done. Even if he could push Yang Kai into a corner, he wouldn’t be defeated so easily.
Since things had come to this, he could only change his strategy.
As the two figures clashed, Yang Kai’s spear struck Zuo Quan Hui’s figure, but no blood flowed out. Yang Kai wasn’t surprised either; he had already noticed that Zuo Quan Hui wasn’t a real entity, but a lifelike projection.
Suddenly, Yang Kai raised his spear and looked around, but he could not spot Zuo Quan Hui. Even his barrage of attacks which had never ceased had stopped.
Yang Kai’s heart clenched.
This undoubtedly meant that Zuo Quan Hui had no intention of hounding him and had instead focused his attention elsewhere. And on Void Land’s side, Wu Kuang was the biggest threat to Zuo Quan Hui.
Wu Kuang was in danger!
Although Yang Kai could take this opportunity to vandalize Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe, Wu Kuang would probably be killed by Zuo Quan Hui in less than ten breaths.
Yang Kai instantly spread out his Divine Sense, but he couldn’t sense anyone’s aura, let alone find Wu Kuang’s location. Zuo Quan Hui’s aura was all around him and disrupting him.
[What should I do to get out of this?] Yang Kai asked himself. He couldn’t save Wu Kuang if he couldn’t find him.
Furthermore, once Zuo Quan Hui killed Wu Kuang and the others, he could not be stopped.
And Yang Kai would definitely not be able to completely destroy Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe before then.
After a moment of consideration, Yang Kai slammed the Azure Dragon Spear into the ground and pressed his palms together before fiercely pulling them away from each other, as if he was trying to separate the whole world, shouting word by word, “Heaven and Earth, open!”
His Small Universe rapidly rotated before it suddenly manifested!
The reason why Zuo Quan Hui was able to manifest his Small Universe was because his Small Universe had already turned tangible. This was a trump card that could only be displayed by a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. Ordinary Sixth-Order Masters would not be able to do such a thing.
However, Yang Kai was able to do so, because his Small Universe had materialized from the very beginning!
Yang Kai had no idea what the consequences of doing so would be; after all, he had never tried something like this ever before, but he knew that if he didn’t do so, Wu Kuang would die without a doubt, and then the others would follow suit.
Yang Kai’s Small Universe instantly spread out and he suddenly felt as if he had stepped into a whole new world.
He could clearly feel that his Small Universe was now nested inside Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe, and the two Small Universes were overlapping each other, one within in the other.
The bigger one belonged to Zuo Quan Hui, while the smaller one belonged to him!
An extremely uncomfortable feeling coursed through Yang Kai’s body. He felt as if he was trapped in a cage and was being squeezed from every possible direction, causing him to let out a muffled groan.
But the next moment, Yang Kai sensed the auras and locations of the others.
He knew everything within his Small Universe like the back of his hand!
Wu Kuang was indeed hanging by a thread; one of his arms limply hanging, connected only by skin and muscles. His body was covered in blood as he desperately tried to escape from Zuo Quan Hui’s assault!
In the moment of life and death, he no longer had the time to use the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to devour energy. All he could focus on was preserving his life!
Zuo Quan Hui was everywhere, his sword following him like a shadow. Just when it looked that Wu Kuang was about to die, Zuo Quan Hui’s movements suddenly became sluggish.
As Yang Kai’s Small Universe spread out, he felt extremely uncomfortable, as if he was trapped in a cage, but Zuo Quan Hui did not feel good either. In contrast, he felt like his Small Universe had become bloated, like he had eaten far too much. He even found circulating his World Force a little difficult.
Otherwise, there wouldn’t have been such a slight pause just now.
With such a good opportunity before him, Wu Kuang was finally able to escape from the jaws of death. Fear was clearly visible on his face.
Zuo Quan Hui didn’t give chase and instead gazed around with a look of shock hanging on his face.
Yang Kai’s figure suddenly appeared out of thin air, alongside the dozen or so other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Everyone had gathered! The others obviously hadn’t realized what was happening, but since they were together again, it was better than fighting on their own.
They looked at each other, and seeing that they had not lost anyone, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“You’re only a Sixth-Order, how could you possibly manifest your Small Universe?” Zuo Quan Hui stared at Yang Kai in disbelief.
“None of your damn business!” Yang Kai raised his spear and pointed it at him with an arrogant and unyielding look on his face, suppressing the surging blood in his heart.
“Your Small Universe has become tangible when you are only in the Sixth Order, you really are a rare genius!” Zuo Quan Hui sighed.
Yang Kai sneered, “Don’t think that you can save your life just by some ass-kissing. Today, you are going to die, no matter how unwilling you are!”
Zuo Quan Hui suddenly smiled and stated, “Now that our Small Universes are overlapping, if one of us suffers, we both suffer. This Monarch wants to see how you will kill me now!”
“Then you’d better open your dog eyes wide and watch!” Yang Kai pointed his spear at Zuo Quan Hui and coldly shouted, “Kill!”
But the people around him remained motionless.
Yue He nervously looked at him nervously, “Young Master!”
If everyone failed to understand what just happened before, why were they suddenly together when they were clearly separated, how could they not understand after hearing what Zuo Quan Hui said?
Much to their dismay, Yang Kai had actually manifested his Small Universe inside Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe World, endangering himself. It was really reckless of him, and just as Zuo Quan Hui said, both of their Small Universes now shared the same fate, whatever happened to one, would happen to the other as well. If they were to really attack, it would not only destroy Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe, but also Yang Kai’s Small Universe.
Unless they could find a place where their Small Universes weren’t overlapping, only then could they have a chance to only affect Zuo Quan Hui. But as things stood, how could Zuo Quan Hui allow them to do so? He was more than happy to see Yang Kai’s fate tied to his.
No one dared to act rashly in this current situation.
“What are you all waiting for? Attack!” Yang Kai shouted, “This is a Heaven-sent opportunity! If we don’t act now, we won’t get another chance in the future!”
Yue He’s eyes turned red as she grit her teeth and shouted, “Young Master, you must hold on!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she took the lead and charged straight towards Zuo Quan Hui, closely followed by the other Sixth-Order Master!
Zuo Quan Hui was extremely stunned, “Boy, you’re insane!”
Before Zuo Quan Hui could finish cursing, he was forced to flee as a series of destructive Divine Abilities came shooting at him, his heart filled with shock at Yang Kai’s ruthless determination.
A series of explosions reverberated as the ground and the sky cracked at a spot where the Small Universes overlapped.
Yang Kai spurted a large mouthful of blood as he felt his Soul violently trembling. What he was doing was akin to sacrificing 800 of his soldiers to kill 1,000 of the enemy’s. Now, it all came down to who fell first, Zuo Quan Hui or him.
Suddenly, Yang Kai turned his head and cursed, “Wu Kuang, you bastard!”
Wu Kuang didn’t attack Zuo Quan Hui, but instead sat down sitting cross-legged, madly using the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to devour the surrounding World Force!
Yang Kai was so angry that he almost coughed up blood. Wu Kuang’s act of devouring World Force like this might be harming Zuo Quan Hui, but Yang Kai couldn’t escape from it either. Furthermore, he was so brazen that he actually sat down next to Yang Kai, as if he wanted the latter to protect him.
Yang Kai could not wait to take out his Azure Dragon Spear and plunge it right into his heart!
However, Wu Kuang shamelessly raised his head and added with a serious look on his face, “You should not divert your attention during this life-and-death battle!”
Yang Kai suppressed the boiling blood in his heart and quickly took out a Low-Rank World Fruit and swallowed it, forcefully calming his nerves.
He then turned his head, avoiding looking at him. What the eyes did not see, the heart did not grieve.
Before refining the World Fruit’s medicinal efficacy, Yang Kai stuffed another one into his mouth.
After eating two World Fruits, Yang Kai finally had the confidence to drag Zuo Quan Hui down to his death. He raised his head, looking at the battle that was raging on the other side; Zuo Quan Hui was at the end of his rope, though he was still desperately struggling.
It wasn’t that Yang Kai didn’t want to step forward to help, but since the two Small Universes were stacked together now, he needed to exert all of his strength to interfere with Zuo Quan Hui’s control over the surrounding World.
Had he not been suppressing Zuo Quan Hui here, how could the latter be so weak? Zuo Quan Hui had to divert some of his attention to deal with the attacks of a dozen or so Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters while enduring the backlash caused by the destruction to his Small Universe, while at the same time resisting Yang Kai’s interference, so how could he not be at a disadvantage?
With time, Yang Kai could clearly feel his Small Universe’s foundation rapidly depleting! Fortunately, he had eaten two Low-Rank World Fruits, allowing him to slowly replenish what he was losing, but he was still unable to make ends meet.
Zuo Quan Hui’s situation was even worse. His body was covered in blood and his hair was dishevelled. It looked as if he had reached the end of his road, and as he unleashed his Divine Abilities one after another, he no longer bore the awe-inspiring might of a Seventh-Order Master.
Suddenly, Yang Kai’s brow twitched as a look of joy appeared on his face. He could feel Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe rapidly shrinking. Zuo Quan Hui was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so his Small Universe was much bigger than Yang Kai, but now, it was actually getting smaller.
This way, it would be easier for him to suppress Zuo Quan Hui.
Sure enough, when their Small Universes broke that critical point, Zuo Quan Hui’s performance became much worse.
As if this old man realized that he was doomed, his attacks became fiercer. It looked like he wanted to take a few people down with him before dying!
How could Yang Kai allow him to do as he pleased? With a single thought, Yang Kai used his own Divine Abilities and coordinated with everyone else’s attacks.
In an instant, Zuo Quan Hui’s figure came to a halt as his imposing momentum suddenly plummeted and he staggered, spurting out a mouthful of blood.
At the same time, over a dozen Divine Abilities bombarded Zuo Quan Hui, sending him flying like a paper kite before heavily crashing to the ground.
It had not been that long, but he was now gasping for breath.
However, no one dared to lower their guard as all of them gathered around him and waited.
Yang Kai kicked Wu Kuang, who was sitting next to him motionlessly and was only focused on swallowing energy, to the ground, “Stop! Your table manners are beyond unsightly!”
After cursing and venting his anger, Yang Kai covered his mouth and lightly coughed, covering his palm in golden blood.
Wu Kuang had obtained a great bargain, so he couldn’t be bothered to argue with Yang Kai over his rude actions. He simply stood up and patted his butt, a look of dissatisfaction appearing on his face.
Shouldering the Azure Dragon Spear, Yang Kai stepped forward and asked in a low voice, “Zuo Quan Hui, do you have any last words?”
Zuo Quan Hui, who was loudly wheezing, stared blankly into the void.
Yang Kai stood not far from him, looking at him indifferently, “Don’t have any unrealistic fantasies? Your cultivation has already fallen to the Sixth Order, and your Small Universe has become unstable. There is no hope for you to advance again in this life even if you survive, so why not just die?”
When the surrounding crowd heard this, they discovered that Zuo Quan Hui’s omnipresent aura was rapidly fading. Furthermore, the surrounding scenery was also distorting. It was obvious that Zuo Quan Hui’s cultivation had fallen to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm and his Small Universe was no longer able to maintain its solid form.
Everyone let out a sigh of relief!
They were extremely wary of this Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; after all, Zuo Quan Hui was a veteran powerhouse, so who knew what kind of trump cards he was still hiding? If Zuo Quan Hui really managed to drag some of them down with him, their losses would outweigh the gains.
But since he had fallen to the Sixth Order, the threat he posed was greatly reduced, making him look like a tiger without its fangs.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Zuo Quan Hui moved and slowly sat up straight, crossing his legs as he stared at Yang Kai indifferently, “I’m afraid the future will be quite exciting with a monster like you appearing in the 3,000 Worlds.”
“You flatter me!” Yang Kai maintained a stoic face.
“Unfortunately, this Old Master won’t be able to see it.” Zuo Quan Hui sighed, “After I die, that disciple of mine won’t be able to escape death either, right?”
Yang Kai raised his chin, “Don’t worry, I’ll let her reunite with you as soon as possible. Well, maybe she’s already waiting for you on the road to the Yellow Springs.”
Zuo Quan Hui nodded, “It’s up to you, the winner is the King and the loser is the villain. If you had lost, your fate wouldn’t be any better than this Monarch’s.”
Yang Kai clapped his hands and scoffed, “You’ve got quite a vivid imagination!”
Zuo Quan Hui smiled at him, “There will come a day when you will understand.”
Saying so, he suddenly made a hand seal and asked, looking at Yang Kai, “Do you know why a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master won’t easily open their Small Universe to kill their enemy, even if it is a trump card that every High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master can use?”
Yang Kai slightly furrowed his brow, “Please enlighten me!”
Zuo Quan Hui replied, “Because if we do this, even if we successfully kill the enemy, there will be no end to the trouble, just like this!”
The next moment, Zuo Quan Hui’s figure shook. Yang Kai could clearly feel the aura of a Small Universe collapsing as World Force spread out!
Everyone watching was shocked, Zuo Quan Hui’s action would undoubtedly disintegrate and collapse his Small Universe. The Small Universe World was the foundation of an Open Heaven Realm Master. Once the Small Universe collapsed, the Open Heaven Realm Master would not be far from death.
Zuo Quan Hui had fallen to the Sixth Order, so even if he still had the strength to mount up a fight, he would only be humiliating himself. Rather than losing his life to the enemy, he preferred to end his own life!
Not everyone possessed such courage.
Zuo Quan Hui, who had shattered his own Small Universe, started loudly laughing, “Boy, this Monarch will teach you a lesson with his life! You should cherish it!”
While he was laughing, Zuo Quan Hui’s head drooped down as he died!
An Inner Sect Elder of Thousand Crane Paradise had fallen!
Yang Kai’s expression changed drastically as he stomped his feet and cursed, “Why can’t this old dog just die peacefully!?”
Yang Kai’s figure shook and his World Force was mobilized, sealing the surrounding region! With them as the centre, everything within a 10,000-kilometres radius was completely sealed.
Yang Kai finally understood what Zuo Quan Hui meant when he said there would be no end to the trouble.
The old man had broken his own Small Universe and poured his World Force into Yang Kai’s Small Universe. Not only was this energy not beneficial to Yang Kai though, it was akin to a kind of impurity as it was wholly incompatible with his own body. In short, this foreign energy was corroding his Small Universe.
Had Yang Kai not quickly reacted and sealed off the surrounding 10,000-kilometres, and allowed this energy to fill his Small Universe, it would have been difficult for him to remove it. He would have had to spend a great deal of time and energy in retreat.
In other words, although High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters could use this trump card to kill enemies, and it was their most powerful trump card at that, it could not be used lightly.
Regardless of whether the enemy committed suicide or was killed, once their World Force leaked out, it would be akin to swallowing a mouthful of poison.
The price Zuo Quan Hui had to pay to teach this lesson was not small, and the price to receive this lesson for Yang Kai was not small either!
Yang Kai promptly turned his head to Wu Kuang, whereupon the latter snapped at him, “What!?”
He still had not forgotten that Yang Kai kicked him before. The Heaven-Devouring Great Emperor had never been a magnanimous person; otherwise, he wouldn’t have caused so many deaths!
Yang Kai snorted, “If you’re willing to take action, then do it. If you’re not, then I won’t force you. At worst, I’ll just cut off this region. In any case, it’ll only damage some of my foundation.”
Wu Kuang pretended to be slow-witted before he agreed, “Since you are asking for help, I’ll help!”
As Wu Kuang activated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law, the World Force within the 10,000-kilometre radius madly flowed into his body.
The group of Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master watching from the side instantly felt an instinctive sense of dread.
Although they had seen Wu Kuang use the Heaven Devouring Battle Law before, everyone had been fighting with Zuo Quan Hui so they hadn’t paid much attention to it. Now, when they got to see it so closely, they were all shocked.
The universe was huge and boundless. There were 3,000 Worlds and countless mystical arts, but they had never seen or heard of one which could refine the World Force of others for their own use until now.
This was definitely a Heaven-defying Evil Technique that went completely against the Heavenly Way!
So when everyone saw Wu Kuang activate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law and devour the World Force, they were completely shaken up.
It was just that cultivating this kind of Secret Art would damage the peace and harmony of the world, and he would be fraught with endless danger. He would ultimately meet an untimely death
So, although they were shocked, they didn’t feel much envy.
Wu Kuang finished in less than an hour.
Yang Kai felt so much pain and anger that he almost vomited blood. Although he had killed Zuo Quan Hui in this battle, he had paid a huge price for that. Over ten Sixth-Order Masters fought inside his Small Universe, causing great damage to its foundation, and coupled with Wu Kuang’s repeated acts of devouring his World Force, the losses he had suffered were so great that it was difficult for outsiders to understand.
Previously, when he borrowed the World Force from the Star Boundary, Yang Kai had obtained quite an advantage; his foundation had been greatly strengthened, saving him at least 500 years of bitter cultivation.
However, after what had happened today, the benefits he had obtained before had basically been negated. If he hadn’t eaten two World Fruits at the last moment, his situation would have been even worse.
After having suffered this kind of loss, all he could do was slowly cultivate to make up for it!
However, this way, he was certain of one thing. Although he was unable to put a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master into his Small Universe, if he were to spread his Small Universe, he would not be restricted in this aspect.
After all, even Zuo Quan Hui, a Seventh-Order Master, was technically inside his Small Universe.
The fierce battle inside the Small Universe had finally come to an end. The battle concluded with Zuo Quan Hui’s death, and the battle raging outside should be coming to an end as well; after all, Void Land’s side was facing the enemy in two-against-one battles, so how could Yin Xin Zhao, Zi Yan, and the others be their opponents?
When Yang Kai withdrew his Small Universe and everyone returned to the Blue Clouds Continent, they looked up and saw that the people from Heavenly Sword Union were indeed in danger.
Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan were barely holding on. They had just advanced to the Sixth Order not long ago, and although they had broken through a few years earlier than the Great Emperors, their foundations weren’t that strong.
While everyone was fighting, they were also paying attention to the situation here.
At this moment, when they saw Yang Kai appear with other Sixth-Order Masters, the Great Emperors felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their shoulders, whereas the faces of the Heavenly Sword Union members were ashen!
Zuo Quan Hui was nowhere to be seen, so it was obvious that he was dead.
Seeing this, Yin Xin Zhao, Pei Wen Xuan, and the others quickly used their Divine Abilities to shake off their opponents before fleeing without a moment’s hesitation! But how could Yang Kai give them this chance? With a wave of his hand, over a dozen people rushed straight towards the various battlefields.
A short while later, the remaining five members of Heavenly Sword Union were all captured and a series of restrictions were placed upon them to seal their cultivation.
Yang Kai took a seat on a rock, holding the Azure Dragon Spear in one hand. He would lightly cough from time to time, and his aura was a little dispirited. Yue He and Mo Mei stood behind him like guards.
Amidst the pushing and shoving, Zi Yan, Yin Xin Zhao, Pei Wen Xuan, Huang Mao, and Dan Yang were all brought before Yang Kai. Among the five, Zi Yan was glaring at Yang Kai while Huang Mao and Dan Yang’s eyes flickered with regret and fear. On the other hand, Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan both stood up straight and wore calm expressions, like they were not captives at all.
Especially Pei Wen Xuan, who was even in the mood to size up Wu Kuang. He still didn’t understand why his Junior Brother had suddenly changed sides.
Coincidentally, Wu Kuang also looked towards him with interest. His eyes were shining brightly, like when a lecher saw a beautiful woman, causing Pei Wen Xuan’s face to turn pale and his heart to quickly pound.
“Where is my Honoured Master? What did you do to him?” Zi Yan gnashed her teeth and glared at Yang Kai. Although she had some inkling of an idea, she still refused to believe it.
Yang Kai raised his head and sneered, “Since I’m here, can’t you guess what happened to your Master?”
“Impossible!” Zi Yan’s eyes almost started shooting flames, but the next moment, her pupils constricted when they landed on the corpse casually tossed before her by Yang Kai.
Before Zuo Quan Hui died, he was struck by a dozen or so Divine Abilities. He might have died in the end, but his body was completely mutilated and beyond recognition.
“Honoured Master…” Zi Yan’s eyes filled with tears as she muttered to herself. Looking at her Honoured Master’s body, she couldn’t help but recall all the things she had experienced in Thousand Crane Paradise, her Honoured Master’s sincere guidance, her Senior Brother’s love, and her Junior Brother’s respect.
She had no worries back then!
But now, her Junior Brother was dead, her Senior Brother was dead, and even her Honoured Master was dead! All of them had died at the hands of this bastard!
“I’ll kill you!” Zi Yan leapt forward. Her cultivation might have been sealed and she might not have been able to bring out her strength, but her sharp teeth still bit towards Yang Kai’s flesh.
Yang Kai turned the Azure Dragon Spear in his hand and thrust its butt into her soft belly.
Zi Yan immediately fell to her knees and hunched over, unable to catch her breath for a long time.
Yang Kai lifted her chin with the tip of his spear and stated in a cold voice, “Zhao Xing died because he provoked me first; furthermore, he wanted to kill me too, so he got what he deserved. As fellow Disciples, if you want to take revenge for him, I have nothing to say, but since you want to take revenge, you should be mentally prepared to be killed by me. At the end of the day, the winner is the King, and the loser is the villain!”
Zi Yan’s eyes welled as she looked at him. Her eyes became lifeless and filled with despair. The next moment, she suddenly threw herself forward.
Yang Kai withdrew his spear just in time, the sharp Azure Dragon Spear only left a red mark on her throat.
“Kill me! Kill me!” Zi Yan madly screamed, wanting to rush forward and beg for death, but Luan Bai Feng pressed her down to the ground, causing her to endlessly whimper.
Yang Kai added lightly, “Don’t worry, I’ll let you die a quick death, but not now. You have more use to me alive than dead!”
Saying so, he turned to Huang Mao and Dan Yang.
The two immediately got down on one knee without a moment of hesitation and cupped their fists together, “We are willing to submit to you, willing to lay down our lives for you, come hell or high water!”
Yang Kai chuckled, “Look at her, how unyielding she is. She prefers to die honourably than to live on in shame. On the other hand, the two of you, two grown men, are acting so subserviently, it’s really… disappointing! If you don’t blush, I’ll blush.”
As expected, the faces of the two remaining Ancestors of Heavenly Sword Union turned red; however, their pride and honour were nothing when their lives were on the line. Not to mention bowing, they could even endure greater humiliation if it let them survive.
Huang Mao lowered his head and stated, “Heavenly Sword Union had overestimated itself and made an enemy out of you, Heavenly Monarch Yang, so we have only ourselves to blame for falling into such a situation. However, we were forced to do so. Zuo Quan Hui was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Heavenly Sword Union was unable to refuse him. Heavenly Monarch, please understand!”
Dan Yang also added, “Although this Old Master is old, I’m still able to kill enemies for the Heavenly Monarch. Right now, only Huang Mao and I are left of Heavenly Sword Union. If Heavenly Monarch can let bygones be bygones, Heavenly Sword Union will become a branch of Void Land in the future, only following the orders of Void Land from now on!”
Heavenly Sword Union might be bruised and battered, and they might have lost all of their Open Heaven Realm cultivators except for these Sixth-Order Masters, but they still had their inheritances which had been passed down through the years, and their foundation was still intact. Anyone would be tempted with such a huge price before them.
However, Yang Kai remained indifferent and simply stared into the sky, “Hundreds of my Void Land’s Open Heaven Realm Masters have lost their lives in this war. All of them had families, husbands, wives, or children, but none of them had made any mistakes. If I let you two old bastards live, how can my Void Land’s dead rest in peace?”
Yang Kai had clearly made up his mind to cut the weeds and pull out roots. With Void Land’s current foundation, they did not need Heavenly Sword Union at all, so it could just disappear from the face of the 3,000 Worlds!
Although his voice was calm and gentle, it sounded like a thunderclap to Huang Mao and Dan Yang’s ears. The two of them immediately fell to the ground, and their faces turned ashen.
Yang Kai then turned to Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan, smiling, “What about the two of you? Do you want to die or beg for mercy?”
Yin Xin Zhao sighed in helplessness, “As you said, the winner is the King and the loser is the villain. You can do whatever you want, it’s your choice.”
Pei Wen Xuan coldly snorted, “Do you have the guts to kill us? Didn’t you mention Zhao Xing just now? Have you forgotten what happened already?”
Yang Kai indifferently looked at him, while Pei Wen Xuan stared back at him fearlessly in response.
With a flash of light, Yang Kai flicked his spear, all while maintaining that same indifferent look on his face.
The next moment, something fell to the ground with a thud. Pei Wen Xuan looked towards the source of the sound and saw a severed arm lying there! The cut was completely clean, like butter cut with a hot knife.
A blood-curdling scream rang out as Pei Wen Xuan stretched out his other hand and covered the wound left by his severed arm, but he couldn’t stop the blood from gushing out. He immediately shouted in horror, “You dare?! I’m a Core Disciple of Myriad Demons Heaven!”
Yang Kai tilted his head, calm and relaxed, “So, Core Disciples of Myriad Demons Heaven also bark like stray dogs.”
The nearby Yin Xin Zhao gulped hard. Although he looked at Pei Wen Xuan with a look of sympathy, he didn’t dare to say anything; rather, he was secretly rejoicing in his heart that he hadn’t fought back just now.
Yang Kai might not dare to kill them, but torturing them was not a problem. Pei Wen Xuan had lost an arm, so unless he could find a Heaven-defying medicine that could regenerate his limb, his strength would forever be greatly reduced.
Just as this thought flashed through his mind, Yang Kai suddenly stated in a deep voice, “Of course, I haven’t forgotten about Zhao Xing. Zuo Quan Hui took revenge for his Disciple, even going so far as to ‘rebel’ against Thousand Crane Paradise. Unfortunately, he still died a miserable death!”
Saying so, Yang Kai kicked the corpse he had just thrown out and added, smiling, “After you die, who in Myriad Demons Heaven will avenge you? That old dog Zhuo Bu Qun? Let him try. Today, I can kill Zuo Quan Hui, tomorrow I can kill Zhuo Bu Qun!”
Yin Xin Zhao’s face suddenly paled, “You’re really planning on killing us?”
Yang Kai glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, “What do you think?”
Yin Xin Zhao didn’t say anything, fearing that he might just make things worse; after all, Yang Kai was still young and hot-blooded, so he could easily act on impulse.
“Originally, you and I didn’t have any deep enmity with each other, it was just that we didn’t like one another. Then, Yin Xin Zhao, you hunted me down in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, and if it weren’t for Qu Hua Shang carrying me and escaping, how could I have survived? Pei Wen Xuan, there was only a small grudge between us. It’s normal for young people to fight and compete, but why did you have to act as if you and I had a life-or-death grudge? Why did you get involved in the mess between Heavenly Sword Union and my Void Land? Since you want to kill me, I naturally can’t let you live!”
The blood drained from Yin Xin Zhao’s face!
Wu Kuang licked his lips, “Boy, I’ll ask you for a favour.”
The moment Wu Kuang stuck out his nose, Yang Kai knew what he was pulling, so he couldn’t help but roll his eyes, “Pei Wen Xuan?”
Wu Kuang nodded, “It would be even better if you leave the other one too!”
“Are you still not full?”
Wu Kuang patted his stomach, “My appetite is big, there’s nothing I can do about it!”
The group of Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters couldn’t help but shudder.
Yang Kai remained seated for a while before waving his hand, “Whatever. Just take them away.”
Wu Kuang guffawed and gave the other man a thumbs up, “You’re indeed generous, kid.”
Upon finishing his words, Wu Kuang pushed his World Force and engulfed Yin Xin Zhao and the others with it. Following that, he turned into a demonic cloud and shot into the sky.
Yang Kai looked up and shouted, “Clean up everything. Don’t leave any traces behind!”
Wu Kuang’s voice was heard coming from the distance, “Don’t worry.”
“That Old Ghost is now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master!” With a conflicted gaze, Bustling World Great Emperor watched as Wu Kuang left.
When he was in the Shattered Star Sea in the past, he failed in his attempt to kill Wu Kuang. Instead, his body was almost taken over by the latter. Their Souls ended up living in the same body for many years, and their enmity slowly subsided as they had gone through some hardships together.
After killing Great Demon God Mo Sheng, Wu Kuang left and there had not been any news about him since.
Bustling World Great Emperor had never expected to come across him on this day.
He was able to recognise Wu Kuang even though the latter’s appearance was completely different now. Over the past few years, the Great Emperors had been cultivating in seclusion in Void Land. With Void Land as their support, there had never been a lack of resources; however, it wasn’t until recently that they made it to the Sixth Order. On the other hand, it appeared that Wu Kuang had achieved an ascension much earlier than them.
It had to be noted that Wu Kuang had been making a living on his own, but he was still able to attain such achievements. This fact alone made Duan Hong Chen realise that he was no match for him.
Wu Kuang lived up to his name as the strongest Great Emperor in the history of the Star Boundary.
“That was Wu Kuang?” Iron Blood Great Emperor Zhan Wu Hen suddenly exclaimed as he had just realised it.
Duan Hong Chen nodded gently.
The corners of Zhan Wu Hen’s brow twitched, “No wonder I found that guy annoying the first time he entered my eyes.”
“Junior Brother Yang!” Qing Kui dashed towards Yang Kai, “Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan cannot die!”
Earlier, he saw Wu Kuang using the Heaven Devouring Battle Law and now he brought Yin Xin Zhao and the others away. It was obvious to him what fate awaited them.
He was also shocked by Yang Kai’s audacity.
After a cough, Yang Kai turned to look at him and replied with a smile, “I know what you’re worried about, Senior Brother Qing.”
“You know nothing!” Qing Kui turned solemn, “After you killed Zhao Xing, only Zuo Quan Hui and the others came over to retaliate against you. That was because Yin-Yang Cave Heaven interfered and resisted most of the pressure for you. Now that traitors on paper like Zuo Quan Hui are dead, those from Thousand Cranes Paradise won’t do anything to you even though they’re resentful. Otherwise, they’ll have to openly offend Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. However, Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan are different. If you let someone kill them, Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven will never let you off. By then, more than one Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master will come to destroy you.”
Yang Kai batted his eyes with an innocent expression, “No one from Void Land killed them. Did anyone see it?”
Wu Kuang wasn’t a member of Void Land. Strictly speaking, he was just a traitor from Myriad Demons Heaven.
Yang Kai initially intended to bring those people back to the Great Territory where the Star Boundary was located and kill them to further nourish the World Tree. However, if Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan were really killed there, some faint traces might be left behind.
Moreover, after the previous epic battle, the World Tree had obtained quite a lot of nourishment, so there wasn’t a need to provide more for it now. That was the reason Yang Kai gave up on that idea.
A frustrated Qing Kui stared at him, “It is a well-known fact that Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao assisted Heavenly Sword Union to make things difficult for Void Land in the past. Both Heavenly Sword Union and Zuo Quan Hui were destroyed, so if Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao are also killed, even a fool will figure out that it has something to do with Void Land. In fact, there’s no need for any witnesses at all. Do you think the two Cave Heavens will go easy on you? They’ll settle the issue with brute force.”
Yang Kai chuckled, “I absolutely agree with you, Senior Brother Qing. However, Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao repeatedly made things difficult for me in the past. Previously on the Prison Star, I intended to make use of the Prison League’s power to kill them, but Yellow Spring Heavenly Monarch and the others proved unreliable. That was the reason they managed to flee. Now that there’s such a great chance, I naturally wouldn’t let them leave. I’ll feel nauseated if I ever see them again.”
Qing Kui was so exasperated that he stomped his foot on the ground, “Don’t you get it, Junior Brother Yang? They can’t be killed! Although Void Land is fairly powerful now…”
Yang Kai raised his hand to cut him off, “Senior Brother Qing, even if I’m willing to let them off, someone else won’t let them live. Why don’t you try to persuade that person instead of me?”
“That person…” Qing Kui became startled for a moment before realising that Yang Kai was talking about Wu Kuang.
[That’s right…] Wu Kuang was technically a disciple of Myriad Demons Heaven, but he launched a sneak attack on Zuo Quan Hui and cultivated an extremely evil Secret Art. If such secrets were exposed, he would never be able to settle down in any place even though the 3,000 Worlds was so expansive.
Certainly, Wu Kuang would want to silence all witnesses to his crimes; therefore, it was pointless for Qing Kui to keep persuading Yang Kai.
A moment later, Qing Kui snapped out of his dazed state and sighed, “You’ve really made a huge mistake this time.”
Yang Kai got up with difficulty and patted the other man’s shoulder with a smile, “I believe that person will not leave any traces behind. Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Myriad Demons Heaven might speculate that their disciples were killed by me, but they can’t do anything to me since they don’t have any evidence.”
Qing Kui put on a helpless smile as he thought that Yang Kai was oversimplifying things. If the two Cave Heavens wanted to avenge the death of their disciples, they didn’t need any evidence. A simple doubt was a good enough reason for them to make a move.
“Junior Brother Yang, there’s one more thing you need to know. If Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan are really killed, those from Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven will immediately find out about it. After all, they are Core Disciples of their Sects, so they must have left behind Soul Lamps in their headquarters. Once they die, their Soul Lamps will go out as well. The two Cave Heavens will definitely send some people over once that happens.”
Yang Kai frowned, “Will they be able to find out that those people were killed here?”
Qing Kui nodded with a solemn expression, “Given the powers of the senior experts of those Cave Heavens, they can definitely do that even though it might take a while.”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “In that case, we’re running short on time.”
Following a pause, he continued, “There’s one thing I need you to help me with, Senior Brother Qing.”
Qing Kui replied, “Just tell me straight away. Since Honoured Master has sent Junior Sister and me to help you, we’ll follow your commands.”
Yang Kai cut to the chase and said, “I need you to go back to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and invite Martial Uncle Xu to come to the Star Boundary.”
Qing Kui raised his brow in confusion upon hearing that, but soon understanding something, he said in shock, “Junior Brother Yang, you…”
Suddenly, Yang Kai put on a smile, “I’m a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and I’ve gained some benefits from the Sect. Martial Uncle Xu has been treating me well as he had even let me enter the Divine Armament World once. Now that I have gained some benefits of my own, I naturally can’t gobble everything up by myself. When you return to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Senior Brother Qing, please help me inform Martial Uncle Xu that I have a gift for him.”
Su Ying Xue, who had chosen to take a passive role up until now, appeared surprised as well.
Upon realising the other man’s intention, Qing Kui became excited, “In that case, I’ll not hide anything about what went on in the Star Boundary.”
Yang Kai chuckled, “It can’t be hidden. The secret of the Star Boundary will be exposed sooner or later. If possible, tell Martial Uncle Xu to invite some of the representatives of the other Cave Heavens and Paradises he’s on good terms with to come to the Star Boundary as well.”
Qing Kui examined him and remarked, “You’re pretty audacious, Junior Brother.”
There was a bitter smile on Yang Kai’s face, “It’s not possible for us to monopolise such a big piece of fat. Rather than waiting for other people to come snatch it, I’d rather expose the truth myself and negotiate to remain on top.”
Following the transformation of the Star Boundary, the World Tree started growing madly and amplified its heritage, which allowed the cultivators living there to more easily comprehend the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao. Even Yang Kai’s Father and Mother, whose aptitudes were average at best, could still easily make it to the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm, with the hope of ascending to the Fifth-Order. If cultivators with exceptional aptitudes started cultivating in the Star Boundary from a young age, they might be able to directly ascend to the Sixth Order or even the Seventh Order.
It could be said that Star Boundary was now the best cradle for nurturing future Open Heaven Realm Masters. Nowhere else in the entire 3,000 Worlds was comparable to it.
Certainly. Yang Kai would have monopolised such a precious place if he could; however, life was not a bed of roses.
In the past, no one bothered to come to the Star Boundary as it was located in a very remote area. Now that the World Tree had matured though, it would send a shockwave across the entire 3,000 Worlds. No one could stop this secret from spreading.
Moreover, following the death of Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan, those from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Myriad Demons Heaven would definitely come over to investigate. Yang Kai naturally had to be prepared.
It was true that Void Land was fairly strong now as two Divine Spirits were residing in its headquarters. Even the Cave Heavens and Paradises wouldn’t dare to underestimate them.
But in the end, that was just Void Land’s headquarters. There were not many powerful cultivators in the Star Boundary. It could be said that over 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters, more than twenty of them were in the Sixth Order, were a force to be reckoned with, but any Cave Heaven or Paradise could easily deploy such a powerful force with ease.
Yang Kai didn’t think they could win if they were faced with any of those great forces, not to mention that Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Myriad Demons Heaven would probably join forces to deal with them.
In order to survive, those from Void Land had to make use of the power of others.
Only other Cave Heavens and Paradises could deal with the Cave Heavens and Paradises. However, without enough benefits, there was no reason for those forces to make a move.
Although Xu Ling Gong was close to Yang Kai, he was unable to represent the entire Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.
Since they were running out of time, Qing Kui decided to leave immediately as Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was far away. Fortunately, since he was on his own, he could make use of Universe Temples to move around faster. It would probably take him three to four months to go there and come back.
Those from Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven probably wouldn’t be able to find the Star Boundary in just three to four months.
Su Ying Xue didn’t leave. Since she was a disciple of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, she might prove to be useful if anything unexpected happened.
Yang Kai stopped letting his thoughts run wild as he turned his head and raised his hand, “Tell him to come over.”
Earlier, when Lu Bai Yang noticed that the battle had ended, he decided to come over and have a look, but he waited at a distance so as not to appear rude. Upon stepping into this place though, he felt his chest tightening when he saw the pale young man who was covered in blood and the people around him.
He was already the strongest cultivator in the Blue Clouds Continent, but he was still unable to sense the true cultivation of these people. As he swept a glance over them, he realised that the aura of every one of them was extremely imposing. Then, when he recalled the Heaven destroying and Earth shattering noises just now, he realised that the powers of these people far exceeded his own.
In a respectful manner, he cupped his fist, “Blue Clouds Continent Lu Bai Yang, greets Seniors!”
Yang Kai examined him and nodded gently, “A promising man indeed.”
Faced with formidable enemies, Lu Bai Yang was still determined to defend his homeland. At the most critical moment, he even obtained the acknowledgement of the World’s Will, thus allowing him to become a Great Emperor and condense his Dao Seal. Therefore, it was obvious that even though Lu Bai Yang was still weak right now, he was a resolute person.
Yang Kai recalled that when the Great Emperors of the Star Boundary had to face the Great Demon God; their situation was similar to that of Lu Bai Yang. The only difference was that no powerful cultivators showed up and helped them at that time. However, on this day, those from Void Land appeared and killed the enemies, thus solving the crisis for this place.
Lu Bai Yang appeared somewhat bashful, “Many thanks for your compliment, Senior.”
“What’s this place called?” Yang Kai asked.
Lu Bai Yang replied respectfully, “Senior, this is Blue Clouds Continent.” He felt his heart pounding against his chest, thinking that these were indeed the senior experts that came from somewhere else. That was the reason they were not even aware of this World’s name.
He had previously speculated that there was a wider world and greater Martial Dao outside the Blue Clouds Continent, but that remained a speculation that couldn’t be proven. Nevertheless, what he had gone through on this day proved his theory right.
Upon seeing the other man’s fervent gaze, Yang Kai put on a smile, “You’ve obtained the acknowledgement of the Will of this World and condensed your Dao Seal, thus allowing you to become a Great Emperor. After that, you’ll need to refine various resources to condense the Powers of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements. Once you accomplish this, you must split Heaven and Earth apart within your body, allowing you to step into the Open Heaven Realm.”
There was a longing expression on Lu Bai Yang’s face as he muttered in a dazed state, “Split Heaven and Earth apart?”
Yang Kai went on to say, “We will remain here for some time, so I will have someone explain the abstrusity of the Open Heaven Realm to you at a later point.”
An elated Lu Bai Yang saluted him, “Many thanks for your kindness, Senior.”
It was like passing through a forest as a blind man when he cultivated on his own. If he could get the advice of some senior expert, it could save him time and allow him to take the correct path. It was expected that he was pleasantly surprised.
Yang Kai waved his hand, “The calamity that befell your Blue Clouds Continent is partly my responsibility, and your homeland has suffered immense losses as a result. Just see it as my compensation to you.”
Naturally, Lu Bai Yang wouldn’t dare to seriously take it as compensation.
Then, Yang Kai changed the topic by asking, “How old is the Blue Clouds Continent?”
Since Lu Bai Yang had obtained the acknowledgement of the Blue Clouds Continent and become a Great Emperor, he was definitely the one who knew this Universe World the best.
When Yang Kai became a Great Emperor in the past, the entire process of the Star Boundary’s birth and growth played out in his mind. He supposed that Lu Bai Yang had gone through a similar experience.
After giving it a thought, Lu Bai Yang replied, “It’s about 1 million years old.”
Yang Kai nodded, “It’s quite young.”
A Universe World that was born roughly a million years ago could be considered very young, and it was now confirmed that this place was a Newborn Great Territory.
“Mo Mei,” Yang Kai called out.
Mo Mei took a few steps forward, “Yes, Sect Master.”
“Go back to the Star Boundary and bring some people over. Tell them to form into groups to explore this Great Territory. If they discover anything of importance, report it to me immediately.”
“Yes!” Upon receiving the order, Mo Mei turned around and left.
This Newborn Great Territory was a lucrative ownerless land. Since Yang Kai had discovered this place, he definitely wanted to take control of it. If there were any hidden treasures in this Great Territory, over 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters would certainly be able to find some traces.
Yang Kai naturally wouldn’t want to miss such a great chance.
Void Land was tight on money right now. With a Territory Gate blockaded by those from Heavenly Sword Union, which was led by Zuo Quan Hui, for a few years and influencing trade, all of Void Land’s resources had been used up, so they seriously needed to replenish their reserves; otherwise, it would be hard for their disciples to cultivate.
Business in Void Star City had to be restored, and the problem regarding the lack of resources in Void Land had to be settled. Yang Kai also needed to make some future plans for the Star Boundary. Even though they had defeated Zuo Quan Hui, they had to deal with a lot of issues. All these were giving him a headache as it wasn’t until he began trying to solve these problems that he realised how difficult it would be to do so. He missed his days when he basically acted as an arm-flinging shopkeeper despite being a Sect Master.
Everyone had consumed a lot of energy in the epic battle, so Yang Kai told them to get some rest and asked Yue He to teach Lu Bai Yang some basic knowledge about the Open Heaven Realm before he started cultivating.
Zuo Quan Hui collapsed his Small Universe before his death, allowing his World Force to contaminate Yang Kai’s Small Universe. Although Yang Kai had cordoned off his Small Universe in time, and Wu Kuang had activated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law to gobble up the mixed heritage, some of Zuo Quan Hui’s World Force still managed to leak into Yang Kai’s wider Small Universe.
The power that belonged to Zuo Quan Hui was no different from impurities for Yang Kai. He had to get rid of it sooner rather than later, or else it would affect his foundation.
Lu Bai Yang personally led Yang Kai to a secluded place where he could cultivate, a Restricted Area of the top four Sects in the Blue Clouds Continent.
Tranquil Heavens Peak was definitely a good place; otherwise, it wouldn’t have become the Holy Land of the cultivators in the Blue Clouds Continent. However, after the great battle, the area around Tranquil Heavens Peak was destroyed, and the peak itself was gone for good.
Lu Bai Yang was the most powerful cultivator in the Blue Clouds Continent who was respected by all. Since he had spoken, no one dared to disobey him.
Therefore, Yang Kai successfully entered the Restricted Area of this Sect called the Primordial Sect.
It wasn’t that he insisted on cultivating in a Restricted Area as to him, he could just cultivate anywhere. However, since Lu Bai Yang had mentioned it, he didn’t think it was appropriate to turn him down.
The Elders of Primordial Sect were beside Lu Bai Yang the whole time, and the fact that Lu Bai Yang treated this young man respectfully, as though he was the latter’s Disciple, terrified them.
They were fully aware of Lu Bai Yang’s capabilities. He was the most powerful Master in the Blue Clouds Continent, so why would he still treat someone else in such a solemn manner?
These elderly people were doubtful as they couldn’t figure out the reason behind it.
Eventually, the Sect Master of Primordial Sect summoned his courage and asked, “Saint Lu, who is that Sir?”
‘Saint’ was an honorific given to Lu Bai Yang by the cultivators in the Blue Clouds Continent. Other than his cultivation, he also received this title because of his temperament.
However, at this moment, Lu Bai Yang appeared bashful as he took a glance at the beautiful woman beside him. He reckoned that he didn’t deserve the honorific since he was so weak. Upon seeing that there wasn’t a change in her expression though, he wiped off the cold sweat on his forehead and replied, “He’s a senior expert from the outside world. The noises we heard before were the fallout of Senior clashing with his enemies.”
The people from Primordial Sect widened their eyes in disbelief.
Earlier, the world-shattering noises reverberated across the entire Blue Clouds Continent. Many of them thought that the end had arrived. It wasn’t until this moment that they realised those were the repercussions of a battle.
Even the fallout was so horrifying, so how powerful was the person who made the move in the first place? Furthermore, Lu Bai Yang had mentioned the words ‘senior expert’. The people from Primordial Sect still couldn’t believe what they had heard.
Lu Bai Yang waved his hand, “All of you should treat him with respect. No one should approach Senior without his permission.”
All of them obediently saluted, “Yes, Saint Lu.”
It was then Lu Bai Yang bent his back at Yue He, “Many thanks, Senior.”
Yue He replied with a smile, “Since it is the Young Master’s order, I will definitely do my best. By the way, stop calling me Senior. I’m not that old.”
Lu Bai Yang hurriedly nodded in agreement. While he was excited, he took a glance at the Elders of Primordial Sect, but appeared hesitant.
Knowing what was on his mind, Yue He said with a smile, “You’re quite generous. The average person who has obtained such an opportunity would never expose it, but you’re willing to share it with the others. It is no wonder that you were able to gain the acknowledgement of the World’s Will and became a Great Emperor at the most critical moment.”
A humble Lu Bai Yang replied, “Many thanks for your compliment, Sen… Madame.”
Yue He put on a bright smile as she seemed pleased with the title, and then she said amicably, “Others are welcome to join. It’s not a secret anyway, just some common knowledge from where we come from. It’s just that the Blue Clouds Continent is fairly isolated, so you know nothing about the outside world.”
Lu Bai Yang let out a long breath, “Many thanks, Madame.”
He then sent a signal to the others from Primordial Sect.
These elderly people felt their hearts racing as they said in unison, “Many thanks, Madame!”
They previously thought that this beautiful woman was just a maidservant, but it wasn’t until Lu Bai Yang called her ‘Senior’ that they realised they had greatly underestimated her. She was also one of these senior experts. They had no idea what this woman wanted them to listen to, but it must be some valuable information since Lu Bai Yang regarded it as important.
The Sect Master of Primordial Sect then led all of them to a Grand Hall and invited Yue He to take the head seat.
These people in the hall were the cultivators at the peak of Martial Dao in the eyes of the commoners in the Blue Clouds Continent, but at this moment, they were seated with straight backs and looked attentively at Yue He, as though they were disciples awaiting a lecture.
Yue He then talked about the classification of the Martial Dao. After she was done explaining the Emperor Realm and the World’s Will, she went on to talk about Great Emperors and Dao Seals.
Lu Bai Yang and the Elders of Primordial Sect felt as though they had been struck by a huge wave. The classification of the Martial Dao was unified across the entire 3,000 Worlds; after all, the 3,000 Worlds were well connected and communication was frequent.
However, in this new Great Territory, the Martial Dao was classified in a slightly different way. It was vaguer than from the outside world.
In comparison, they realised that the classification system mentioned by this beautiful woman was more comprehensive and logical. They fell into their thoughts and realised that they were in the Emperor Realm, just like what she had said.
At the mention of the World’s Will and the Great Emperors, those from Primordial Sect started breathing rapidly.
Yue He said with a smile, “Every Universe World can be thought of as a bottle with certain limits, oftentimes referred to as the World’s Bottle. The number of Great Emperors any Universe World can support depends on the limit of the World’s Bottle. Even though there’s only one Great Emperor in the Blue Clouds Continent now, there will be more in the future.”
The Sect Master of Primordial Sect took a deep breath and looked fervently at Yue He, “So, all of us have a chance to become Great Emperors?”
Yue He smiled and nodded, “You’ll have the chance as long as you manage to gain acknowledgement from the World.”
These people traded glances with excitement. This was truly a piece of shocking news. They previously thought that Lu Bai Yang was already at the peak of the Martial Dao, but they hadn’t expected to find out there were more powerful beings in the outside world. With a clear goal in sight, they naturally wanted to work hard to tread further upon the Martial Dao.
The Sect Master of Primordial Sect asked humbly, “How does one go about gaining such acknowledgement?”
Yue He only shook her head with a smile.
They thought that she wasn’t willing to expose such a secret, but no one dared to complain.
Lu Bai Yang on the other hand asked with a frown, “Madame, what happens to the others of the Blue Clouds Continent once the World’s Bottle’s limit is reached? Does that mean it becomes impossible for them to advance further on the Martial Dao?”
“Naturally not. The Great Emperors can make use of the World’s Will to condense their Dao Seals, but it doesn’t mean those who are unable to become Great Emperors can’t do so as well. I’ve never been a Great Emperor myself. As long as one can find their own Grand Dao, they can continue rising. Alternatively, they can make use of Heavenly Dao Pills or other similar Spirit Pills. Many people in the Outer Universe rely on such pills to condense their Dao Seals.”
In comparison, Yue He was evidently more amiable to Lu Bai Yang, but that wasn’t because he was the strongest amongst these people. She was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Master, so Emperors and Great Emperors were no different to her, ants she could squash with a snort
The main reason was that Lu Bai Yang was truly concerned about his world and people, which was proven to be true in their conversation.
The Emperor Realm Masters of Primordial Sect only cared about whether they would be able to secure a place in the World’s Bottle.
On the other hand, Lu Bai Yang was concerned about how others could move forward once the limit in the World’s Bottle was reached. That was why Yue He regarded him highly.
Half a day later, all of them left the place with excitement.
Yue He’s narration seemed to have opened the door to a new world for them, allowing them to know that besides the Blue Clouds Continent, there were more Universe Worlds that they were not aware of out there. Outside of their own Great Territory that consisted of many Universe Worlds, there were even more Great Territories.
The Emperor Realm was followed by the Open Heaven Realm, which was divided into High-Rank, Mid-Rank, and Low-Rank.
They had never heard about such things before.
Ignoring the sentiment of those from Primordial Sect, Lu Bai Yang asked for Yue He’s opinion about sharing what they had learned with others. Upon receiving her permission, he gathered all the Emperor Realm Masters in the continent together two months later and told them everything he knew. He also explained to them what happened in the Blue Clouds Continent on that day.
Certainly, Lu Bai Yang wouldn’t lie to them, so upon hearing his words, all of them broke into a commotion.
Five days after the epic battle against Zuo Quan Hui, more than 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters from Void Land streamed into this new Great Territory. Groups of two were formed and each pair picked a direction and flew off to begin scouring this Great Territory.
Half a month later, many of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, who had recovered, could no longer contain their urge to explore the new Great Territory.
The new Great Territory was full of mysteries. They naturally had to personally find out about the opportunities and risks in this place.
Only Yue He and Su Ying Xue were left in Primordial Sect to handle the more administrative affairs.
One month later, Yang Kai finally left the Restricted Area. He had managed to get rid of the impurities from Zuo Quan Hui’s Small Universe, but the loss of heritage he had suffered in that battle couldn’t be replenished in a short time. His decision to merge his own Small Universe with that of Zuo Quan Hui in a final attempt to kill him turned out to be harmful to him, which was inevitable.
Fortunately, he managed to kill Zuo Quan Hui in the end.
Seeing that Yang Kai had come out of the Restricted Area, Yue He hurriedly approached him and called out, “Young Master.”
Yang Kai nodded at both Yue He and Su Ying Xue, then asked, “How’s the situation in this Great Territory?”
An excited Yue He replied, “This Great Territory is very vast. It’s been a short time since the exploration started, so we haven’t found out where the boundaries are; however, we’ve discovered many Universe Worlds with ample resources, even though their Orders are fairly low.”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “That’s good news.”
There was a lack of resources in Void Land now. The issue could be alleviated if they could get some resources from this Great Territory.
“Have you discovered any Open Heaven Realm Masters?” Yang Kai asked.
Yue He shook her head, “No. Many of the Universe Worlds only have the most basic forms of life; there are not even living creatures with sentience. We’ve discovered two Universe Worlds where there are living beings, but the Martial Dao there is even lower than that of Blue Clouds Continent.”
Yang Kai nodded gently, “Now we can be certain that it’s a Newborn Great Territory.”
Only in a Newborn Great Territory would the Martial Dao be so low in so many places. There wasn’t even a single Open Heaven Realm Master to be found.
“There’s one interesting place, though. Do you want to have a look, Young Master?” Yue He asked.
Yang Kai shot her a glance and burst into laughter, “Since you’ve said so, it must be very interesting. Let’s go.”
Yue He pressed her lips together and smiled, “Please come with me, Young Master.”
Upon finishing her words, she leaped into the sky, followed by Yang Kai and Su Ying Xue.
Yue He then shot off in a certain direction.
Over 1,000 disciples from Void Land had scattered everywhere in this Great Territory. Once they discovered a place that was worth their attention, they would immediately head to the Blue Clouds Continent to report it to Yue He, who would then let Yang Kai make a decision after the latter exited his retreat.
Although one month had passed, they were still unable to have a clear picture of the entire Great Territory. With that said, they had made a lot of discoveries.
As they moved forward, Yang Kai suddenly recalled something and asked, “What Order do you think Lu Bai Yang can achieve?”
Yue He replied, “I’ve checked his Dao Seal and I believe he’ll definitely be able to reach the Fifth Order. It will be difficult for him to directly ascend to the Sixth Order.”
Yang Kai nodded his head, “He’s the first Great Emperor in that Universe World who has the blessing of the World’s Will. The Fifth Order will be pretty good for him.”
The cultivators who could directly ascend to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm were Core Disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. For every Sect, they would probably only get one such disciple every 1,000 years or so.
Having said that, with the transformation in the Star Boundary, turning it into an Open Heaven Realm Cradle, Yang Kai wasn’t able to foretell what would happen from now on. Perhaps directly ascending to the Sixth Order would be the norm in the future.
“Do you want to ask him to join Void Land, Young Master?” Yue He asked.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “This Great Territory is like the back garden of Void Land now, so whether or not he joins Void Land makes no difference. Tell someone to send over a set of materials condensed from the Gourd Vine to help him ascend to the Open Heaven Realm. Given his temperament, I believe he won’t be ungrateful.”
Upon hearing that, Su Ying Xue rolled her eyes, “You’ve asked Senior Brother Qing to invite our Honoured Master to come over alongside his friends from the other Cave Heavens and Paradises, and now you also want to keep this entire Great Territory as Void Land’s back garden? I don’t think that’s feasible.” After all, Yang Kai himself had said that Void Land was unable to gobble up so many treasures on its own. This new Great Territory was also such a treasure.
A nonchalant Yang Kai replied, “Feasible or not, that will depend on how I’m going to make it happen.”
As he spoke, he suddenly turned to look in a particular direction as there was a World with a golden glow hovering in the void there. Even though it was far away, Yang Kai could still clearly feel a stunning aura coming right at him from over there.
He narrowed his eyes when he saw that.
Yue He fished out a jade slip and took a look before stating, “There are no living creatures in this Universe World, but it contains ample Metal Element materials. Two disciples looked into it and found out that the materials were only in the Second and Third Order. However, if we dig deeper into the ground, we might be able to get Metal Element materials of higher Orders.”
Yang Kai sighed, “I recall reading from an ancient book that all Newborn Great Territories are extremely rich in resources. I couldn’t imagine it in the past, but now it seems that it’s true.”
The currently known Great Territories in the 3,000 Worlds were all born at some point in time. During that period of time, they were also stuffed full of resources. However, as time passed, the resources gradually became depleted and disappeared from the people’s sight.
The Universe World before their eyes was a treasure vault that couldn’t be found anywhere else in the 3,000 Worlds.
If all the resources were extracted out of this treasure vault, that would translate into immense wealth.
Yue He said, “Besides this Universe World that contains Metal Element materials, we’ve also discovered similar Worlds that have Wood Element and Fire Element materials. There’s also a Sealing Yang Domain.”
A surprised Yang Kai asked, “A Sealing Yang Domain?”
Yue He smiled and nodded, “En.”
In the past, the place where Bai Qi ascended to the Open Heaven Realm was also a Sealing Yang Domain. It was originally a Restricted Zone belonging to Golden Rainbow Province. Those from Golden Rainbow Province discovered it a long time ago, but they used it as bait to lure the Proprietress and Bai Qi out. In the end, the Sealing Yang Domain was destroyed following an intense battle.
The Proprietress was thorough at that time as Bao Qi almost lost his life. So, those from Golden Rainbow Province had also suffered immense losses since the Sealing Yang Domain was now gone for good.
It was during that time when the Proprietress made a heart demon oath. Unless she could destroy Golden Rainbow Province and Boundless Altar, she would never ascend to the Seventh Order in her lifetime.
Yang Qi was abundant in a Sealing Yang Domain as it could infinitely produce Yang Element materials of different Orders.
Out of the Yin, Yang, and Five Elements, Yin and Yang Element materials were the rarest. A Sealing Yang Domain was definitely more valuable than the Metal Element Universe World.
Yang Kai repeatedly said ‘good’ in order to express his joy. It strengthened his notion of making this Great Territory the back garden of Void Land.
Even though this move would cause some disputes, he certainly wouldn’t allow anyone to harm his interests.
At that moment, Yang Kai supposed he should thank the old dog Zuo Quan Hui. If Zuo Quan Hui hadn’t made use of his power and opened up a Territory Gate, Yang Kai wouldn’t have discovered this new Great Territory that would bring tremendous benefits to Void Land.
However, this issue was also giving him a headache.
There were many places in this new Great Territory that needed exploration. The small number of Universe Worlds that contained a huge amount of resources already required a lot of manpower to mine. It had only been a hundred years since the Star Boundary last experienced its biggest war, and since the population had shrunk significantly, they were unable to bear such a burden.
Yang Kai believed that he could use the help of Void Territory. After all, Void Land now directly managed over ten Universe Worlds, so they could bring some people over to help out.
As they kept flying forward, they soon arrived at the Sealing Yang Domain.
It was a small Star that accompanied a Dead Star, but it contained an abundance of Yang Qi. The Yang Qi permeating the entire Star was in the Third-Order.
In other words, if any cultivators intended to ascend to the Third Order, they could just come here and refine the ambient Yang Qi. There wasn’t a need for them to look for Yang Element materials elsewhere.
It was true that world creation was absolutely abstruse.
Then, the trio kept flying forward for ten more days before they arrived at their destination.
As Yang Kai looked dazedly at the place where swirling clouds of dust and light were weltering. He could clearly feel a chaotic aura coming from it. Lightning would strike from time to time, as though it was ready to claw through the clouds and break free from the chaos.
The aura of a new world permeated a large area of the void.
“Chaos stirs and a world is born!” Yang Kai exclaimed while Su Ying Xue widened her eyes.
Although Yue He had already learned about it from the exploring disciples, she still fell into a dazed state when she actually saw it.
A while later, she nodded her head and continued, “This is our biggest discovery yet, Young Master. However, we’re not sure when the chaos will be broken. Only when that time comes will a new world really be born.”
Yang Kai carefully sensed it but still couldn’t figure anything out. He said helplessly, “I have no idea as well.”
Then, he suddenly said through clenched teeth, “If anyone dares to lay his paws on this Great Territory in the future, I’ll definitely cut off his hand!”
Seeing that he suddenly became so emotional, Yue He broke into a fit of giggles while Su Ying Xue just glowered at him.
The reason Void Land’s Star City could gain popularity and become a First Class Star City in a few years was because they had Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills.
The pill recipe of the Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills wasn’t really a secret; after all, it was bought by Yang Kai from the Red Clouds Auction House, so those from Red Clouds Paradise definitely still had a copy of it.
It wasn’t that the Alchemists of Red Clouds Paradise were not skillful enough. It was just that they lacked the main ingredient, which was World Source Liquid. That was the reason they were unable to refine such pills.
Yang Kai could do that because he had World Source Liquid with him.
World Source Liquid would only appear when a new world was born, so it had basically become extinct across the 3,000 Worlds. No world in the 3,000 Worlds was newly born, which was why they were unable to find more World Source Liquid.
However, in the depths of this Newborn Great Territory, there was a place where chaos stirred. It was the sign of a new world about to be born.
When the new world finally took shape, World Source Liquid would probably appear.
If someone else obtained it, the advantage of Void Star City would be gone for good. The Star City was a place that those from Void Land relied on to get their cultivation resources, so Yang Kai would never allow anyone to harm their interests.
He intended to make this new Great Territory the back garden of Void Land. Initially, he thought that he could share some of the profits with others if there was too much pressure; however, he had now thoroughly discarded that idea.
No one else could have a hand in this Newborn Great Territory other than Void Land. If they gave someone else a chance, it was akin to killing their own future.
Nevertheless, the Territory Gate was there. When the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises arrived at the Star Boundary, they would also see the Territory Gate. The problem was how Yang Kai could bar them from entry. Should he try to persuade them to go away? No one would listen to him when there were benefits to be gained. It was also impossible to fight against them. Dealing with Zuo Quan Hui alone caused Void Land to suffer immense losses. If there were more High-Rank cultivators they had to deal with, it was impossible for those from Void Land to defeat them.
Therefore, Yang Kai reckoned that he had to come up with a different solution. As he looked at the place where chaos stirred, he fell into his thoughts.
A while later, he spoke up, “Yue He, look for Luan Bai Feng and tell her to meet me at the Territory Gate.”
Upon hearing that, Yue He replied, “Understood. But you might have to wait, Young Master. Everyone has scattered to explore this Great Territory. I don’t even know where she is right now.”
“It’s fine. I’m not in a rush.” Yang Kai waved his hand.
It was then Yue He left.
After looking around, Su Ying Xue reckoned that it was inappropriate for her to stay with Yang Kai alone, so she told him that she would also explore the new Great Territory, and then dashed off into the void.
When Luan Bai Feng received the news and rushed over to the Territory Gate one month later, she saw Yang Kai squatting on a random shattered Spirit Province with a frown. There was a stone in his hand as he drew something on the ground.
The Spirit Province was small as it was only a few square kilometres. It was obviously brought here by Yang Kai as it was only a hundred kilometres away from the Territory Gate.
“Sir!” Luan Bai Feng landed on the ground and stood in front of Yang Kai.
Yang Kai waved his hand to motion for her to wait as he continued drawing on the ground.
Luan Bai Feng had no idea what he was doing, and when she looked down, she saw many unrecognisable patterns and runes on the ground. She initially pressed her lips together in annoyance, but upon closer look, she arched her brow as her interest had been piqued.
When she realised that it was actually a Spirit Array, she broke into laughter. Given her mastery of the Dao of Spirit Arrays, she naturally could see that there were many illogical and impossible parts in this Spirit Array, though it wasn’t completely useless.
She had no idea why Yang Kai suddenly became interested in Spirit Arrays. She even thought that he had asked her to come over here to teach him the Dao of Spirit Arrays.
“What did you get?” Yang Kai asked without raising his head.
“Well…” Luan Bai Feng’s eyelashes fluttered, “Nothing much.”
Yang Kai stopped what he was doing and looked up at her with a meaningful smile.
Luan Bai Feng pressed her lips into a line, “Really nothing.”
Yang Kai extended his hand towards her.
Luan Bai Feng was initially enraged, then she said in a pitiful manner, “Why are you making things difficult for a small woman like me, Sir? It’s so hard for me to earn a few measly resources.”
Yang Kai took a glance at her chest, “Small?”
Luan Bai Feng pressed her chest forward, her plump bosom almost bursting out of her clothes. However, she took a few steps back. With a flushing face, she said bashfully, “Sir, I won’t sleep with you.”
Yang Kai burst into laughter and snapped, “Stop spouting nonsense. Give me your Space Ring!”
At that instant, Luan Bai Feng appeared aggrieved.
However, Yang Kai was unfazed.
A while later, the woman clenched her teeth and took off her ring before tossing it at Yang Kai. While sniffling, she said, “You’re a man, so how do you have the nerve to oppress a woman like me?”
Ignoring her, Yang Kai swept his Divine Sense across the Space Ring’s contents and arched his brow. He then fished out a wisp of Purple Qi from the ring.
The Purple Qi was like a snake that was somewhere between real and illusory. It was truly mysterious. What was more important was that the Purple Qi contained a pure but profound power.
“What’s this?” Yang Kai asked.
A furious Luan Bai Feng replied, “How would I know? I took it because I thought it was special. I haven’t figured out what it is.”
Yang Kai poked her, “Of the nine people on the Loyalty List, only you dare to speak to me like this.”
Luan Bai Feng kept a faint smile on her face as she saluted him in an elegant manner, “This Mistress would like to express her eternal gratitude for her loyalty to Sir.” As she spoke, she shot a charming glance at the man, her eyes flashing a truly alluring light.
Yang Kai examined the Purple Qi for a while but still couldn’t figure out what it was. He had a feeling that it was a kind of material, not a cultivation resource. That was because he had tried to refine it but it yielded no results.
He then asked her where she obtained the Purple Qi from, but that didn’t really help.
After that, he put the Purple Qi inside his Small Universe, causing Luan Bai Feng to become even more aggrieved.
He went through her ring one more time, and upon making sure that there was nothing else that was worth his attention, he tossed it back to her.
A vexed Luan Bai Feng took it with a discontented and aggrieved expression, like a maiden who had been thoughtlessly abandoned by a man after a night of passion.
“I asked you to come over because I want you to assist me in arranging a Space Array.” Yang Kai adjusted his clothes, “You’re an expert in the Dao of Spirit Arrays, so only you can help me.”
Luan Bai Feng frowned, “A Space Array?”
Yang Kai pointed at the Territory Gate that wasn’t far away, “For that.”
Luan Bai Feng looked up, and as she recalled what had happened some time ago, she finally understood Yang Kai’s intention. With a smile, she asked, “You want to hog everything for yourself, Sir? Aren’t you worried that it will invite trouble to you?”
Yang Kai replied dispassionately, “Regardless of the trouble, I just have to gobble up everything first. If I don’t even have the appetite for that, how am I supposed to achieve anything great? Zuo Quan Hui and I opened up the Territory Gate together, and although it’s still not stable, I suppose it will soon become so as more than 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters from Void Land have already passed through it safely. I need to arrange a Grand Array here and refine some Jade Tokens so that only those with the tokens can move past it freely. Anyone who does not carry the access token will be exiled to the Void. Can you do it?”
Luan Bai Feng fell into her thoughts with a frown. It wasn’t until a moment later that she replied, “I can do it as long as you’re willing to cooperate.”
Yang Kai let out a breath, “Good. We need to finish this quickly. Just tell me whatever materials you need.”
She looked up at him, “That Purple Qi…”
“It’s mine,” Yang Kai said solemnly.
“Robber! Thief! Bandit!” Luan Bai Feng said through clenched teeth as she stomped her foot.
She knew that since Yang Kai had snatched it from her, there was no way she could get it back. Even though she was unresigned, there was nothing she could do. She was practically his servant since her name was on the Loyalty List, so whatever Yang Kai wanted to take from her, she was unable to disobey him.
The man was probably the most thick-skinned person she had ever met. He had no qualms about snatching things from others, even a woman like her.
After venting out her anger though, she immediately started working on the Grand Array.
For the next two months, Yang Kai and Luan Bai Feng remained beside the Territory Gate, working while discussing the Grand Array from time to time.
Yang Kai was a Master of the Dao of Space while Luan Bai Feng was adept at the Dao of Spirit Arrays. They worked together to make up for the weaknesses they respectively had, allowing them to rapidly develop this new Grand Array.
The pair used up countless resources and in just two months, the Space Array outside the Territory Gate finally took shape.
A group of Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters stood in the void as they looked dazedly at the Territory Gate.
The Territory Gate, which was opened up by Yang Kai and Zuo Quan Hui, was initially warped and sent out a dangerous aura. However, at this moment, with the support of the Grand Array, it had become stabilised. They could also see that the Territory Gate was surrounded by an oval-shaped structure that looked like a kind of gateway.
In the middle of the structure was the Territory Gate that connected both Great Territories.
Luan Bai Feng was slightly pale. She had spent a lot of energy trying to arrange this Grand Array over the past two months. However, when she saw that her work had paid off, she still felt gratified.
Yang Kai turned his head and sent a signal to Yue He, who dashed into the Territory Gate with a Jade Token in her hand.
A moment later, she returned and nodded at Yang Kai.
“It works!” Yang Kai let out a long breath. Although he had repeatedly tested it himself and reckoned that there wouldn’t be a problem, he was a Master of the Dao of Space after all. If there was really a problem, he might not be able to detect it.
Since Yue He managed to shuttle back and forth safely though, it meant that his hard work over the past two months had paid off.
Yue He approached Yang Kai and said in a small voice, “Senior Brother Qing is waiting across from here, Young Master. He said that our guests have arrived.”
Yang Kai nodded, “En.”
It had been four months since Qing Kui left. Yang Kai calculated the time and realised that Qing Kui was indeed supposed to return around now.
It had been a long time since they started exploring the Newborn Great Territory, but they still hadn’t gotten a full picture of it. Yang Kai had summoned most of them back. It wasn’t that they would stop exploring, it was just that they still wouldn’t be able to explore everything even if they kept doing it for decades.
This Great Territory wasn’t really that expansive, but there were many hidden corners. If they didn’t investigate carefully, they would definitely miss some wonderful discoveries.
In the 3,000 Worlds, many amazing things would still surface in those known Great Territories from time to time. Even though some places were crammed with people, they might still find something new that they hadn’t paid attention to previously. It was the same case for this new Great Territory.
They still had many years ahead of them anyway, and no one else could come here besides those from Void Land. They could still excavate the resources while exploring the Great Territory in the future. Whatever treasures there were in this place, they now belonged to Void Land, and no one else could lay their hands on them.
After a long time of exploration, they still hadn’t found any Open Heaven Realm Masters in this Great Territory. The Martial Dao of the discovered Universe Worlds was also generally low, most of which were worse than that of the Blue Clouds Continent. A few of them were an equal match for the Blue Clouds Continent and only one had a higher Martial Dao where a few Great Emperors had appeared, but that was it.
This was a characteristic of a Newborn Great Territory as the Martial Dao was still in the development stage.
With such a Great Territory that was full of treasures and resources in its possession, Void Land would have a bright future. However, their heritage was insufficient presently to fully exploit it.
In the past, Yang Kai thought that 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters was a staggering figure. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only a small number of Second Class great forces were a match for Void Land in this regard.
Nevertheless, these 1,000-plus Open Heaven Realm Masters had to protect Void Land, guard Void Star City, and explore this new Great Territory. Each place required a lot of manpower, especially the last one. In fact, they would probably need 10,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters to be stationed in this new Great Territory, so 1,000 suddenly seemed like a small number.
Yang Kai could only console himself that he had to take things slow. Void Land was still in its development stage, and they had already amassed a lot of Open Heaven Realm Masters in a short time. If he was too greedy for quick success, he might mess things up instead by rushing.
Since a Jade Token was required for anyone to move past the Territory Gate, they had to ask some people to stand guard on both sides of the gate. First of all, they could watch over the place so that no one would barge in. Secondly, they could open the doors for trustworthy visitors.
Yang Kai naturally wouldn’t have to deal with this as Yue He would make the arrangements.
After passing through the Territory Gate, he returned to the Great Territory where the Star Boundary was located.
A few months ago, he led many Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters to intercept those from Heavenly Sword Palace several million kilometres away from the Star Boundary. In the end, he borrowed the World Strength from the Star Boundary and temporarily ascended to the Seventh Order, which was how he managed to destroy the Heavenly Sword Palace and expose Heavenly Sword Union’s remaining forces.
The Territory Gate he had opened up was only a few million kilometres away from the Star Boundary itself; therefore, after he left the new Great Territory, he immediately saw the Star Boundary.
Upon seeing what was in front of him, Yang Kai became startled and muttered, “Why has it grown taller yet again?”
Compared to four months ago, the World Tree was now even taller. When he most recently returned to the Star Boundary from Void Land, the World Tree was only about 100,000 metres tall. After the great battle, many Open Heaven Realm Masters were killed, and the World Force which leaked out from their corpses were all absorbed by the World Tree. The nutrients allowed the tree to double in height to a 200,000 metres tall giant.
Even though Yang Kai was somewhere in the void that was several million kilometres away from the Star Boundary, he could still clearly see the magnificent and humongous World Tree now.
What was even more surprising was that the Star Boundary and Demon Realm, which were originally far apart from each other had basically merged together.
Presently, the Star Boundary was filled with greenery as an ample vitality permeated it while the Demon Realm was seen with weltering dark Demon Qi. Both places stood in stark contrast to one another as one was green while the other one was black.
The intertwined roots of the World Tree penetrated both worlds, which connected the Demon Realm and the Star Boundary.
Yang Kai had never expected such a thing to happen and at that instant, he wasn’t sure whether this was a good thing or not.
“Junior Brother Yang!” Qing Kui was waiting somewhere nearby, and upon seeing Yang Kai, he quickly flew over.
Yang Kai nodded and saluted him, “Many thanks for your efforts, Senior Brother Qing.”
Qing Kui replied with a smile, “It was just some travelling back and forth, nothing too strenuous.”
“Has Martial Uncle Xu arrived?” Yang Kai asked.
Qing Kui nodded his head and said in a small voice, “Honoured Master immediately came over after hearing about the situation in this place. Since he was in a rush, he could only invite a few friends of his who happened to be in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven at the time. More people will arrive later as Honoured Master dispatched messengers to some of the other Cave Heavens and Paradises.”
After a moment of hesitation, he went on to say, “Honoured Master has asked me to tell you something, Junior Brother Yang. In the next few years, the Star Boundary will be the centre of attention for the entire 3,000 Worlds. All 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises will have their eyes on this place. So, he hopes that you’ll be careful in everything you do.”
Yang Kai put on a smile, “I know.”
Then, he patted Qing Kui’s shoulder, “Let’s go. We shall meet Martial Uncle Xu and the other Seniors.”
Taking advantage of his status as a Great Emperor, he instantly moved across several million kilometres and returned to High Heaven Palace alongside Qing Kui, Su Ying Xue, and Yue He.
In the Grand Hall, Hua Qing Si was seated on a chair with nothing to do when something flashed across her eyes. Upon seeing Yang Kai and the others, she stood straight up and saluted, “Palace Master!”
Yang Kai nodded while Qing Kui looked around and asked in shock, “Where are my Honoured Master and the other Seniors?”
Hua Qing Si replied with a helpless smile, “They said they wanted to take a stroll. I couldn’t stop them.”
Yang Kai activated his Divine Sense and instantly found them, then he broke into laughter, “Let’s wait for them.”
With just a casual sweep, he had detected several powerful auras that were scattered across the Star Boundary.
All of them were powerful Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, so they could certainly move around the Star Boundary as they pleased. Yang Kai was unable to stop them and did not have the intention to do so.
After they were seated, Hua Qing Si told someone to prepare tea. Yang Kai took the opportunity to ask about the transformation in the Star Boundary. When he returned to this place some time ago, he instantly clashed with those from Heavenly Sword Union at the Territory Gate, after which he was locked in battle all the way to the Star Boundary’s borders, then crashed into the Newborn Great Territory to pursue the enemy. Following that, he spent the next few months arranging the Grand Space Array at the Territory Gate.
It wasn’t until today that he returned to this place.
An excited Hua Qing Si replied, “The Star Boundary has gone through a tremendous transformation, Palace Master. Not long after you left previously, the World Tree started growing rapidly, and the World Energy became increasingly ample, which allowed all cultivators to comprehend the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao more easily. Over the past few months, we’ve recorded many people breaking through to the Emperor Realm. The ones who are already in the Emperor Realm have also shown great improvement in their cultivation. Furthermore, the overall strength of High Heaven Palace has increased by 30% compared to a few months ago.”
It was inconceivable that such a tremendous transformation had taken place in just a few months. This phenomenon could not be found in any other Universe World in the entire 3,000 Worlds, but it was happening right here in the Star Boundary.
The rapid development of the World Tree had greatly benefited the cultivators in the Star Boundary since they were living in this place. They could now easily achieve a breakthrough, and everyone had renewed hopes of achieving greater heights in their cultivation.
“What about the Demon Realm?” Yang Kai asked.
Hua Qing Si replied, “Sir Embodiment said that it’s the same case in Demon Realm. For some reason, the World Tree suddenly connected the Star Boundary and Demon Realm together some time ago. Now that the two worlds have merged, the transformation in Demon Realm is tremendous as well.”
Yang Kai nodded his head, “The limit of the World’s Bottle also seems to have expanded. In the future, there will be more Great Emperors and Demon Saints in the Star Boundary and the Demon Realm.”
Hua Qing Si was surprised as she hadn’t realised this; however, since Yang Kai was the Star Boundary’s Void Great Emperor, he naturally couldn’t be mistaken about such a thing. The World’s Bottle of the Star Boundary could only accommodate ten Great Emperors in the past, but since it had expanded, it would allow more to be born.
“Unfortunately, you’ve already condensed a Dao Seal; otherwise, you would have stood a chance to become a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary.” Yang Kai looked regretfully at her.
Hua Qing Si replied with a smile, “This Mistress is already satisfied with the achievements I’ve made so far. I wouldn’t dare to be greedy.”
“It’s great that you don’t mind,” Yang Kai put on a smile.
In fact, there was nothing special about becoming a Great Emperor; after all, every cultivator would eventually want to become an Open Heaven Realm Master. The value of being a Great Emperor was that one obtained the acknowledgement of the Universe World they were from. Therefore, despite being only an Emperor Realm cultivator, he or she could activate World Force and temporarily use the might of the Open Heaven Realm.
Nevertheless, the power one could use was only on par with the Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm, so it wasn’t that valuable.
But the Star Boundary was different as its heritage was incredibly rich now. If one could become a Great Emperor in the Star Boundary, they could make use of the might of the world and use strength on par with a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master despite only being in the Emperor Realm. In comparison, the Great Emperors of the Star Boundary and the Great Emperors of the other Universe Worlds were not even of the same calibre.
Furthermore, experiencing such great power in advance would help one’s future growth, just like how Yang Kai had experienced the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm power in advance.
That was the reason he felt sorry for Hua Qing Si.
However, since she had condensed her Dao Seal, she would have the potential to become a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in the future. There was nothing worth regretting in reality.
Everyone had their own opportunities. Compared to the other Emperor Realm Masters, the ones from the Star Boundary were already at a significant advantage.
And this was just the current generation. The future generations would gain an even greater advantage, which was the reason Xu Ling Gong and the other Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters couldn’t contain the urge to explore the Star Boundary.
After talking to Hua Qing Si for a while longer, Yang Kai looked up as a figure flashed and appeared before his eyes. Xu Ling Gong’s brawny figure appeared in the Grand Hall.
“Honoured Master!” Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue rose from the chairs and saluted him.
“Martial Uncle Xu!” Yang Kai immediately stood up as well.
Xu Ling Gong seemed to be burdened with worries. He waved his hand and took a seat on a chair, after which Hua Qing Si set down a cup of tea on the table for him.
After giving it a thought with a frown, Xu Ling Gong picked up the cup and gulped the tea down. Then, he stared at Yang Kai and snapped, “Brat, you’ve put me in a tight spot!”
Yang Kai broke into laughter, “What do you mean, Martial Uncle Xu?”
Xu Ling Gong replied, “I saw many talented youths when I was out taking a stroll just now and wanted to take them all on as Disciples. What do you think I should do?”
Yang Kai’s expression darkened as the corners of his eyes twitched, “It seems that you’re here to rob me instead of complaining about anything, Martial Uncle Xu.”
Xu Ling Gong grinned, “I only thought about it, but didn’t make any moves. It’s someone else who has actually done so!” As he spoke, he pointed at the entrance of the hall.
Following that, another figure flashed as an old man clad in a simple grey robe appeared. What was surprising was that the old man was carrying a toddler that was barely a few months old in his arms. Beside him was a flustered woman whose eyes were drenched in tears.
The woman was wearing clothes made from simple linen, and although she was a bit chubby, it was obvious that she wasn’t from a wealthy family. She was as ordinary as could be.
No traces of cultivation could be found on this woman, and the dirt under her nails and in her hair made it apparent that she was from a family of mortal farmers. Her child was taken away by a seemingly powerful old man, and she was brought to this strange hall at the speed of lightning. At that moment, she was anxious and didn’t know what to do.
However, her worried gaze remained fixed on her child as he seemed to be the only thing on her mind.
The toddler in the arms of the old man clad in a grey robe was only a few months old. He was chubby and adorable. Everyone at the scene instantly took a liking to him.
At this moment, the toddler could barely contain his excitement as he looked up and pulled the old man’s low-hanging beard with his petite hands.
The old man didn’t mind it as he let the child do what it pleased.
Just then, a strand of beard was snapped. The child started giggling as though he found it interesting. He then exerted more force with his hands and pulled off more strands of the long beard.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue were drenched in cold sweat at the mere sight of this. Others might not know who this old man was, but they were fully aware of his identity. He was an Inner Elder of one of the 72 Paradises, a powerful Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The average person could hardly meet him, but here he was getting his beard plucked by a baby. If the disciples from his Paradise saw it, they would surely break into a commotion.
The two of them wouldn’t dare to be negligent as they saluted and called out, “Martial Uncle Yu.”
The old man surnamed Yu nodded, then turned to look at Yang Kai before speaking to the woman who was brought to this place by him, “Don’t fret. you’re now in High Heaven Palace, and the person in front of you is its Palace Master.”
He didn’t activate any kind of power, but his words were soothing enough to make the woman calm down instantly. She then turned to look at Yang Kai, and upon making sure that he looked exactly like the person in the picture that she had always paid respects to in her home, she instantly fell on her knees and lowered her head, “Greetings, Sir!”
The old man in grey robes frowned to the side, but he didn’t stop her.
Yang Kai raised his hand and lifted up the woman, then gazed at the old man in puzzlement, “Senior, she…”
He hadn’t even figured out which of the Cave Heavens or Paradises this old man came from or the reason the latter brought a child and a woman to this place.
The old man said frankly, “This Old Master must accept a Disciple.”
A surprised Yang Kai took a glance at the woman he was holding up, but he couldn’t find anything special about her, making him wonder why this Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had his eyes on her.
As though realising what was on Yang Kai’s mind, the old man patted the child in his arms and said, “I’m talking about this child.”
While he was speaking, one more strand of his beard was plucked. His white beard was initially well trimmed and organized, but it now looked dishevelled, which stripped him of his demeanour as a senior expert.
Yang Kai appeared even more surprised. If the old man wanted to take the woman on as a Disciple, he could accept it even though he didn’t understand it. The old man probably had a way to sense some peculiarity or unique characteristic in this woman; after all, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was powerful, so it was expected that he possessed abilities that Yang Kai didn’t. However, he couldn’t understand why the old man wanted to take a mere baby to be his Disciple.
The child was barely a few months old, so how was this old man able to see through his aptitude? Nevertheless, the old man carried the child like the latter was a treasure, and he didn’t even mind that his beard was being pulled.
Yang Kai then looked inquisitively at Xu Ling Gong.
Xu Ling Gong, however, was just watching the good show while chuckling. Upon noticing Yang Kai’s stare, he explained, “Kid, this is Yu Chang Dao from Free and Unfettered Paradise. You can call him Martial Uncle Yu.”
“So it is Martial Uncle Yu, forgive me for my lack of politeness,” Upon learning that the old man was from Free and Unfettered Paradise, Yang Kai instantly became friendlier.
Ning Dao Ran was from Free and Unfettered Paradise, and he was on close terms with Yang Kai; moreover, Yu Chang Dao came to this place alongside Xu Ling Gong, so it was obvious that he was a friend of the latter. Regardless, Yang Kai wouldn’t dare to be impolite to him.
“Martial Uncle Yu, may I know the nature of your relationship with Senior Brother Ning Dao Ran?” Yang Kai asked humbly.
Yu Chang Dao replied dispassionately, “He’s my Second Senior Brother’s Disciple.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai realised that Ning Dao Ran was Yu Chang Dao’s Martial Nephew.
Yang Kai then gazed at the woman and the child before asking, “And what is this situation about, Martial Uncle Yu?”
There was a helpless expression on Yu Chang Dao’s face as he replied, “The Innate Dao Body of this child matches my Grand Dao perfectly, so I’d like to take him on as a Closed Legacy Disciple.”
Upon hearing that, Xu Ling Gong was startled as he gazed at Yu Chang Dao in shock and asked, “Old Yu, are you serious?”
Accepting a Closed Legacy Disciple was no laughing matter. Once Yu Chang Dao did so, he would never take on another Disciple again, which meant that the child in his arms would be the last Disciple of his life.
Xia Ning Chang was born with the Sacred Spirit Medicine Body, so she had the right to become a Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor and learn the Alchemic Dao from him. However, Wondrous Pill Great Emperor had already accepted Ji Ying, who was the Fifth Disciple, to be his Closed Legacy Disciple. Therefore, regardless of how outstanding Xia Ning Chang’s aptitude was, she was unable to become a direct Disciple of Wondrous Pill Great Emperor.
With that said, Wondrous Pill Great Emperor had always been generous in teaching her the Alchemic Dao. Although there wasn’t a formal relationship between them, they were no different from Master and Disciple.
Yang Kai naturally knew what taking a Closed Legacy Disciple would mean. He couldn’t help but take another look at the child, but he still couldn’t figure out anything, let alone see through the child’s Innate Dao Body.
However, as a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Yu Chang Dao wouldn’t make a casual joke about such an important matter. The Innate Dao Body of this several-month-old child was undoubtedly real.
A determined Yu Chang Dao continued, “With such a Legacy Disciple, I’ll be able to die with no regret.”
Xu Ling Gong appeared solemn as he nodded, “Congratulations, then.” He turned to look at Yang Kai, “Old Yu would like to take on a Disciple from the Star Boundary. Are you fine with it?”
Yang Kai chuckled, “This child must be extremely lucky to gain the favour of Martial Uncle Yu. Naturally, there is no problem.”
Xu Ling Gong appeared gratified as he gave Yang Kai an approving look.
However, Yu Chang Dao sighed as he shot a helpless glance at the woman to his side, “Although this Old Master would like to take this child on as a Disciple, his Mother doesn’t agree to it. She said that when the child grows up, he has to enter High Heaven Palace to cultivate. Regardless of how I tried to persuade her, she refuses to listen to me. Why don’t you have a talk with her, Martial Nephew Yang?”
Yang Kai burst into laughter. It was then he realised the reason Yu Chang Dao brought the Mother and baby together to this place was to make him interfere in this matter.
He then turned to look at the woman. When he was speaking to Yu Chang Dao just now, he realised that the woman kept stealing glances at him, and then she would hang her head low with self-abasement. When she saw Yang Kai gazing at her now, she became flustered and was ready to fall on her knees again.
A helpless Yang Kai shot Hua Qing Si a glance to motion for her to talk to the woman.
It was easier for a woman to approach another woman after all.
Upon realising his intention, Hua Qing Si stepped forward and helped the woman up. As she hospitably took the woman’s rough hands, she invited her to have a seat. The woman was clearly anxious. She was just an ordinary farmer, so it was expected that she was flustered when she suddenly arrived at a magnificent palace. Moreover, the person she paid respects to every day and night without fail was now standing right before her eyes.
She initially wasn’t even able to speak clearly, so Hua Qing Si poured her a cup of tea and placated her before they could start communicating.
Yu Chang Dao was seated beside Xu Ling Gong with the child in his arms. Xu Ling Gong extended his head in an attempt to tease the child, but Yu Chang Dao moved his figure a little to block the child out of the other man’s sight.
Xu Ling Gong pressed his lips together, “How petty!”
He then stuck out his head and took a proper look before breaking into laughter, “So, he’s a boy. Don’t worry, Old Yu. I’ll look for a suitable partner for him from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. When he grows up, he’ll marry into my Sect.”
Yu Chang Dao glared at him and snarled, “If you dare to do that, I’ll kill you!”
His loud voice must have scared the laughing child as he started crying. Following that, a stream of liquid perfectly landed on Xu Ling Gong’s face.
Seeing that, Yu Chang Dao started laughing as he patted the child in his arms, “My Good Disciple! You already know you should help vent out your Honoured Master’s anger. You’re indeed clever!”
While being patted, the child stopped crying and started chuckling.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue just stood behind their Honoured Master, looking up at the ceiling as if admiring the beautiful artwork.
Xu Ling Gong wiped his face and flung his hand, but he didn’t seem to be vexed at all. With a smile, he said, “It’s said that being sprinkled with a toddler’s water can bring good luck. It seems that good things will soon happen to me.”
He then casually dried his hand on Yu Chang Dao’s grey robe.
Yang Kai couldn’t bear to keep looking at these two, thinking that the demeanour of these High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters didn’t meet his expectations of how senior experts should behave.
On the other hand, Hua Qing Si was still having a chat with the woman, who would gaze at her child from time to time with concern. However, by now she had somewhat calmed down.
Despite the woman’s small voice, the powerful cultivators in the Grand Hall could clearly hear her.
The woman began telling her story, “My family’s elders said that the Star Boundary fell into great turmoil about 100 years ago, and the people were almost wiped out. In the end, it was Senior Void and his High Heaven Palace that defended the last piece of pure land. With the leadership of Senior Void and the other Great Seniors, they fought an intense battle and eventually drove back the enemies. That was how we all survived. After that, every family would worship the idols or pictures of Senior Void and the other Seniors. This simple woman has never been educated, nor did I have the aptitude to cultivate. Since I was married, I’ve been taking care of my Husband and child and doing some manual work to feed the family. Half a year ago, the child’s Father passed away. Before his death, he took my hand and stroked my belly. The child wasn’t born at that time, but he told me that when the child grew up, I should let him join High Heaven Palace. He didn’t expect the child to be as famous as Senior Void, he just hoped that should there be any calamity again, the child could assist Senior Void and the other Seniors.”
As she tucked her hair behind her ears, she took a look at the alluring Hua Qing Si, then bashfully hung her head low, “It’s been a few months since the child was born. I don’t even know if he can cultivate in the future or has the right to enter High Heaven Palace; however, this was his Father’s dying wish, and I wouldn’t dare to disregard it; otherwise, the child’s Father might not be able to rest in peace.”
Hua Qing Si was moved as she clenched the other woman’s hands, “Don’t worry. Since your child has gained the favour of that Senior, his aptitude must be extraordinary. He’ll certainly achieve great things in life.”
The woman’s eyes brightened when she heard that, “Are you telling me the truth?”
Hua Qing Si smiled and nodded, “I wouldn’t lie to you.”
The woman let out a breath, “If he can cultivate, he won’t be as useless as his parents. However, I wouldn’t dare to hope that he’ll be as great as Senior Void. This simple woman just prays that he will grow up to be healthy and happy.”
The wish of an ordinary person was always simple and guileless.
The woman stole one more glance at Yang Kai and asked in a hushed voice, “Is that really Senior Void?”
Hua Qing Si said with a smile, “Since you worship his picture at home, why would you not recognise him when you finally see him?”
The woman flushed, “I… I just can’t believe it.”
She had always been a lowly farmer, so she found it unbelievable when such an important person suddenly appeared before her eyes.
“Then, are you Head Manager Hua of High Heaven Palace?” The woman suddenly recalled something and gazed at Hua Qing Si in shock.
A curious Hua Qing Si asked, “You know me?”
“It really is you!” The surprised woman covered her mouth as admiration was written all over her face, then she explained, “It is said that Senior Void has a strong right hand in High Heaven Palace. Despite being a woman, she was able to help Senior Void manage all the affairs in this World. Even a simple woman like me has heard about Head Manager Hua. The fact that the Star Boundary has been safe over the years is largely thanks to Head Manager Hua.”
Hua Qing Si replied with a smile, “It seems that I’m pretty famous too.”
The woman smiled humbly, but she soon started squirming as though she was sitting on pins and needles. Not only had she met the famous Senior Void, but she had also come across Head Manager Hua. She felt like she was dreaming.
After a moment of hesitation with her lips pressed together, she asked in a small voice, “Can my son enter High Heaven Palace, Head Manager?”
Hua Qing Si straightened her face and patted the other woman’s hands, “Given the child’s aptitude, he is qualified to be the Disciple of anyone he wishes.”
Since the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master wanted to take the child on as a Closed Legacy Disciple, it proved that he had an exceptional aptitude, so no great force would turn him down, though Hua Qing Si was unable to see anything special about the child.
The woman gritted her teeth and rose from the chair. Facing Yang Kai, she fell on her knees and pressed her head against the ground as she said loudly, “Senior Void, please accept my child into High Heaven Palace so that the last wish of his Father can be fulfilled. I’m willing to offer a lifetime of service to repay your favour.”
Yu Chang Dao, who was playing with the child, immediately glowered at Yang Kai as his aura churned. It seemed that he would teach Yang Kai a lesson if the latter dared to agree to this request.
Pretending to not see this, Yang Kai sent a signal to Hua Qing Si while uttering, “Get up first.” He felt helpless at the woman’s tendency to keep kneeling.
Hua Qing Si helped the woman up and adjusted her clothes for her.
Before Yang Kai could speak, Yu Chang Dao suddenly said, “Martial Nephew Yang, allow me to have a word with her.”
Yang Kai naturally wouldn’t turn him down over such a trivial matter, so he extended his hand to motion for him to go ahead, after which he picked up a cup of tea and sipped it.
Yu Chang Dao walked up to the woman and explained to her things like Universe Worlds, the 3,000 Worlds, the 36 Cave Heavens and 72 Paradises in a small voice.
The woman was puzzled as she listened to him. She didn’t speak or ask any questions, almost like they were not speaking the same language.
For all her life, she had only stayed in a small place that was several dozen square kilometres. She had never even stepped outside of her farming village prior to today. Therefore, she was unable to understand the old man as he talked about the 3,000 Worlds, Cave Heavens, and Paradises.
She just thought that the things the old man with a grey beard said were abstruse and unfathomable.
From time to time, she would steal a glance at his beard. The originally neat and tidy beard had become dishevelled because of her child, so she was worried that the old man would be angered.
Certainly, Yu Chang Dao realised this as well. He was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who could easily destroy a Star or flip a Universe World when he was infuriated. However, he was completely powerless to deal with this ordinary woman. He felt frustration burning in his chest without any means to vent it out, which was why he was so vexed.
“Do you understand now?” As a cultivator of the Heavenly Way, Yu Chang Dao was truly patient though and asked the woman with a smile.
The woman shook her head and nodded, then shook her head again.
On the side, Xu Ling Gong was all but rolling on the floor with laughter.
Regardless of how patient Yu Chang Dao was, he was enraged by this stubborn woman. If it weren’t because she was the Mother of his future Closed Legacy Disciple, he would have given her a piece of his mind.
He then turned to look at Yang Kai. Suddenly thinking of something, he said, “How do you find High Heaven Palace?”
The woman replied without hesitation, “It’s definitely the best. That was what my Husband kept telling me before his death. In the past, he had tried to enter High Heaven Palace, but he was unable to make his dream come true. That was because his aptitude was not good enough, so he didn’t pass the various tests.”
Yu Chang Dao put on a smile and extended a finger, “High Heaven Palace might be the best in your eyes, but I can easily destroy it with one finger.”
The woman appeared horrified at those words. She looked at the old man as though he was the Demon Lord who caused calamity and upheaval in the Star Boundary 100 years ago.
Not knowing what was on her mind, Yu Chang Dao went on to ask, “How do you find him?” As he spoke, he pointed at Yang Kai.
Respect was written all over the woman’s face, “Without Senior Void and the other Senior who refused to yield in battle, the Star Boundary would’ve been destroyed, and all of us would’ve been killed.”
Yu Chang Dao stroked his fingers across his beard and put on a faint smile, “Perhaps, but he still must call me Martial Uncle, and even if there are ten of him, I can still easily defeat them.”
Yu Chang Dao knew that it was impossible to reason with this using the logic of the Martial Dao woman, so he decided to explain to her in a simple way by comparing High Heaven Palace and Yang Kai with himself so that the woman would realise that he and the force behind him, which was Free and Unfettered Paradise, were powerful.
This couldn’t be helped, as Yu Chang Dao had no other choice. If he could reason with her, he wouldn’t have bragged about his power in such a way. That wasn’t what a senior expert was supposed to do.
The woman appeared flustered as she snatched the child back from Yu Chang Dao and gazed at him with vigilance, “Are you trying to harm the Star Boundary and make things difficult for Senior Void and the other Seniors?”
She reckoned that he was a terrible person since he wanted to destroy High Heaven Palace and Yang Kai.
With the child gone, Yu Chang Dao was dumbfounded for a moment before he snapped, “Just what are you talking about!?” The Martial Dao he had cultivated for years almost fell apart because of a woman who could barely read.
He then turned to stare at Yang Kai and said, “Martial Nephew Yang, it’s not easy for this Old Master to come across a suitable Disciple. I was cultivating the other day when I suddenly had the urge to visit Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, then I was suddenly brought to your Star Boundary by old friend Xu. After that, I found this child here. This is surely fate! This child and I are destined to be Master and Disciple.”
He was being verbose because he wanted Yang Kai to help him out, and certainly Yang Kai was aware of this.
Yang Kai then nodded, “Don’t worry, Martial Uncle. I’ll sit down and have a chat with her.”
Yu Chang Dao looked at him with gratitude, “Many thanks, Martial Nephew. If I can take this child on as a Disciple, I will owe you a favour.”
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened as he guffawed, “Good.”
The favour of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was extraordinarily valuable. If he had such a favour in the past, those from Void Land wouldn’t have fallen into a difficult battle against Zuo Quan Hui. They would just have to invite Yu Chang Dao over to show his face, and everything would have been solved.
After Yu Chang Dao was seated, Xu Ling Gong kept grinning at him, which irritated him to no end. On the other side, Yang Kai walked up to the woman and told her to have a seat. After taking the child from her arms, he sat down on her right side.
Yang Kai had never carried a toddler before. As he looked at the child’s carefree smile, clear eyes, and petite hands, he couldn’t help but take a liking to him. At that moment, he suddenly had the urge to have a child of his own.
Even though the child was in his arms, Yang Kai was still unable to sense the Innate Dao Body he supposedly had. Perhaps even Xu Ling Gong couldn’t see that. Only someone like Yu Chang Dao could discover it.
Yang Kai then asked about the woman’s name and found that she was Liu Cai Xia. Such an ordinary name was typically used by farmers.
Then, he asked about the child’s name and found out that it was given to him by his Father before his death. The name was Shi Da Zhuang as the child got his Father’s surname.
Following that, he inquired about her family, what she did for a living, and whether she had enough money to get by.
Liu Cai Xia answered his questions honestly. Certainly, she wouldn’t dare to lie to Void Great Emperor. Moreover, her life as a farmer was simple, so there was nothing for her to hide.
After some small talk, she no longer appeared as flustered. She was also surprised to learn that such an important figure was so down-to-earth.
As Yu Chang Dao watched them, he let out a sigh. When faced with a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him, the woman wasn’t as respectful to him as she was to Yang Kai. He was unable to make the woman realise that he was the more powerful one.
“What my Martial Uncle Yu has said is not an exaggeration. The great force he belongs to is one of the best in existence, and he is truly powerful. Your child is fortunate to have gained his appreciation, and his future will be limitless if he cultivates under him,” Yang Kai played with the child while explaining to Liu Cai Xia.
Liu Cai Xia clenched the hem of her shirt and replied in a hushed voice, “I understand.”
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her, “Since you understand, why don’t you agree to it? It’s obvious that Martial Uncle Yu sincerely cares for your child and wants to take him as his Closed Legacy Disciple. Otherwise, given his power, he could have directly snatched the child, and there would have been nothing you or even I could do to stop him.”
Liu Cai Xia remained silent.
Yang Kai went on to say, “Your child definitely qualifies to enter High Heaven Palace, but his future will be much brighter by becoming Martial Uncle Yu’s Disciple.”
Across from them, Yu Chang Dao ran his fingers across his beard and nodded softly. With a gentle expression, he looked gratefully at Yang Kai, who obviously didn’t have any selfish motives. As the Void Great Emperor that this simple woman admired, his words were definitely more persuasive than an old man like him who came out of nowhere.
However, the next moment, a few strands of his beard snapped again, but it was his own doing.
A determined Liu Cai Xia looked up and said, “Senior Void, I still hope that you will allow this child to join High Heaven Palace.”
Yu Chang Dao was so exasperated that he stomped his foot on the floor. He almost wanted to reprimand the woman for being so obstinate.
Yang Kai placated him with his eyes, then asked the woman gently, “Is it because that is the last wish of the child’s Father?”
Liu Cai Xia nodded her head, “I know nothing about the outside world, and I have no idea who is stronger or weaker, but my late Husband was my world, and he only had one wish before his death. It would be fine if the child did not have the qualifications to cultivate as he could simply walk down his Father’s path and grow up safely. When he grew old enough, I would look for a Wife for him, and he would have children of his own. He would work hard every morning and come home in the evening. He would be able to live his life peacefully. However, since he can cultivate, he can only join High Heaven Palace; otherwise, his Father will never be able to rest in peace, and I won’t have the face to see him when I pass away one day.”
The woman was simple-minded and guileless, but she was obstinate.
The last wish of the child’s Father was of utmost importance to her in her heart, so she would never dare to disobey him; therefore, despite knowing that the old man was right, and that Senior Void sincerely wanted the child to have a bright future, the Liu Cai Xia still wouldn’t change her mind.
If the child’s Father was still alive, they could’ve reasoned with him; however, he was now dead, so it wasn’t like they could dig up his grave and ask him. Furthermore, the corpse wouldn’t respond to them even if they did.
There was a helpless smile on Yang Kai’s face as he gazed at Yu Chang Dao, “Martial Uncle, I don’t think it’s appropriate to force her to do something against her will. Why don’t you look for a different Disciple? Even though there are not a lot of people in the Star Boundary, there are definitely many talented youths. Perhaps you’ll find a more suitable candidate.”
Yu Chang Dao shook his head, “It’s extremely difficult to find anyone with the Innate Dao Body. This Old Master has travelled to countless Universe Worlds before, but never met another child like him. I don’t think I can find another in this lifetime.”
“What should we do, then?” Yang Kai appeared to be having a headache as he patted the child in his arms, “I can’t go against the will of the child’s Father. It’s his last wish after all.”
Yu Chang Dao pressed his lips together, then let out a long sigh. If he knew this would be the outcome, he would’ve directly brought the child back to Free and Unfettered Paradise, skipping over all this nonsense. He initially thought that by bringing them here and making Yang Kai negotiate, he could easily take on the child as a Disciple. It never crossed his mind that things would come to such a point. The impasse made him vexed.
Yang Kai suggested by saying, “Martial Uncle, why don’t you stay in the Star Boundary for a while longer and spend more time with the child? When the child grows up, you can ask him whether he’ll be interested in becoming your disciple.”
Yu Chang Dao’s eyes brightened.
Liu Cai Xia immediately objected in her small voice though, “When the child grows up, he’ll still have to join High Heaven Palace.”
“You!” Yu Chang Dao was so exasperated that he almost spat blood.
Liu Cai Xia hung her head low and clenched the hem of her shirt, “If he can’t join High Heaven Palace, he’ll not cultivate.” Then, she stood up and was clearly ready to take the child back from Yang Kai. It seemed that she was determined to return home.
Yang Kai hurriedly stopped her by saying, “Good, I’ll let him join High Heaven Palace right now. From now on, he’s a Disciple of High Heaven Palace.”
Liu Cai Xia’s hands froze in mid-air, then her eyes widened as she was in a dazed state before she became ecstatic. With her eyes reddening, she replied gratefully, “Many thanks, Senior Void. This child’s Father can finally rest in peace now.”
“Martial Nephew!” Yu Chang Dao stared angrily at Yang Kai, “H-How can you do such a thing?”
Yang Kai was basically stealing his Disciple from him, right in front of his face no less. He initially had a good impression of Yang Kai because of Xu Ling Gong, but he no longer felt that way. By snatching his Disciple from him, Yang Kai was practically breaking off his legacy. This was a feud that was second only to if someone killed his Father or snatched his Wife.
Yang Kai pretended to not hear him though as he said to Hua Qing Si, “Look for a quiet place in the palace and help them settle down.”
He then turned to look at Liu Cai Xia, “The child is still young, so you’ll still have to take care of him. You can stay here with peace of mind. Your child will start cultivating when he’s a little older.”
Liu Cai Xia was naturally grateful. She knew that she no longer had to live a life of poverty thanks to her child.
Yang Kai then asked her if there was anyone else in her family that had to be informed about this matter. Upon learning that her child was her only remaining family, he was relieved that there would be no further trouble.
After Hua Qing Si left the hall alongside Liu Cai Xia and her child, Yang Kai turned to look at Yu Chang Dao and bowed, “Martial Uncle Yu!”
Yu Chang Dao sported a long face as he rose from the chair and swung his sleeve, “Old friend Xu, this Old Master still has other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.”
He then prepared to depart. It took him a painfully long time before he found a suitable Disciple, only to have him snatched away by Yang Kai. That was why he was vexed. He decided that when Yang Kai wasn’t paying attention, he would abduct the woman and the child back to Free and Unfettered Paradise. He reckoned that Yang Kai wouldn’t dare to barge into his Sect and get them back.
He would never let go of this Disciple.
While Xu Ling Gong remained silent, Yang Kai stood in Yu Chang Dao path and put on a fawning smile, “Please forgive me, Martial Uncle. I had no choice but to do things this way.”
Yu Chang Dao glowered at him, “Just because you didn’t have a choice, it didn’t mean you could snatch my Disciple. Stand aside, or else don’t blame this Old Master for being impolite!”
A nonchalant Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Doesn’t Martial Uncle Yu understand that I was simply retreating in order to advance?”
Yu Chang Dao frowned and looked at him doubtfully.
Xu Ling Gong gently comforted from the side, “Although this brat acts recklessly sometimes, he isn’t a mannerless brute. He must have his own reason for doing what he did. Why don’t you have a seat and listen to his explanation? It’d be best if he could explain himself. If he can’t, you can beat him up to vent out your anger. He won’t dare to resist.”
Yu Chang Dao snorted, “He’s a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so I wouldn’t dare to teach him a lesson without your permission!” If he really made a move, Xu Ling Gong would certainly interfere.
Xu Ling Gong chuckled, “Then I’ll beat him up on your behalf. I’ve never been fond of him anyway.”
There was a bitter expression on Yang Kai’s face, “You wound me deeply, Martial Uncle Xu.”
In response, Xu Ling Gong just chuckled.
It was only after some more placating that Yu Chang Dao took a seat and examined Yang Kai.
After measuring his words, Yang Kai said, “As you are well aware, Martial Uncle, the child’s Mother is incredibly obstinate. The child’s Father left behind only one final wish before he passed away, so as long as she lives, she will not disregard it. Regardless of how great the outside world is, the child has to enter High Heaven Palace, unless you have a way to retrieve the soul of the child’s Father back from the Yellow Springs and get him to change his mind.”
With a dark expression, Yu Chang Dao fell silent.
Yang Kai chuckled, “En, even though the child has joined High Heaven Palace though, it doesn’t mean you can’t be his Master.”
Yu Chang Dao arched his brow, “What do you mean?”
Yang Kai deliberately swung his sleeves as though he had come up with a perfect solution, “I have a suggestion. If Martial Uncle Yu agrees to it, you can take the child on as a Disciple immediately. This way, the last wish of the child’s Father will be fulfilled, and Martial Uncle Yu will be able to accept your favoured Disciple. It’s the best of both worlds.”
“Oh?” Yu Chang Dao’s interest had been piqued as his expression turned milder, “And how would you suggest we go about implementing this best-of-both-worlds solution?”
Yang Kai swung his sleeves again and bent his back, “As Palace Master of High Heaven Palace, I would like to formally invite Martial Uncle Yu to serve as a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder.”
Xu Ling Gong, who was fiddling with his teacup, immediately froze in place. He looked up at Yang Kai with an expression which suggested he already knew that the latter was up to no good.
Behind him, Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue widened their mouths and stared at Yang Kai in disbelief.
[H-How did he have the nerve to come up with such a suggestion?] A Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was extremely powerful, so how did a Sect of a Universe World have the right to invite him to be a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder, which was just a useless title?
It had to be noted that people like Yu Chang Dao were mostly Inner Elders of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. They usually wouldn’t be interested in becoming the Supreme High-Rank Guest Elders of great forces like Void Land, much less a mere High Heaven Palace.
Yu Chang Dao was startled for a moment before he broke into laughter, as though he had just heard the funniest joke. Soon after though, he fell silent with a solemn expression. Then, he knocked on the table and nodded, “En, it’s actually a feasible solution.”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue turned to look at him in disbelief.
An elated Yang Kai asked, “So you agree to it, Martial Uncle?”
Yu Chang Dao didn’t immediately respond to him, and after a moment of silence, he replied, “I’ll have to think about it.”
Yang Kai smiled and nodded, “There’s no rush. You’ll have plenty of time to ponder it. Why don’t you stay in High Heaven Palace for a while to think about it?”
Yu Chang Dao nodded, “Good, I’ll take a look at the child now.”
“I’ll lead the way for you,” Yang Kai offered.
However, Yu Chang Dao waved his hand and said, “There’s no need. I can find my own way.”
The next moment, he disappeared from the spot. His anxiety showed that he truly cared about the child.
Yang Kai let out a breath of relief, but when he turned his head, he saw Xu Ling Gong smiling faintly at him.
“Please have some tea, Martial Uncle Xu,” Yang Kai said.
Xu Ling Gong chuckled, “You’ve dug a nice pit there, kid. Old Yu will be willing to jump right into it.”
An aggrieved Yang Kai said, “You’ve got me all wrong, Martial Uncle Xu. I just want to fulfil the last wish of the child’s Father.”
“Stop spouting nonsense!” Xu Ling Gong snorted, “Maybe you initially didn’t have such intentions, but would you dare to say you didn’t have an ulterior motive after seeing the attitudes of that woman and Old Yu?”
Yang Kai directly sat down on a chair beside him and tilted his figure before saying in a hushed voice, “Even though you’ve seen through me, it’d be terrible if you point it out. Don’t you agree, Martial Uncle Xu?”
Xu Ling Gong grinned in a devious manner.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue looked at them in a way as though they were two foxes, grinning slyly.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai appeared worried, “Do you think it will work?”
Xu Ling Gong stroked his chin and said, “You’ll most likely succeed. Old Yu has been looking for a suitable Legacy Disciple for many years, but to no avail. However, he’s found one here, so there’s no way he’ll let the child go. If he wants to take the child on as a Disciple, he’ll have to become a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace; otherwise, he won’t have the right to accept the child as his Disciple. You’re such a cunning brat. By using that baby, you’ve managed to bind a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to your Sect. It’s such a steal. Moreover, when the child grows up, he’ll still be a Disciple of High Heaven Palace. Old Yu is practically going to train a disciple for you for free. It’s no wonder that even though it’s been a short time since you started cultivating, you’ve managed to build such an influential Sect. I suppose you’ve managed to deceive many people over the years.”
There was a solemn expression on Yang Kai’s face, “You’ve got me wrong, Martial Uncle Xu. I’ve managed to build such a Sect because of my natural charm and charisma, not because of anything else.”
Xu Ling Gong didn’t play along as he snorted, “However, Old Yu has lived for a long time, he may be temporarily fooled by you, but it doesn’t mean he will be blind to it forever. In fact, it’s quite likely he’s already seen through you, but he just didn’t bother to expose it.”
Yang Kai nodded repeatedly, “Senior experts like you two are undoubtedly insightful and intelligent; Juniors like me are no match for you. I’ve taken some slight advantage because I’m young and weak.”
“Stop your useless flattery!” Xu Ling Gong landed a slap on Yang Kai’s shoulder, which forced the latter to lower his figure slightly, “Old Yu has gotten some benefits, but what about me, boy? You’re a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so you can’t just give all the benefits to the outsiders. You have to be fair to us.”
Yang Kai hurriedly replied, “Of course. That’s the reason I asked Senior Brother Qing to invite you over.”
Xu Ling Gong put on a faint smile, “You’re indeed a promising young man.”
“Martial Uncle Yu wants to take that child on as a Legacy Disciple, so would you want to get a Disciple too, Martial Uncle Xu?” Yang Kai asked.
“Nonsense!” Xu Ling Gong snapped as he appeared somewhat determined, “I’ve had enough with only three Disciples. I’m basically their Father who raised them from diapers to today. I’ll never accept a Disciple again.”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue rolled their eyes, thinking that they were already teenagers when they joined the Sect. Xu Ling Gong was completely exaggerating. Qu Hua Shang was indeed a toddler when she was taken into the Sect, but it was Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue who raised her while Xu Ling Gong acted as an arm-flinging shopkeeper.
Despite their thoughts, they would never dare to say this out loud of course.
Xu Ling Gong said with a grin, “Even though I’m not taking on a Disciple, it doesn’t mean I can’t get some disciples for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. Your Star Boundary is full of talented young people now, and the World Tree located here is truly abstruse as it has transformed this place greatly. Its aura is able to cleanse a person’s Soul and physique. Before a child is even born, they have already been cleansed thoroughly. You can’t find nearly as many talents in other Universe Worlds as in this place. In my eyes, the Star Boundary is paved with gold. Kid, since you want to share the benefits, are you ready to let others take the lion’s share?”
A nonchalant Yang Kai replied, “It’s said that one has to lose something in order to gain more. Keeping all the benefits to myself will only invite trouble.”
Xu Ling Gong gave him an approving look, “When Qing Boy came back to the Sect, he told me what you had said, and I commend you for that. The Star Boundary is like a treasure trove now. If you intend to hog everything for yourself, you’ll be destroyed one day. All the Cave Heavens and Paradises are very sensitive to events in the 3,000 Worlds. Once news about the Star Boundary spreads, they’ll all flock to this place. The fact that you’re able to see through this and open it up in advance in order to maintain the initiative is praiseworthy.”
There was a solemn expression on Yang Kai’s face, “Please advise me, Martial Uncle Xu.”
Xu Ling Gong waved his hand, “Just like what I’ve said, your place is filled with talents. Even though I’m not going to accept any Disciples, no Cave Heaven or Paradises would refuse more disciples with exceptional aptitudes. In all the Cave Heavens and Paradises, a Core Disciple that can directly ascend to the Sixth Order will only appear once every 1,000 years or so. Disciples like Qu’er cost each Cave Heaven and Paradise a lot of resources and time to nurture. Of course, there are also freaks like you. If those great forces hadn’t stopped you, you could’ve directly ascended to the Seventh Order.”
As he spoke, he gave Yang Kai a regretful look.
Yang Kai put on a nonchalant smile, “A tree that rises too far above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. I’m fine with the situation I’m in. At least I don’t have others breathing down my neck all the time and I can have some good rest at night.”
Xu Ling Gong turned to look at Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue as he pointed at Yang Kai, “Look at how sanguine your Junior Brother is. You should learn from him. It’s not easy for a young man to have such a temperament.”
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue nodded at the same time, “You’re right, Honoured Master.”
Following a sigh, Xu Ling Gong said, “Don’t blame the Cave Heavens and Paradises for meddling in your business, kid. There are some reasons that cannot be exposed to outsiders which make them feel wary of anyone who attempts to directly ascend to the Seventh Order.”
With a frown, Yang Kai said, “I heard that someone directly ascended to the Seventh Order in the past and eventually made it to the Ninth Order. However, due to an accident, many people were slaughtered in the 3,000 Worlds.”
After measuring his words, Xu Ling Gong said, “Something like that, but I can’t tell you the details. You’ll have a clearer picture about it in the future.”
Yang Kai fell into his thoughts as he realised that there were other unknown reasons; however, since Xu Ling Gong wasn’t willing to go further, he couldn’t keep asking.
“Let’s get back to the main topic.” Xu Ling Gong waved his hand, “Let’s talk about the Star Boundary. Now that you’ve opened up this place, I’ve granted your request to bring some people over; however, they’re just the first batch, and more will come soon. Once word gets out, all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises will send representatives to the Star Boundary, trying to get their hands on the benefits here. Since Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and your Sect are on close terms, I’ll not hesitate to state my demands first.”
“Please go ahead, Martial Uncle Xu,” Yang Kai sported a solemn expression.
Xu Ling Gong gently knocked on the table and enunciated, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will take ten disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years. Will you agree to it?”
Since he had come up with his demand, it was no longer a chat between a Senior and a Junior, it was a negotiation between Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and Yang Kai, who represented Void Land and the Star Boundary.
“Ten people every 100 years!” Despite being ready for it, Yang Kai still gasped upon hearing that, then he put on a bitter smile, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven alone will get ten people, so that means a total of 1,080 for all 108 forces with a 100-year cycle. It’s not like the Star Boundary can produce so many talented people. All of them will be snatched up by you and other great forces. How is Void Land going to get any benefits?”
Xu Ling Gong shot him a glance, “What’s wrong, kid? Are you going to give everyone a fair deal? Are you also their son-in-law?”
Yang Kai chuckled, “Of course not.”
Xu Ling Gong directly pointed the way for him, “They’ll be more than happy if you could respectively give them one person every 100 years. The Martial Dao is all about quality, not quantity. It’s the same case for disciples. What’s the point of getting so many disciples if all of them are weak? If they’re lucky enough to find one that can directly ascend to the Seventh Order, it’ll be more valuable than getting 100 weaker disciples.”
Yang Kai played along and said, “Since you’ve said so, Martial Uncle Xu, a disciple every 100 years is all Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will need. What’s the point of getting ten people?”
Xu Ling Gong stared at him without saying a word.
Yang Kai tried to haggle, “Three people.”
Hearing that, Xu Ling Gong rose from the chair and barked, “Qing Boy, Little Xue’er, let’s go home! It seems that this son-in-law doesn’t welcome us. I’m annoyed! Go back and tell Qu’er that there won’t be any wedding either. We’ll call it all off.”
“Ten people it is!” Yang Kai hurriedly pulled Xu Ling Gong back to his seat and placated him, “I was just pulling your leg, Martial Uncle Xu. Why take it so seriously?”
Xu Ling Gong picked up his cup and realised that there was no more tea in it. Seeing that, Yang Kai quickly filled it.
After taking a sip of the tea, Xu Ling Gong spoke in a heartfelt manner, “Do not think that you’re suffering a loss, kid. You have to know that the Star Boundary is on the rise, and this is just the first generation. Under the influence of the World Tree, more and more talented people will appear over the successive generations. Many people will most likely be able to directly ascend to the Fifth-Order and Sixth-Order. Heaven-defying talents who can directly make it to the Seventh Order might also appear.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I understand.”
“With so many people with outstanding aptitudes around, can Void Land alone provide for them?”
Yang Kai replied honestly, “Of course, we can’t.”
“In that case, I’d suggest you not waste their talents and send them to other great forces instead. What’s more, all of them will be born in the Star Boundary, so regardless of what Cave Heaven or Paradise they join in the future, their roots will remain here in the Star Boundary, so if the time ever comes, they will defend their ‘home’ no matter what. When they become powerful one day, they’ll not betray the Star Boundary. They’re like the World Tree you’ve planted; there’ll come a day when they’ll give back to this land.”
Yang Kai nodded, “That is the reason I’ve decided to open up this place. First of all, just like what you’ve said, I have no choice but to do so in order to avoid trouble. Secondly, I have to find some suitable paths for the future young talents of the Star Boundary.”
“The fact that you have this consideration is commendable,” Xu Ling Gong gave him an approving look.
Meanwhile, Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue gazed at Yang Kai in disbelief. When he previously told Qing Kui to go back to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and inform Xu Ling Gong about it, they just thought that he wanted to use their Honoured Master to help fend off the approaching wolves. However, it never crossed their minds that he was so far-sighted.
In a poor family, the parents couldn’t afford to provide for their children if there were too many of them. Regardless of how reluctant they were, they had to give some children away. During times of war or famine, the people who sold their children were not necessarily after the money, many just wanted their children to have a better future. It was true that parents would always worry about their children.
“Since you’re so far-sighted, have you thought about what will happen when all these disciples, who will be scattered everywhere in the 3,000 Worlds, become powerful figures in the Cave Heavens and Paradises one day?”
Yang Kai was startled for a moment before his eyes lit up.
With a smile, Xu Ling Gong patted the other man’s shoulder, “Give it a thought. There will come a day when the Star Boundary becomes the centre of the 3,000 Worlds. All the Cave Heavens and Paradises will have some connections with the Star Boundary, so if the Star Boundary falls into trouble, they’ll not hesitate to help.”
After pondering on it for a moment, Yang Kai asked, “If it’s just like what you’ve said, should I proactively offer more benefits to them instead of haggling with them?”
Xu Ling Gong scoffed, “Don’t go overboard. Just like what you’ve said, if all the benefits are given out, what will be left for your Void Land? You have to be moderate in everything you do. It’s all good if you’re able to pull off this feat, but if you can’t, some people will suffer losses.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I understand. Many thanks for your advice, Martial Uncle Xu.”
After a pause, he chuckled, “I initially thought that Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Myriad Demons Heaven should never dream about getting any benefits from the Star Boundary. If they dared to come, I’d tell them to scram.”
“What about now?” Xu Ling Gong gazed at him.
With a smile, Yang Kai replied, “I’ll treat them politely. It’ll be all good if they behave themselves. If they don’t, I’ll have to ask you to lend me a hand.”
Xu Ling Gong grinned, “Since I’ve gotten so many benefits from you, I don’t mind giving you a hand. I even made some preparations before coming to this place.”
Yang Kai batted his eyes, “Should I also share more benefits with the others so that they’ll help out?”
“Of course you’ll have to do that, but there’s no rush. Let them walk around and see more of the Star Boundary. When they realise the importance of this place, it’ll be easier for you to haggle with them.”
“You’re such a cunning man, Martial Uncle Xu!” Yang Kai chuckled.
His laugh then abruptly stopped following a slap from Xu Ling Gong.
“The ten disciples every 100 years that I’ve mentioned is just one of the demands. There’s one more,” Xu Ling Gong patted his sleeves.
Yang Kai rubbed his head and said, “Please explain. I’m all ears.”
“Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will build a Dao Temple in the Star Boundary as a branch of the Master Sect. I’ll select the place myself. Don’t worry, we’ll not snatch your foundation or oppress you. As for the landmass… I’ll need 500,000 square kilometres. We’ll bear the cost of building the Dao Temple and maintaining it, so you’ll just have to agree to give the land to us.”
Xu Ling Gong represented Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to haggle with Yang Kai, but it wasn’t just a matter of one great force. He had practically laid down a foundation on which the other Cave Heavens and Paradises would base their own demands around when discussing cooperation with the Star Boundary.
Although Xu Ling Gong never pointed it out, Yang Kai knew that the other man was secretly giving him a hint.
Therefore, after Xu Ling Gong finished his words, Yang Kai immediately made some calculations. If one great force demanded 500,000 square kilometres, the total would be over 50 million square kilometres for all 108 great forces.
In other words, a landmass of over 50 million square kilometres would become branches of the Cave Heavens and Paradises in the Star Boundary. The landmass was neither big nor small, and there was certainly more than enough land in the Star Boundary for that, so Yang Kai was able to bear it.
Hence, he directly agreed to this condition, “Good. However, no one can choose any place within a 10 million kilometre radius around the World Tree.”
Xu Ling Gong replied with a smile, “Naturally. You’re worried about the World Tree, but others will be equally anxious as well. No one will have their eyes on the World Tree or its surrounding area.”
“Good.” Yang Kai nodded, then fell into his thoughts for a moment, “Are you going to bring some people over from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to the Star Boundary to cultivate, Martial Uncle Xu?”
Xu Ling Gong cut to the chase and nodded, “That’s my plan. Getting disciples from the Star Boundary is one way to benefit, but they are natives of this place after all. Moreover, there aren’t many people in the Star Boundary to begin with. Since there’s such a chance, I’ll not waste it. After a Dao Temple is built, we can select some young disciples with exceptional aptitudes and send them to the Star Boundary to nurture. They will grow up to be just as fine as the locals.”
Yang Kai pondered and agreed. Since Xu Ling Gong had this plan, it must be the same case for other Cave Heavens and Paradises as well. Allowing those great forces to build Dao Temples here was inevitable.
“As long as you can fulfil these two demands, you’ll realise that those haughty guys from the Cave Heavens and Paradises are actually pretty reasonable.”
Yang Kai chuckled, “Well, they’ll be unreasonable if their demands are not met, right?”
Xu Ling Gong didn’t comment on that. After giving it a thought, he said, “There’s one thing that’s difficult to deal with, though.”
“What is it?” Yang Kai stared at him in puzzlement.
Xu Ling Gong turned to look at the World Tree with a worried expression, “If the World Tree starts bearing fruits one day, there will be chaos.”
World Fruits were Heaven-defying treasures that could allow an Open Heaven Realm Master to directly ascend to the next Order. Mid-Rank and Low-Rank World Fruits wouldn’t really matter too much, but if there were High-Rank World Fruits, those Seventh-Order and Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would certainly drool over them. If an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master were to consume a High-Rank World Fruit, he could directly rise to the Ninth-Order.
Even though the Cave Heavens and Paradises were said to be united, they might not remain friendly with each other if such an opportunity appeared before them; after all, regardless of how many fruits the World Tree would bear, there wouldn’t be 108 High-Rank World Fruits for all of them.
If the World Tree really bore fruits but there were not enough High-Rank World Fruits for everyone, a conflict was bound to happen.
Yang Kai broke into laughter, “To be honest with you, Martial Uncle Xu, this World Tree isn’t the Mother Tree. The real one is still in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary. The World Tree in the Star Boundary was grown after I snatched a root from the Mother Tree in the past. It’s considered a subtree. Only the real World Tree can bear World Fruits that are Heaven-defying. As long as the Mother Tree does not die, the subtree will never bear fruits.”
It was then that Xu Ling Gong set his mind at ease, “That’s for the best.”
Despite his words, he found it to be a shame as well. However, compared to the conflict that might arise between the Cave Heavens and Paradises, this kind of regret was nothing.
“Do you have any other advice for me, Martial Uncle Xu?” Yang Kai asked humbly.
Xu Ling Gong shook his head, “No. Aside from getting disciples every 100 years and building Dao Temples here, everything else will be up to you to negotiate.”
Yang Kai straightened up and sported a solemn expression, “In that case, it’s my turn to come up with my demands.”
Xu Ling Gong gave him a look as he had a bad feeling. With vigilance, he asked, “What are you up to, brat?”
With a serious expression, Yang Kai replied, “You’ve got me wrong, Martial Uncle Xu. Since it’s a deal, both parties will have to put something on the table. It wouldn’t be fair if one party comes up with all sorts of demands while the other can only obey. Why do parents who sell their kids demand money in return? They could just give their children to wealthy people for free. The reason they ask for something in return is that they’re worried these wealthy people won’t treasure their children. Things that have to be paid for are more valuable than those that are free.”
“Pure sophistry!” Xu Ling Gong snorted, but after giving it a thought, he had to admit that Yang Kai was right, “Well, you do have a point. So, you, the Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, are selling your children. Is that what you mean?”
A ‘heartbroken’ Yang Kai replied, “If possible, I would never want to do such a thing; however, just like what you’ve said, the Star Boundary will have countless talented people in the future. Neither the Star Boundary and Void Land can’t afford to provide for all of them. It’s great that the Cave Heavens and Paradises are willing to share the burden, but they can’t get all the benefits for free.”
Xu Ling Gong shot him a dismissive look, “You can come up with your own demands, but it’s entirely up to me whether I’ll agree to them.”
There was a conflicted expression on Yang Kai’s face as he pondered on it for a moment, “For every disciple you take, you’ll have to pay one complete set of Sixth-Order Materials or something of the equivalent value. What do you think?”
Xu Ling Gong couldn’t help but see him in a different light, “Good, it seems that you really don’t have any selfish motives.”
A set of Sixth-Order material was worth around 100 to 120 million Open Heaven Pills, but that wasn’t a big deal for the Cave Heavens and Paradises. It would be a bargain to use such a small amount to obtain a disciple with a bright future. If the disciple could directly ascend to the Sixth Order, it would totally be worth it.
The Cave Heavens and Paradises didn’t have many Core Disciples like Lin Feng and Qu Hua Shang after all.
If they wanted to take on disciples from the Star Boundary, they would never have their eyes on the ordinary people. They would certainly go for those who could possibly break straight to the Sixth Order one day, so there was no way they would be taking a loss with such a deal. As for whether they would make a wrong judgement, that had nothing to do with Yang Kai.
And since they had to offer a set of Sixth-Order materials to obtain such a disciple, they would certainly nurture them with care.
Even if Yang Kai had tried to come up with an unreasonable demand, Xu Ling Gong wouldn’t have been surprised, so since he had put forth such a reasonable request, it showed that he was truly concerned about the cultivators born in the Star Boundary.
“Secondly, all the great forces cannot forcefully take the disciples they want in the Star Boundary. Everything must be agreed upon willingly. If two or more great forces have their eyes on the same disciple, the decision has to be made by the person themselves. Martial Uncle Xu, you’ll have to discuss the rules with the other Cave Heavens and Paradises regarding this. If anyone dares to break the rules, the others will have to step in to settle the matter.”
Xu Ling Gong shot him a glare, “Do you want to have more Supreme High-Rank Guest Elders in High Heaven Palace, you damned brat? Stop dreaming! It’s a rare coincidence that resulted from that woman’s obstinance and Yu Chang Dao’s difficulty in finding a Legacy Disciple that you even got one. If others come across such an incident, they’d rather give up on the Disciple than become a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elders. There are no benefits to being tied to High Heaven Palace after all.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “It’d be great if High Heaven Palace could have more Supreme High-Rank Guest Elders, but that’s not my priority. It’s just that things run smoothly when there are established rules.”
Xu Ling Gong agreed with him, “You have a point. Fine. When the others arrive, I’ll discuss this with them. I’ll have to spend some time persuading them, but I believe they’ll understand that it’s the only way to move forward.”
Yang Kai rose from the chair and bowed, “Many thanks, Martial Uncle Xu.”
Even though he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who was the Lord of Void Land as well as a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, Yang Kai would never have the right to discuss terms with a group of High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters as long as he wasn’t in the High-Rank himself. Xu Ling Gong would have to deal with it and persuade the others.
Xu Ling Gong then coughed and said, “I passed by a Territory Gate when I arrived at this place; however, since I was in a rush to come to the Star Boundary, I didn’t enter it. Qing Boy told me that it’s a Newborn Great Territory that had never been discovered.”
Yang Kai sported a long face, “Martial Uncle Xu, you can’t be too greedy. It’d be terrible if you want to get even more when you’ve already obtained so many benefits.”
Xu Ling Gong snapped, “I was just asking. Why are you so anxious?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I’m willing to share the benefits of the Star Boundary with the Cave Heavens and Paradises because there’s no other choice; however, I’ll never share the Newborn Great Territory with anyone.”
Xu Ling Gong narrowed his eyes, “The Star Boundary is a treasure trove, and it’s the same case for the Newborn Great Territory. The Territory Gate is right there. How are they supposed to not be tempted?”
Yang Kai said, “I’ve worked together with Luan Bai Feng to build a Grand Array around the Territory Gate. Whoever dares to barge into it will be exiled to the Void. If someone wants to test their luck, they’re welcome to try.”
Xu Ling Gong pointed at him, “You! You! In that case, I’m worried there’ll be an argument over this.”
Yang Kai chuckled, “Don’t worry. We’ll deal with it accordingly. It’s all fine as long as they’re not going to have a hand in the Newborn Great Territory.”
In the next half a month, Yang Kai went on to wait for those from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven and Myriad Demons Heaven to arrive.
There was no way Wu Kuang would let Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao survive after he took them away. Be it to absorb the heritages of their Small Universes or to hide the secrets of his Heaven Devouring Battle Law, he would no doubt kill them ruthlessly.
As soon as those two were dead, those from Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven would be made aware and would begin searching for them.
In the past, Yang Kai wouldn’t have any solution to such a problem. Even though he had a lot of strong cultivators with him, he didn’t think he could defeat two Cave Heavens.
All he could have done was make use of the World Force borrowed from the Star Boundary and temporarily become a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to fight back.
However, since Yu Chang Dao had become the Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace, and Xu Ling Gong and his friends were in the Star Boundary, they could help him settle this bit of trouble.
Nevertheless, those from Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven never arrived. Instead, the second batch of visitors had come knocking on the door.
When Qing Kui returned to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven previously, there happened to be some High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters visiting from other Sects. Upon realising the severity of the matter, Xu Ling Gong didn’t delay and headed straight to the Star Boundary alongside his friends. At the same time, he sent messages to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises he was on good terms with and briefly talked about what was going on. The route was also provided to allow them to send representatives over to hold a discussion.
The High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who were informed naturally understood the gravity of this situation. Upon learning that there was a World Tree in the Star Boundary, they would not dare to underestimate the matter. Therefore, many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters hurriedly set off on their journeys.
Those were the second batch of visitors, and there were more still to come. There was a Seventh-Order old man who visited the Star Boundary on this day, and the next day, three people arrived at this place together. Two days later, two people came here together. The Star Boundary was now bustling with activity.
There was a table at the bottom of the World Tree. Yang Kai and Xu Ling Gong were seated across from each other as they chatted over wine and waited patiently.
Regardless of who the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master was, he or she would immediately see the gigantic tree that was almost 300 kilometres in height now when they arrived at the Star Boundary. When they landed on the ground, they would then easily spot Yang Kai and Xu Ling Gong.
The visitors were all Xu Ling Gong’s close friends that had been informed of what was going on. Xu Ling Gong introduced Yang Kai to these High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the various Cave Heavens and Paradises in order to familiarise the young man with them.
Whoever the visitor was, they wouldn’t hesitate to leave upon inquiring Xu Ling Gong about the situation in this place. They were eager to look into what was going on in the Star Boundary. During this recent period of time, there were many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Star Boundary, which was quite unprecedented.
In just one month, Yang Kai got to know 30 such people.
At the same time, there was an extensive public campaign going on in the Star Boundary. With High Heaven Palace taking the lead, assisted by the other major Sects, all the information about the Outer Universe, the 3,000 Worlds, and the 108 top great forces was written into booklets and engraved into jades that were distributed to the general populace. Wherever there were people who gathered together, such information would be given to them.
The Star Boundary was bound to become the Open Heaven Realm Cradle of the 3,000 Worlds, and the Cave Heavens and Paradises would start accepting disciples from this place in the near future. Since they had to move with the times, they had to let everyone in the Star Boundary become familiar with the information about the outside world. Only by doing so would they be able to make informed choices.
It was imaginable that the hundreds of billions of lives in the Star Boundary would be shocked by the extensive campaign that was no different from a windstorm to them.
After all, prior to this, they were like the frogs in the well. But now, there was a chance for them to leap out of the well and have a peek at the wider sky.
In just one month, everyone in the Star Boundary knew that the top 108 great forces from the Outer Universe would come over to take on disciples. If they were lucky enough, their lives would drastically change.
Countless rogue cultivators became eager as they hoped that those powerful cultivators from the Outer Universe would have their eyes on them. However, it was destined to be a pipe dream for these people. Although the current generation in the Star Boundary had undergone some transformation following the growth of the World Tree, the people who would experience the greatest change were the newborns and those who were still unborn.
One month later, the last batch of people arrived, so Xu Ling Gong finished his tea and rose from the chair before speaking, “Since everyone’s here, it’s time to discuss the rules.”
Yang Kai hurriedly sent a message to Hua Qing Si and told her to get prepared.
Xu Ling Gong faced north as his lips squirmed, but he was not heard speaking. A moment later, he said to Yang Kai, “Let’s go.”
As a thought flashed through Yang Kai’s mind, the two of them appeared outside of High Heaven Palace in the next moment.
After they waited for a bit, they saw many rays of lights approaching from all directions and landing in front of them.
Xu Ling Gong stood beside Yang Kai with his hands behind his back. He would either tease the visitors or nod gently. On the other hand, Yang Kai was busy greeting them.
This couldn’t be helped, as these Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were all his Seniors, and they were also Xu Ling Gong’s friends. As a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven as well as a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, he had to show proper hospitality.
The female disciples of High Heaven Palace were already there to lead the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters into the palace.
All of them were efficient, and barely an hour after Xu Ling Gong sent the messages, everyone had returned to this place from different parts of the Star Boundary. By the time Yang Kai and Xu Ling Gong entered the Grand Hall, they saw a huge round table in the centre filled with people.
The over 30 High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were seated around the table in silence as they secretly communicated with one another using their Divine Senses. The female disciples behind them, who were ready to serve them at any moment, were anxious and dripping in sweat.
The round table was custom-made. After seeking some advice from Xu Ling Gong, Yang Kai quickly told some Artifact Refiners in High Heaven Palace to make it. This couldn’t be helped, as the visitors were all powerful High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. Yang Kai wasn’t in any place to determine whether one was more noble than the other, so the usual arrangement of seats might give off a feeling that some people were less important. A round table solved that problem as all of them were equal.
As soon as Xu Ling Gong stepped into the hall, the Divine Senses abruptly stopped. Most of them turned their heads to examine Yang Kai, who was behind Xu Ling Gong.
At that moment, Yang Kai felt immensely pressured. Although these High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters hadn’t tried to oppress him, he still became sluggish for a moment. But soon, he managed to pull himself together.
Some of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters arched their brows with surprise when they saw this.
The round table was quite big as there were still vacant seats, even though there were already more than 30 people sitting around it. Xu Ling Gong found a slightly more spacious place and took a seat alongside Yang Kai.
No one found it off that Yang Kai, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, was seated at the table; after all, they were in the Star Boundary, and he was a Great Emperor of this place. Furthermore, these people were Xu Ling Gong’s close friends who rushed over to this place upon receiving his messages, so no one would look down on Yang Kai.
“Many thanks for coming, my friends. It’s hard for so many of us to come together usually, so we should appreciate this rare chance. I’m sure all of you have surveyed this place and realised what is going on. This Xu has asked all of you to come over because we need to have a discussion and set some rules about what will take place now so that everyone can be satisfied,” Xu Ling Gong gently said.
An old man, who had lost one arm, waited for him to finish his words before he said, “Old friend Xu, there’s no rush to have a discussion. This Old Master has a question for the young man beside you first.”
Yang Kai looked at the person and instantly recognised him. The man was an Inner Elder of Purple Jade Cave Heaven, Xun Ping. There was rarely anyone who was a match for a powerful High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, so it wasn’t certain why he had lost an arm. Despite that, he was still a formidable cultivator with an ample heritage.
Yang Kai cupped his fist with a smile, “Please ask, Senior Xun.”
The person beside Xun Ping seemed to know what the latter was going to ask, so he put on a gleeful expression as he was ready to watch a good show.
Just then, Xun Ping’s clear voice reverberated around the Grand Hall, “Is Zuo Quan Hui dead?”
Yang Kai frowned as he had no idea why this person suddenly mentioned such an issue. He turned to look at Xu Ling Gong, who nodded while still staring at the front.
It was then Yang Kai nodded, “He’s dead.”
“Who killed him? How did he die?” Xun Ping asked.
Yang Kai replied, “He manifested his Small Universe, then he was killed by me and some of my companions from Void Land.”
Xun Peng narrowed his eyes.
Other than Xu Ling Gong, who was already aware of the truth, the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at the table were stunned.
Manifesting one’s Small Universe was the last resort for a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master to defeat their enemies. The people at the scene couldn’t figure out what kind of danger Zuo Quan Hui was in that forced him to make such a decision.
Despite that, he was still killed in the end.
All of them were Inner Elders of their respective Cave Heavens and Paradises, so even though they were not on close terms with Zuo Quan Hui, they did come into contact with him before. Now that Zuo Quan Hui was dead, they felt somewhat awkward.
“Zuo Quan Hui is dead, but what about Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan?” An elegant-looking woman asked. She was an Inner Elder of Luo Sheng Cave Heaven, Luo Xiu.
Yang Kai replied impassively, “They’re also dead.”
Most of them seemed to have expected it, so their expressions didn’t change; after all, it wasn’t a secret that Zuo Quan Hui previously led Heavenly Sword Union to attack Void Land, and he was assisted by Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao. Since Zuo Quan Hui was dead, there was no way Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao could have survived. However, they were still astounded by Yang Kai’s audacity while some of them fell into their thoughts.
Luo Xiu shot Yang Kai a glare, “You’re just as cunning as that Old Xu.”
While Yang Kai didn’t understand her, Xu Ling Gong started guffawing, “He’s the son-in-law of my Sect, so it’s expected that he resembles me. What’s wrong with that?”
Luo Xiu snorted, “It doesn’t matter that a traitor is dead. Those from Thousand Cranes Paradise wouldn’t make a fuss over it. The problem now is that Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao were killed. This Queen already knows what you two are up to.”
A curious Xu Ling Gong asked, “What could we be up to? I don’t get you, Junior Sister Luo. Why don’t we delve into this topic in my room tonight?”
“Sure.” A charming Luo Xiu kept a faint smile on her face, “We should do that sooner rather than later. I’ll look for you tonight.”
Xu Ling Gong nodded repeatedly, “Sure thing.”
A dumbfounded Yang Kai stared at him.
On the other hand, Xun Ping let out a sigh as he appeared dejected, “I can’t believe Zuo Quan Hui was killed just like that. His reputation was already destroyed; nevertheless, he still owed me something.”
Yang Kai had no idea what this person’s relationship with Zuo Quan Hui was; however, since Xu Ling Gong had invited him over, there shouldn’t be a problem.
“Let’s stop the small talk.” Xu Ling Gong knocked on the table, “There’s an important issue to discuss here.”
As expected, all of them fell silent and gazed at Xu Ling Gong.
Yang Kai had previously asked Xu Ling Gong to head this discussion since more than 30 people, who represented different Cave Heavens and Paradises, had been invited; they were supposed to be able to come up with an arrangement that everyone would be pleased with. However, would the other great forces who were not present acknowledge it? After all, they didn’t take part in it.
Xu Ling Gong replied with a smile that the Cave Heavens and Paradises had always been united since time immemorial; therefore, 30 or so was enough to represent everyone. None of them was a fool. These people not only represented their own great forces, but also all the Cave Heavens and Paradises. When discussing the matter, they would be taking all the Cave Heavens and Paradises into consideration instead of speaking up only for their own great force.
Those who didn’t join the discussion would acknowledge the result of the discussion. That was because if they wanted to be part of it, they had to first acknowledge the rules that had been set; otherwise, they wouldn’t have the right.
Yang Kai was initially doubtful, but when he saw that none of them objected to it, as though they would be able to come to a conclusion on this day, he set his mind at ease.
This was destined to be a discussion that would change the entire 3,000 Worlds, an event that would be greatly discussed in the history books.
However, such a discussion took place in an unknown Small Universe that was located at the edge of the 3,000 Worlds. Before Xu Ling Gong informed them about it, the people at the scene probably hadn’t even heard of the Star Boundary before.
All of them had surveyed the Star Boundary, so they understood what was going on.
Xu Ling Gong stated, “The World Tree has transformed the entire Star Boundary, and all the living beings here have greatly benefited from it. In the future, there will be a lot of talented youths who are born for cultivation. This treasure trove can’t be monopolised by Yang Boy’s Void Land and Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, nor could any one of you do so. Since we’ve gathered together, let’s not hide anything or pretend to be righteous. Show how greedy you are and divide everything up. It’ll be good for everyone.”
Across from him sat a grim-looking old man with a hooked nose who said with a grin, “Old Xu, since you’ve taken the initiative, you must have come up with some proposals. Why don’t you tell us about them? We’ll acknowledge it if it’s reasonable. If it’s not, we’ll discuss.”
All of them nodded as they knew that Xu Ling Gong and Yang Kai must have agreed on some secret deals, but they wouldn’t point it out.
Upon hearing that, Xu Ling Gong replied with a smile, “The Cave Heavens and Paradises are extraordinary, the most powerful great forces in the Outer Universe. The reason our inheritances could be passed on for generations is that there’s a continuation of our heritages. In order to carry our glories forward indefinitely, we need many talented people. In the past, the Cave Heavens and Paradises had to spend a lot of money and manpower to look for such talents, but the results left much to be desired. Every great force only has a small number of Core Disciples who can directly ascend to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. Take a look at all of us here. How many of us directly broke through to the Sixth-Order in the past? Almost all of us started at the Fifth-Order and rose to our current realms through long years of hard work. If you had directly ascended to the Sixth-Order, you would’ve become Eighth-Order Ancestors in your respective Sects instead of Inner Elders. There are indeed some advantages to having a higher starting point. The Star Boundary is now filled with talented people, and the World Tree is still in its growth stage, yet it has already showcased such incredible power. In three to five generations, this Xu wouldn’t dare to imagine how prosperous the Star Boundary would be. Three to five mortal generations is just about 100 years, barely the blink of an eye for us. When that time comes, the Star Boundary will be full of young people with extraordinary aptitudes!”
Someone cut him off by saying, “Old Xu, enough with the nonsense already. Of course we can also see the things you’re able to see. Stop trying to stir up our sentiments and cut to the chase.”
Xu Ling Gong replied with a grin, “I’ll stop, then. I know what you all want. Certainly, you want to get some talented disciples from the Star Boundary. To be honest with you, Yang Boy and I have come to an agreement. Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will be able to receive ten disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years.”
“Ten people!” The one-armed Xun Ping arched his brow, “The figure is neither small nor big. It’s quite fair, actually. The prerequisite is that you’re speaking the truth.”
The feelings of Xu Ling Gong seemed to have been hurt as he said, “You wrong me, Brother Xun. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Yang Boy about it.”
Xun Ping snorted, “You and Yang Kai are basically one family. Of course he’ll agree to whatever you say.”
A solemn Yang Kai replied, “There’s a misunderstanding here, Senior Xun. Martial Uncle Xu didn’t lie to you. It is indeed ten people.”
Yang Kai initially wondered why Xu Ling Gong was so honest; however, after giving it a thought, he realised that this matter couldn’t be hidden from everyone when Yin-Yang Cave Heaven started accepting disciples in the Star Boundary, so it was a wise move to break it to them first.
Xun Ping nodded gently, “This Old Master doesn’t believe Old Xu, but I believe what you’ve said, kid.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Many thanks, Senior.”
Xun Ping added, “Since Yin-Yang Cave Heaven will take ten disciples every 100 years, Purple Jade Cave Heaven will also do the same, then.”
All of them agreed with him, “Good.”
Xu Ling Gong said with a sly smile, “Yang Boy is a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so naturally I can get more benefits. Let’s see if he’ll agree to it if you want the same.”
He easily shifted the responsibility to Yang Kai, who didn’t really mind it in this case.
As a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, Yang Kai certainly had to take responsibility for these negotiations. In a dispassionate manner, he stated, “If each great force will get ten people, it’ll be 1,080 people for all 108 great forces. Even though a lot of talented people will be born in the Star Boundary, there won’t be so many of them every 100 years. If you take all the disciples away, no benefits will be left for Void Land.”
Xun Ping lowered his gaze, “Since you want to avoid a calamity, there’s a price to pay.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I’ve shown enough sincerity by asking Martial Uncle Xu to invite all of you to come over. All of you are Seniors, so you can’t possibly oppress me by hogging all the benefits in the Star Boundary to yourselves.”
While Xun Ping remained silent, some people started haggling with Yang Kai. All of them were Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, but they didn’t find it shameful to be so philistine; instead, they were high-spirited in their bargaining.
With that said, they wouldn’t really be as rowdy as in a downtown market. There was a sense of solemnity in the air, but instead of backing down, Yang Kai became increasingly bolder when dealing with these Seniors.
Xu Ling Gong was seated on the right side of Yang Kai while Hong Xiang Ling from Azure Void Cave Heaven was seated on his left. Hong Xiang Ling was a short, amiable-looking old man. Although he hadn’t said anything during the negotiations so far, his eyes kept darting around as he carefully observed the situation.
When Yang Kai finally took a rest, and the Grand Hall fell into silence, Hong Xiang Ling seized the chance and gently pulled Yang Kai’s sleeve.
Yang Kai turned to look at him and asked respectfully, “What’s wrong, Senior Hong?”
Hong Xiang Ling flashed a smile at him and flipped his hand. As he pushed his World Force, a true-to-life image appeared above his palm.
Yang Kai didn’t understand, but upon closer inspection, he realised that in the image there was a demure-looking woman standing on a mountain peak while gazing up at the clouds. Only her profile was shown, but it was apparent that her figure was slim and her skin was fair. There was no doubt that she was a stunning beauty. The clouds almost covered the peak, which made it look like she was hovering above them.
“How do you find her?” Hong Xiang Ling asked with his brow raised.
A puzzled Yang Kai didn’t know what the woman’s relationship with this old man was, so he just gave a frank remark, “She’s beautiful with an extraordinary demeanour, just like an Immortal Fairy from the Heavens.”
Hong Xiang Ling then boldly declared, “She’ll marry you!”
“Huh?” Yang Kai was dumbfounded.
To his side, Xu Ling Gong rolled his eyes.
Like a farmer that sold his vegetables in town, Hong Xiang Ling continued persuading Yang Kai by saying, “This is my Third Disciple. She directly advanced to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, and she’s now in the Sixth-Order. She will certainly ascend to the Seventh-Order one day. Her demure temperament will make her a great Wife. You won’t suffer any losses by marrying her, and we don’t need you to get married into our Sect like what Yin-Yang Cave Heaven has asked you to.”
Yang Kai’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
A moment later, he replied with a helpless smile, “Senior, don’t you think this is a rash decision? Of course men love beautiful women, but I’ve never met your Disciple before. It’s much, much too soon to talk about marriage. Moreover, this Senior Sister might not be willing to marry someone like me.”
“Why wouldn’t she be?” Hong Xiang Ling glared at him, “As her Master, I have to look for a decent Husband for her. She’ll be more than happy with this arrangement. How about it? Just nod if you agree and I’ll have her come here right now. She’ll be ready to marry in three months.”
Yang Kai found it increasingly difficult to deal with the eager old man.
He knew just how alluring the Star Boundary was now, so all the Cave Heavens and Paradises would like to get more benefits; however, he hadn’t expected it to be so enticing that Hong Xiang Ling was even willing to let his Third Disciple marry him in order to get a bigger share of the pie.
Then, Yang Kai looked around and realised that some of the other Masters here had fallen into their thoughts, as though they were pondering on the possibility of getting their single Sixth-Order female disciples married to Yang Kai as well.
This was giving Yang Kai a huge headache as he looked pleadingly at Xu Ling Gong, who stood up for him by saying, “Yang Boy is the son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so you’d better not have your eyes on him, Old Hong.”
A displeased Hong Xiang Ling refuted, “It’s normal for a man to have three Wives and four Concubines. So what if he’s a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven? Why can’t he also be a son-in-law of Azure Void Cave Heaven as well?” He then winked at Yang Kai, “Don’t you agree?”
Xu Ling Gong scoffed, “I remember your Disciple, she’s quite stiff. Even if she’s married to Yang Boy, she won’t receive any favour.”
Hong Xiang Ling snorted, “Every person has their own preferences. Perhaps Yang Boy likes elegant women.”
Seeing that they were about to bicker, Yang Kai had no choice but to interject, “Many thanks for your kind offer, Senior Hong, but please don’t mention marriage again. I already have many Wives, so I’m not going to marry anyone else.”
Hong Xiang Ling parted his lips, but he eventually only let out a sigh, “What a shame!”
Yang Kai wasn’t willing to delve into this topic. After straightening his face, he knocked on the table, “The Star Boundary can’t possibly afford to let all of you, respectively, get ten disciples every 100 years. My suggestion is that apart from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, every great force will be able to accept three disciples every 100 years.”
Luo Xiu rolled her eyes, “The difference is too stark, you smelly brat. Three people is significantly fewer than ten people.”
Yang Kai flashed a smile at her, “Please forgive me, Senior. I am a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven after all, so I must offer more benefits to them.”
Xu Ling Gong grinned from ear to ear at those words.
When Yang Kai previously won first place in the Dao Theory Assembly, Xu Ling Gong wasn’t displeased with the result, but he did think Yang Kai wasn’t worthy of his precious Disciple. That was the reason he paid a price to send Yang Kai into a Small Source World.
That was because he hoped that Yang Kai would grow to be strong enough to protect his woman in the future.
Now though, it seemed that it was Yin-Yang Cave Heaven that picked up a great bargain. No one could have expected that the Star Boundary, where Yang Kai came from, would become the centre of attention for the entire 3,000 Worlds.
He was also pleased with Yang Kai’s frank attitude.
Yang Kai was a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, so he was supposed to help the Sect out, and no one could say anything about it.
They went on to fight a great battle of words, with Yang Kai determined to only allow them to take three disciples every 100 years. More than thirty High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters took turns to persuade the young man until they had the urge to teach this young man who didn’t know the immensity of Heaven and Earth a lesson. The auras of these powerful High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters permeated the Grand Hall and the maid servants had to leave; otherwise, they would’ve been killed since they hadn’t even reached the Emperor Realm.
Yang Kai remained unfazed as he appeared confident. So what if there were more than thirty High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene? This was his territory, and he had the right to dictate the terms of the discussion.
They were unable to come to any conclusion after a full day of discussion, so they decided to return to their rooms and get some rest. The talks continued on the next day.
Yang Kai conceded and allowed every great force to take four disciples every 100 years, but they were still displeased as they continued making counter proposals. During the intense verbal exchange, the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters haggled just like ordinary market goers, searching for a bargain.
All of a sudden, the noises in the Grand Hall came to an abrupt halt as they fell silent at the same time.
Yang Kai looked up at the sky and narrowed his eyes. The people he had been waiting for finally arrived.
Even before the arrival of those people, two powerful auras recklessly showered the entire Star Boundary, causing it to shake with a hum.
The owners of the auras seemed to be trying to be intimidating, but they were soon stunned.
That was because it never crossed their minds that there were more than thirty High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, all of whom were just as powerful as they were, already in the Star Boundary. Upon that realization, they were both shocked and doubtful.
Xu Ling Gong said gently, “Since you’ve arrived, come here and join the discussion.”
Despite his small voice, the two newcomers were able to hear him clearly.
The door of the Grand Hall suddenly opened as two figures descended from the sky. One of them was shrouded in Demon Qi while the other was a stern-looking man.
When they took a glance inside the Grand Hall, they became startled. They were unable to figure out why so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had gathered together. These people didn’t seem to be waiting in ambush either. Rather they had a feeling that something major was happening.
Beside Xu Ling Gong sat Yang Kai, who gazed at the two unwelcome guests with a dispassionate expression. He certainly could recognise them. One of them was Zhuo Bu Qun from Myriad Demons Heaven while the other was Yu Huan from Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven.
Both of them were there when the Dao Theory Assembly ended in the past. They were responsible for dealing with the external affairs for their respective Sects, and since they were in such important positions, they would frequently come into contact with the people from other Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Many of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene were not only Inner Elders of their respective Sects, but were also responsible for handling external affairs.
“Since you’re here, you’re also my guests. Please be seated.” Yang Kai extended his hand without rising from the chair.
Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan traded glances as they frowned. They had come all the way here because their Core Disciples were killed.
The Core Disciples who could directly ascend to the Sixth-Order were the future hope of their Sects that had to be nurtured with a lot of resources and effort. After Zhao Xing was killed, Zuo Quan Hui was even willing to leave Thousand Cranes Paradise in order to avenge his death. It wasn’t just because they were Master and Disciple though. Those from Thousand Cranes Paradise had also given him the permission to do so.
Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao were as important as Zhao Xing. They were also disciples with exceptional aptitudes in their Sects that might ascend to the Eighth-Order in the future.
In the past, no one in the entire 3,000 Worlds would’ve dared to offend them. But now, both of them were killed.
It was expected that those from Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven were incensed.
Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan joined forces and headed to Void Land in an attempt to retaliate against Yang Kai.
Although Bi Xi was powerful, he was pretty meek, so while fending off their attacks, he persuaded them for a long time before they finally believed that Yang Kai wasn’t in Void Land.
They then used their Secret Techniques and followed the traces. It took them a lot of hard work before they found the Great Territory where the Star Boundary was located.
However, before they could even flare up, they were surprised to see so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters gathered together.
As soon as Yang Kai finished his words, the two of them shot him ferocious glances as their Seventh-Order pressures unreservedly fell upon him, but he remained unfazed.
Xu Ling Gong and Yu Chang Dao, who had remained silent, looked up at the same time.
Following a silent clash, the auras in the Grand Hall exploded as some of those gathered grunted.
The onlookers turned to look at Yu Chang Dao with surprise. It was expected that Xu Ling Gong would defend Yang Kai since the latter was a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. There was no way Xu Ling Gong would let him be harmed in his presence.
However, they were puzzled as to why Yu Chang Dao had also made a move. Those from Free and Unfettered Paradise had always steered clear of any kind of internal strife. Of the 108 top forces, they were the only ones that had little to no friction with all the others; therefore, they wondered what benefits Yang Kai had given to Yu Chang Dao that prompted him to lend the young man a hand.
“What happened? Why are you two so mad?” Xu Ling Gong looked smilingly at Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan.
Zhuo Bu Qun snorted as his Demon Qi weltered, “Stop asking the obvious!”
“Enough nonsense then. If you want to fight, we can go out and fight. If not, take your seats. Both of you are already so old now; how could you oppress a young man like this?” Xu Ling Gong sneered.
While Zhuo Bu Qun was still incensed, Yu Huan suddenly chuckled, “Since we’re here, let’s see what’s going on, Brother Zhuo.”
With Xu Ling Gong around, they wouldn’t be able to kill Yang Kai. Rather than falling out with him, they should wait for another chance. What concerned Yu Huan was why so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were in this place.
He and Zhuo Bu Qun had never heard of any news about it.
Before they were seated, they couldn’t help but recall the gigantic tree they had seen when they arrived at this place. It greatly resembled the World Tree which they had read about in ancient books.
They hadn’t managed to take a closer look since they were in a rush, so they were uncertain about it. However, since so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were around, they had a feeling that their speculation was right.
It had to be noted that these powerful Masters wouldn’t have come together if there were not immense benefits.
After the commotion ended, Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan became seated. There were still many vacant seats anyway, so there wasn’t a need for any additional arrangements.
Following that, the intense haggling continued.
As Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan listened to them, they were slowly dumbfounded.
They initially had no idea why so many Masters were here, but after listening to their discussion, they became aware that these people were trying to divide the benefits among themselves.
The gigantic tree they had seen earlier was indeed the World Tree, and because of the tree’s presence, this originally unknown Universe World called the Star Boundary was now filled with young people with exceptional aptitudes.
On the other hand, the owner of this treasure trove was the very Yang Kai that they were determined to kill. They felt their hearts sinking as they realised that now it would be impossible for them to kill him.
Since the people at the scene had gotten so many benefits, they wouldn’t allow the two of them to make a move on Yang Kai once the discussion concluded.
At the thought of this, Zhuo Bu Qun sneered and cut them off by saying, “All of you are High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, but you’re being led by the nose by a little brat. Don’t you find it shameful?”
Xu Ling Gong looked smilingly at him, “What opinion do you have, then?”
Zhuo Bu Qun never intended to hide his murderous intent, “As long as he’s dead, there’ll be no need to bargain. Moreover, what right does a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master have to have a discussion with us?”
Yang Kai replied impassively, “Since I, a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, was able to kill Zuo Quan Hui, I can also do the same to you.”
Zhuo Bu Qun’s expression darkened, “Did you also kill Pei Wen Xuan?”
Yang Kai knocked on the table, “Please do not make such an accusation without any evidence, Elder Zhuo. Did you see me killing Pei Wen Xuan?”
He could admit that he had killed Zuo Quan Hui because the latter was a traitor to Thousand Cranes Paradise, so they were not in any place to retaliate against him. Instead, they had to thank him for cleaning up their mess for them.
However, he could never admit that the death of Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao had something to do with him; otherwise, he would invite trouble to Void Land. Furthermore, he really didn’t kill them, so Yang Kai was confident when he uttered those words.
After a pause, he went on to say, “As for what right I have, I’m a Great Emperor in this place, and this is my territory. How can I not have the right?”
“A Great Emperor? What rubbish is that?” Zhuo Bu Qun said disdainfully.
Yang Kai extended his hand, “Since you have some bias against me, Elder Zhuo, you should leave. The Star Boundary does not welcome you.”
Zhuo Bu Qun naturally wouldn’t leave just like that, or else he would be a fool. He fell silent after a snort, which showed how thick-skinned he was.
Xu Ling Gong took the initiative to ease the tension, “Good, you should stop arguing since there’s a serious issue to discuss here. Stop making unnecessary noise.” He then chided Yang Kai by saying, “Elder Zhuo is an old man who doesn’t have many years to live. Why make him angry, brat?”
“You’re right, Martial Uncle Xu. Forgive me for my indiscretion.” Yang Kai appeared meek and obedient.
Zhuo Bu Qun closed his eyes and pretended to not understand the mockery in Xu Ling Gong’s words so as to contain his irritation.
Yang Kai then continued speaking, “Every great force will get five disciples every 100 years. That’s my limit. If all of you agree, the discussion shall continue. If not, a further discussion is not needed.”
The Grand Hall fell silent as no one responded to him.
Although five people was only half of what Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would get, it was indeed Yang Kai’s limit. He had no idea how many talents would appear in later generations, but the Heavenly Way was fair in all things, so this place couldn’t possibly be swamped with so many young people with outstanding aptitudes.
Since the Cave Heavens and Paradises would obtain a few hundred disciples every 100 years, only a small number of people would be left for Void Land.
After letting these people ponder on it for a while, Yang Kai continued saying, “Of course, as a form of compensation, I’m willing to let all of you build Dao Temples in the Star Boundary. Every great force will receive a region of 500,000 square kilometres. Except for the area in a radius of 10 million kilometres around the World Tree and the locations of the existing Sects, you may choose any place you want, and I won’t interfere.”
This was the foundation Xu Ling Gong had laid down for him. The offer was attractive since it was brought up at this point.
With their own Dao Temples in this place, it meant that they could transfer their own people to the Star Boundary and nurture them from a young age or even from before they were born. By doing so, they might be able to get the disciples they wanted, and there was no limit on this number.
These people were initially displeased with getting only five disciples every 100 years for every great force and were preparing to haggle with Yang Kai so that he could give in further. However, their expressions changed when they heard what he had said.
Luo Xiu gave a fair remark at this point, “It’s a good idea actually.”
Most people nodded while the others tacitly agreed to it.
Upon seeing that, Yang Kai said without hesitation, “It’s decided, then. Other than Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, all of you can respectively obtain five disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years and select a landmass of 500,000 square kilometres to build your own Dao Temples.”
“Good.” The one-armed Xun Ping nodded.
Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan exchanged glances as they frowned. Instead of excluding Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, Yang Kai had counted them in from the start. The outcome surprised them, but they had also kind of expected it.
They had expected it because if Yang Kai really excluded the two Cave Heavens, a blood feud would be formed between the two parties. By counting them in, it could serve as a form of compensation for them.
Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao were dead; however, if the two Cave Heavens could find some talented youths from the Star Boundary, they would have a chance to get more Core Disciples who could directly ascend to the Sixth-Order a few hundred or a thousand years later.
What surprised them was that Yang Kai didn’t seem to have any intention of making things difficult for them.
Since the number of people had been agreed on, the rest of the issues were simple to deal with. Yang Kai then made his demands on behalf of the Star Boundary known. For every disciple they took, they had to pay a full set of Sixth-Order materials or something of equivalent value.
This demand wasn’t outrageous, so the High-Rank Masters directly agreed to it without haggling.
When they discussed the World Tree and the World Fruits, Yang Kai didn’t give them a definitive answer as he said that it wouldn’t be too late to talk about it when the World Tree actually started bearing fruits one day.
They also felt that it was pointless to discuss the issue at this point, so they directly agreed to this as well.
There was no contract to be signed. The more than thirty High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene represented their Sects, so their word was the best assurance.
The difficult negotiation lasted for three days before the dust finally settled. As for what kind of disciples the great forces wanted to get or where they would build their Dao Temples, it was their own business. By then, they could just inform High Heaven Palace, that was nominally in charge of the Star Boundary, about it, so it wasn’t troublesome at all.
At the very end, Yang Kai said, “The discussion is only limited to the Star Boundary. Everything else in this Great Territory belongs to High Heaven Palace, and none of you should have your eyes on it.”
“Good.” They all nodded.
Xu Ling Gong secretly rolled his eyes, thinking that Yang Kai was taking advantage of them since they had no idea that the Territory Gate that was only a couple million kilometres away from the Star Boundary led to a Newborn Great Territory. If they knew, they wouldn’t have agreed right away.
Even though many of them saw the Territory Gate, that didn’t really bother them as they thought that it was just another Territory Gate that led to a known Great Territory.
However, this matter couldn’t be hidden forever. When these High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had some free time, they would realise that something was off. Having said that, with Yang Kai making his stance clear on this day, and the great forces having indeed gotten a lot of benefits from the Star Boundary, they might not be willing to have an argument with Yang Kai over it.
Even though a new Great Territory was rich in resources, the Cave Heavens and Paradises already had ample heritages anyway; hence, they wouldn’t be willing to quibble with Yang Kai over this. If Yang Kai became irritated, they might suffer some losses.
After the discussion, they quickly left the palace, including Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan. They were invited to enter the Grand Hall as soon as they arrived at the Star Boundary, so they were not familiar with the situation here yet. Therefore, they had to personally look around.
The rest of them went looking for suitable locations to build their Dao Temples as they weren’t in a rush to select disciples. Just like what Xu Ling Gong had said, the World Tree had showcased its wonders, but it would not be until a few generations had passed that the tree would have a significant impact on the residents here. It was a rare incident that Yu Chang Dao could find a child with the Innate Dao Body to inherit his legacy so quickly.
Certainly, if they really came across someone with exceptional aptitude, they wouldn’t mind taking them on as a disciple. They could get five people every 100 years anyway. The Star Boundary, as an Open Heaven Realm Cradle, was destined to export different kinds of talented people across the entire 3,000 Worlds.
The news would soon be spread to the rest of the Outer Universe, and by then, the Cave Heavens and Paradises that didn’t take part in the discussion would send their representatives over. However, since the rules had been set, the rest of them would just have to follow them.
Compared to the Cave Heavens and Paradises that had no representatives in the Star Boundary at this point, the only advantage that the more than thirty great forces present at the scene could get was that they could select the best areas and build their Dao Temples. The rest of the benefits were the same.
“Aren’t you going to take a look?” Yu Chang Dao suddenly appeared beside Xu Ling Gong. Presently, they were wandering somewhere in the Star Boundary. Xu Ling Gong found a nice place as he was surveying the area. He planned to build a Dao Temple for Yin-Yang Cave Heaven here.
They were in the Southern Territory where Azure Sun Temple was previously located. In the past, the Great Demon God brought a calamity upon the Star Boundary and the entire Southern Territory fell. Those from Azure Sun Temple had no choice but to abandon their foundation. With the Temple Master Wen Zi Shan leading the way, they retreated to High Heaven Palace.
After that, the Great Emperors joined forces and killed the Great Demon God, thus restoring peace to the Star Boundary. Following the war, Wen Zi Shan saw that the original location of his Sect had been shattered and the Earth Vein had snapped, so he decided to find a new location to rebuild Azure Sun Temple.
If it weren’t because of the World Tree’s expansion, this place would have remained desolate for many millennia to come.
However, with the nourishment from the World Tree, the Earth Vein had been reconnected, and the World Energy became ample again. A lot of trees started growing on the mountains, and the picturesque scenery had begun to return.
Xu Ling Gong replied with a smile, “You also didn’t bother to take a look, did you?”
Yu Chang Dao refuted with a frown, “He’s the son-in-law of your Yin-Yang Cave Heaven. What if anything happens to him? The two of them are High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. How is Yang Kai supposed to go against them if they join forces?”
A nonchalant Xu Ling Gong replied, “You’re the Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace. Since you’re not concerned about his safety, why should I be?”
“Are you really not going?” Yu Chang Dao was stunned.
“If he’s unlucky, he’s fated to fall into danger this time. I can’t possibly protect him forever. If he’s lucky, he’ll be able to get out of this on his own.” Xu Ling Gong appeared confident, “Moreover, there are some things he has to deal with directly, or else it’ll never end.”
Yu Chang Dao gazed at him with a frown, wondering what the latter was up to. He then shook his head and said, “Fine. I’ll go there myself.”
Upon finishing his words, he turned into a ray of light and shot into the sky.
Xu Ling Gong remained on the same spot for a moment before he took a look in the direction Yu Chang Dao had left, but he soon retracted his gaze as he called out, “Qing Kui.”
Qing Kui, who had remained silent behind him for a long time, cupped his fist, “Honoured Master.”
“Go back to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven and inform the Sect Master about this place in detail. He’ll have the final say in whatever arrangements we make.”
“Yes,” Qing Kui replied and turned to leave.
With his hands behind his back, Xu Ling Gong stood on a certain peak as he suddenly put on a smile, “Old Yu has really joined a pirate’s ship this time, and with a truly sly captain at that.”
In the Northern Territory, in a land covered in snow, Yang Kai was clad in green robes as he stood atop a white mountain peak.
Following the transformation in the Star Boundary, it was destined that all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises would gather in this place. As a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, there were a lot of things he had to handle.
The most important task at the moment was to expand the population of the Star Boundary.
Following an intense battle against the Great Demon God, the vast majority of the population was killed in the Star Boundary. Although it had been a hundred years since the battle, recovering from such a loss was not so simple. A lot of places were void of people as the usually bustling cities were now empty. There were ruins everywhere.
The Cave Heavens and Paradises were going to take on disciples from the Star Boundary, so Yang Kai could already envision that when the news was spread across the entire 3,000 Worlds, apart from the top 108 great forces, those Second Class great forces would also stream into this place like cats catching a whiff of fish, looking for chances to steal some benefits.
Yang Kai didn’t intend to stop them either as trying to do so would be pointless.
Just like what Xu Ling Gong had said, the Star Boundary would be the winner if the people from that place became scattered across the 3,000 Worlds.
In order to have more talented people in the Star Boundary though, he had to expand the population by encouraging the people to bear more children.
Still, they couldn’t fill the gap in a short time by relying on the current population of the Star Boundary. Fortunately, there were many Universe Worlds in the Newborn Great Territory. The Martial Dao in those Universe Worlds was generally low, so there wouldn’t be a problem if they relocated some of those people to the Star Boundary.
Yang Kai had already told Yue He to process this issue. When the time for the migration came, he would personally make a move.
After all, his Small Universe had materialised and could accommodate living beings. Others in the same Order were unable to do that. The migration of billions of lives was a difficult task, so only by keeping them inside his Small Universe could he do it with ease.
Xu Ling Gong and Yu Chang Dao could also help, but Yang Kai didn’t intend to let anyone who wasn’t from Void Land or High Heaven Palace enter the Newborn Great Territory. Hence, he had to put in more effort.
The cold wind became increasingly freezing as murderous intent permeated the air.
Two rays of light, which radiated horrifying World Forces, directly descended upon Yang Kai, who was standing on the peak of a snowy mountain, from the sky.
Yu Chang Dao, who was hiding nearby, let out a sigh. These two still couldn’t contain their urge to make a move. Although Yang Kai had set the grudges aside and promised them some benefits in order to make up for the loss of their Core Disciples, they still had no choice but to act.
Just when Yu Chang Dao was ready to leap forward in order to help Yang Kai ward off the attacks, the entire Star Boundary started humming as though a sleeping Dragon had lifted its head. Lightning started appearing in the world as an incredibly rich World Force came to life and instantly surrounded the young man.
His Sixth-Order aura rapidly rose in an inconceivable manner, and in the blink of an eye, he achieved a breakthrough to the Seventh-Order, but it didn’t stop there.
Soon after, Yang Kai, who was originally in the Sixth-Order, radiated the aura of a Peak Seventh-Order Master, seemingly just one step away from the Eighth-Order.
Yu Chang Dao gasped and exclaimed, “He’s borrowing the World Force from this World!”
It was then he realised why Xu Ling Gong wasn’t concerned despite knowing that Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan would secretly make a move.
That was because he was certain that Yang Kai could deal with his opponents. Yu Chang Dao found himself to be laughable as he came all the way here to protect the young man.
Usually, one was unable to borrow a lot of World Force from a Universe World; after all, there wasn’t much World Force in a Universe World to begin with. However, the Star Boundary was different.
When Yang Kai borrowed the World Strength of the Star Boundary for the first time, he couldn’t make it to the Seventh-Order without the help of all the other Great Emperors, who had already ascended to the Sixth-Order.
However, even without the help of the Great Emperors this time, he could still easily make it to the peak of the Seventh-Order.
There was only one explanation. The heritage of the Star Boundary was now significantly more ample than in the past, which allowed Yang Kai to have a great leap forward in power after he borrowed the World’s World Force.
As the World continued thrumming, Yang Kai raised his spear and thrust it out, his hair and clothes flapping in the wind. The snowflakes in a radius of a million kilometres around him seemed to have frozen mid-air.
Following a loud boom, the Divine Abilities of the two High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were instantly resolved.
Yang Kai’s aura surged as he took control of a power that was at the peak of the Seventh-Order even though he was only in the Sixth-Order. He then said after a laugh, “It would be impolite if I didn’t give you anything in return!”
He then pushed out his spear. The snowflakes exploded in mid-air and turned into invisible murderous intent as they swirled around in a radius of a million kilometres.
In the next moment, two faint grunts were heard.
Since the beginning, Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan, who secretly made a move, had not shown their faces. Yang Kai didn’t have the intention of killing them ruthlessly either as he just traded a move with them before stopping.
As the clouds weltered, two cracks suddenly appeared in the sky. They were so huge that anyone in the Star Boundary could see them clearly wherever they were.
The cracks slowly expanded and revealed a pair of gigantic eyes, as though some reclusive deity had finally descended upon this land.
As the eyes gazed down, the billions and billions of living beings in the Star Boundary couldn’t help but have the urge to fall on their knees and worship them. Even the more than thirty High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were wandering around the Star Boundary at that moment, felt pressured as they furrowed their brows, stopping in their tracks to look up at the sky.
The eyes appeared to be smiling, as though the owner was trying to say he would attack anyone who dared to make a fuss in his territory.
Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan were flabbergasted as they fled, but the pair of eyes followed them and made sure that they couldn’t escape the owner’s sight. The murderous intent was like chains that had been wrapped around their necks, causing them to suffocate.
Both of them appeared vexed.
They had never expected that a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would be able to reach the peak of the Seventh-Order by borrowing the might of this World. Furthermore, they were in the Star Boundary, so the situation was in the young man’s favour. Even if they intended to kill him ruthlessly, they might end up losing their lives instead.
The pair of eyes in the sky just looked at them in silence, as though the owner was watching two rats that had barged into his granary. The gaze was filled with mockery.
On the peak of the snow mountain, Yang Kai gently closed his eyes. At the same time, the huge eyes in the sky also slowly disappeared.
Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan dashed into a cave in a certain cliff before they sat down with their legs crossed and wiped the blood from their mouths. As the wind breezed past them, they realised that their backs were covered in cold sweat.
Still reeling from the shock, they exchanged glances.
A moment later, Zhuo Bu Qun said with a dark expression, “It seems that no one can deal with that brat unless an Eighth-Order Ancestor makes a move.”
Yu Huan grunted with displeasure, “At least he was tactful by not crossing the line.”
If Yang Kai had insisted on making things difficult for them, an intense battle would’ve taken place. Perhaps Yang Kai would’ve ended up in a terrible state, but at least one of them would also have lost his life.
However, even though Yang Kai had made use of the Star Boundary’s World Force, he had only given them a warning and then stopped. It was apparent that he just wanted to ward them off instead of falling out with the two Cave Heavens.
With more than thirty High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters as witnesses on this day, no one would blame Yang Kai in the future; instead, they would praise him for being magnanimous and tactful.
In comparison, Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan, who oppressed the young man despite being more powerful, would be regarded as devious.
“We have no choice but to choke it down this time.” Zhuo Bu Qun sported a grim expression.
Even though they firmly believed that their disciples, Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao, were killed by Yang Kai, no one had seen the deed, so there was no evidence to make a case.
If it was before, if the two Cave Heavens wanted to avenge the death of their disciples, they wouldn’t need any evidence. A single doubt could prompt them to make a move, and no one would dare to say anything.
However, since the World Tree was in the Star Boundary, this place was destined to be the centre of attention for the entire 3,000 Worlds. As a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, Yang Kai already had a right to be on an equal footing with them and discuss terms with the Sects they represented.
If they really insisted on making things difficult for Yang Kai, the other Cave Heavens and Paradises would blame and stop them, which would only cause them to suffer losses.
Otherwise, given their identities and statuses, they wouldn’t have launched a sneak attack. They could’ve directly looked for Yang Kai and killed him.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai borrowed the World Force from the Star Boundary and instantly possessed power that was at the peak of the Seventh-Order, which made them suffer a small setback.
Fortunately, Yang Kai had no intention of killing them as he only teased them a little.
However, it seemed that they could no longer avenge the death of Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao since there was no evidence. Furthermore, if Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven wanted to get some benefits from the Star Boundary, they wouldn’t bring it up again; otherwise, they would be asking for trouble.
Both parties were tacitly aware that they had to make a concession.
As they exchanged glances, they let out a long sigh. They were definitely heartbroken at the fact that their Sixth-Order disciples were dead. In the past, this kind of loss couldn’t be said to be unbearable, but it was certainly immense.
However, if they could find some talented young people to nurture in the Star Boundary, they could make up for the losses. It was just that they found it hard to get the fury off their chests.
On the peak of the snowy mountain, Yang Kai was seated with his legs crossed. As the snowflakes whirled around him, he tried his hardest to suppress his murderous intent. If possible, he would never easily let Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan off. Just like he had told Xu Ling Gong previously, he would treat them politely when they arrived, and everything would be fine if they were tactful. If not, he naturally would have to fight against them.
Yang Kai had shown his sincerity by allowing them to take part in the discussion and even shared equal benefits with them from the Star Boundary.
Nevertheless, they still secretly made a move. If Yang Kai were just an average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master and the Star Boundary was just an ordinary Universe World, he couldn’t have survived the assault of two Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
At that moment, he had the urge to kill them ruthlessly.
Nonetheless, if he had really done that, the Star Boundary wouldn’t have been able to bear it, and the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters wouldn’t have turned a blind eye to the situation. When they interfered, the conflict would be halted and he would be the one blamed.
He was suddenly envious of Wu Kuang, who had no worries about such things. The man could kill anybody he wanted, anytime he wanted.
With that said, Yang Kai asked himself whether he would really be happy if he were just like Wu Kuang. Since time immemorial, the man had been like a tree without roots, a river without a source.
He didn’t think he could live like Wu Kuang, constantly hunted and alone, so there was nothing to be envious of in reality.
A moment later, he slowly shook his head and opened his eyes. As he returned all the World Force he had borrowed, his cultivation plunged from the Seventh-Order to the Sixth-Order.
He then turned to look in a particular direction and nodded with gratitude.
Yu Chang Dao, who had hidden over there, put on a smile and left. He swiftly returned to High Heaven Palace to play with the toddler named Shi Da Zhuang.
It had only been a few months since Shi Da Zhuang was born, so he naturally couldn’t cultivate; however, Yu Chang Dao would help warm his meridians with his cultivation every day. He would do it every six hours, so it was four times a day, and he had never skipped a single session.
However, instead of finding it troublesome, he enjoyed doing it. On the other hand, Shi Da Zhuang’s Mother, Liu Cai Xia, felt a little sorry.
Although it had been a short time since she started residing in High Heaven Palace, she was now clearly aware that this old man was a senior expert that was even more powerful than Senior Void.
She was just a lowly person, but her child was treasured by someone so extraordinary. That was the reason she found it hard to believe as she thought that something might have gone wrong. If the child didn’t grow up to be just like what the old man had expected, they would certainly feel guilty.
On the other hand, Yu Chang Dao was extremely pleased with Shi Da Zhuang.
The only thing he wasn’t happy with was the child’s name, for Shi Da Zhuang sounded very much like a peasant’s name. It didn’t give off a majestic or imposing air. He felt sorry for the child when the latter became powerful one day and had to tell his name to the people he met for the first time.
He suggested giving the child a different name, but Liu Cai Xia categorically rejected him, saying that the name must not be changed since it was given by the child’s Father before his death. Otherwise, the child would be considered unfilial.
Knowing how obstinate the woman was, Yu Chang Dao decided to give it up. It wouldn’t change a thing by not giving the child a new name anyway. It was just that when the child told his name to his enemies in the future, he would appear to be less intimidating. Perhaps those enemies would even take him lightly.
Liu Cai Xia was gratified with the fact that the child had taken a liking to the old man. Over the past few days, he even ignored her at most times. Whenever the old man appeared, the child would demand to be in his arms. It wasn’t until he was hungry that he would look for his Mother.
Yu Chang Dao was certainly pleased with that.
Those from High Heaven Palace had prepared a Spirit Peak for Yu Chang Dao, Liu Cai Xia, and Shi Da Zhuang to stay. Fresh food would be sent to them every day, so there was nothing they had to worry about. Moreover, it appeared that Yu Chang Dao would be staying in High Heaven Palace for a long time. Before the child ascended to the Open Heaven Realm, the old man would likely remain here in order to teach him how to cultivate.
The fate of Shi Da Zhuang had basically been transformed for the better. Many of the disciples in High Heaven Palace were even envious of him.
In the Star Boundary, many Spirit Peaks now had new construction projects. Even the ancient forests that were usually devoid of people were bustling with noise.
As time passed, the Dao Temples and branches of the Cave Heavens and Paradises slowly took shape.
When more Cave Heavens and Paradises heard about the news, they immediately sent their representatives to come to the Star Boundary.
Those from High Heaven Palace had specifically prepared a place to receive these top Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises. Whenever there was a visitor, they would inform him or her of the agreement that the first High Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had come to and explain to them the current situation in the Star Boundary.
Certainly, those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises had no regard for a Sect that ruled over a mere Universe World, so it was expected that they wouldn’t just take High Heaven Palace’s word for it.
However, after asking around, they would realise that those from High Heaven Palace had spoken the truth.
When they found their old friends and saw that about thirty great forces had already started building Dao Temples in the Star Boundary, they could no longer sit back and do nothing.
Although the Star Boundary was expansive, there would be fewer choices for them if all the good spots were occupied by others first.
They then hurriedly surveyed the Star Boundary to look for suitable locations.
Hua Qing Si was initially worried that the latecomers wouldn’t acknowledge the agreement. In that case, some conflicts might arise.
Nevertheless, it surprised her that none of the Cave Heavens and Paradises that came at a later time objected. It was only then that she believed what Yang Kai had said; the more than thirty great forces that had taken part in the discussion not only represented their own Sects, but all the Cave Heavens and Paradises. There wouldn’t be any problems with the agreement they had concluded.
There would always be people who glanced at the World Tree as well. Even though these High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were extremely powerful, they had only seen the records of the World Tree in ancient books. They were expected to be curious since they had never seen it with their own eyes before.
They were also amazed at the ample heritage of the Star Boundary.
On the other hand, it was no longer a secret that Yang Kai was able to borrow the World Force of the Star Boundary to reach the peak of the Seventh-Order since he was a Great Emperor of this place. Therefore, all the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters acknowledged that he had a right to stand on equal footing with them.
That was the case in the Star Boundary at the very least.
In just a few years, the Star Boundary, which was located in the newly named High Heaven Territory, became a household name in the entire 3,000 Worlds.
It was the first Great Territory that was named after a Sect of a Universe World.
Usually, a Great Territory was named after the most powerful great force in that place. For example, the Great Territory where Void Land was located was named Void Territory. The Great Territory where Yin-Yang Cave Heaven was located was called Yin-Yang Territory. There had never been an exception.
In High Heaven Territory, there wasn’t really a decent great force, so it was expected that the Great Territory was named after High Heaven Palace, and most people were fine with it.
In just a few years, 108 Dao Temples had been built in the Star Boundary that belonged to all the Cave Heavens and Paradises. Every Dao Temple was overseen by a Seventh-Order Master who was responsible for dealing with external affairs.
In other words, there were more than 100 High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters residing in the Star Boundary.
That was a horrifying figure. It had to be noted that every one of them was just as strong as Zuo Quan Hui.
After the initial phase of puzzlement, anxiety, and excitement, the natives in the Star Boundary had become at ease. Thanks to the campaign held by High Heaven Palace, everyone in the Star Boundary became fully aware of the situation in the 3,000 Worlds.
Many young people believed their aptitudes to be exceptional as they hoped that the elusive senior experts would have their eyes on them and take them on as disciples one day. With proper training, they would stand a chance to become successful one day.
However, it was destined to be a pipe dream for 99% of them. With that said, there were some ordinary-looking kids in all four Territories who had been selected and taken on as disciples by the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Whenever such news was spread, the town where the child was selected would celebrate, and it would also allow those who thought highly of themselves to become even more hopeful.
The Cave Heavens and Paradises were not in a rush to select disciples from the Star Boundary; after all, each of them could get five disciples every 100 years, and it was still early. On the other hand, upon the completion of their Dao Temples, they immediately sent some talented young disciples over to be nurtured here.
Every Cave Heaven and Paradise controlled one or more Great Territories, in which there were countless Universe Worlds; therefore, it wasn’t hard for them to select some youths with exceptional aptitudes to send over.
The disciples they had sent had very low cultivations. Some of them had only started cultivating. The similarity between them was that they were all very talented. As these people grew up under the influence of the World Tree in the Star Boundary, the achievements they would have in the future would also be amplified when they finally comprehended their Grand Dao and condensed a Dao Seal.
Many of these people could possibly make it to the Fifth Order, or even the Sixth Order.
Every great force got a landmass of 500,000 square kilometres, which was neither big nor small, but it was sufficient for them to nurture up to 10,000 people.
As the people from the Cave Heavens and Paradises settled down, the finances of Void Land also improved dramatically.
According to the agreement between Yang Kai and all those great forces, each of them could get five disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years. In return, they had to give five sets of Sixth-Order materials or resources of equivalent value.
None of the Cave Heavens and Paradises went back on their word as they directly paid the materials. Therefore, the Star Boundary had amassed several hundred Sixth-Order materials over the past few years.
The figure wasn’t staggering, but it was a long-term deal.
After Heavenly Sword Union was destroyed, which resulted in Zuo Quan Hui losing his life, Void Land’s Star City started operating again. Mo Mei led a group of Open Heaven Realm Masters back to Void Territory and resumed her role as Governor of the Star City. With Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills in their possession, they wouldn’t have to worry about the popularity of the Star City; therefore, they soon recovered from the losses they had suffered.
The rent of the shops in the Star City alone allowed Yang Kai to make a fortune.
When Zuo Quan Hui led Heavenly Sword Union to cordon off the Territory Gates to Void Territory, many of the merchants had a bleak view of Void Land’s future as they were not willing to offend Heavenly Sword Union and the great force behind Zuo Quan Hui, Thousand Cranes Paradise. Therefore, they decided to run away from the Star City. Yang Kai directly took back the shops where the renters had left. Now that Void Land had overcome this calamity, anyone who wanted to return to the shop they abandoned would have to pay double the rent.
Yang Kai didn’t expect them to share the burden when Void Land was in crisis, but they shouldn’t hope to share the benefits when Void Land was on the rise.
On the other hand, the merchants who had stayed for various reasons had a reason to celebrate. They were naturally elated to see that Void Land had gotten out of danger. Since they had stayed when Void Land was in crisis to prop up the Star City’s waning popularity, those from Void Land would certainly repay their favour by reducing their rent or even allowing them to run their businesses rent-free.
With the resources given by the Cave Heavens and Paradises and the recovery of the Star City, the burden on Void Land’s finances had finally been eased.
Furthermore, they had several hundred Open Heaven Realm Masters who were extracting resources from the New Great Territory.
In the past few years, the New Great Territory had mostly been explored. Even though there were still some hidden corners that had yet to be investigated, it couldn’t be rushed. They still had ample time anyway.
There were innumerable resources in the New Great Territory. As long as those from Void Land could maintain their grip on the Territory Gate, all the resources extracted from the New Great Territory would be sufficient for their own needs, and there would even be some surplus.
Unfortunately, they were short on manpower now. Although several hundred Open Heaven Realm Masters sounded like a large figure, they were far from enough when they were placed in an entire Great Territory. It also wasn’t very efficient.
With that said, this couldn’t be rushed. They had to take it slow.
Yang Kai had been swamped with work for the past few years and rarely had time to cultivate. He had to keep going back and forth between the New Great Territory and High Heaven Territory.
Every time he returned from the New Great Territory, he would bring with him several tens of millions of immigrants.
In order to expand the population of the Star Boundary, the easiest way was to bring over people from the Universe Worlds in the New Great Territory. However, it wasn’t easy to make so many people leave their homelands.
Fortunately, there were several Universe Worlds in the New Great Territory where the environment was quite harsh and hostile. Some of them were even going to fall apart within a few thousand years. That was the reason Yang Kai was able to get them to migrate.
Due to the environment of those Universe Worlds, they had a small population to begin with. By moving them over, Yang Kai had somewhat alleviated the shortage of people in the Star Boundary. They naturally were not used to it at first, but they could settle down and adapt to it with time. Generations later, they would be just like the natives in the Star Boundary.
In an area of the void that was a million kilometres away from the Star Boundary, pieces of shattered continents had been bound together to form an expansive Spirit Province.
The Spirit Province was filled with greenery and clear rivers. Presently, many buildings were being constructed as the place was bustling with noise.
Yang Kai squatted on a certain Spirit Peak and looked down with displeasure.
Xu Ling Gong was standing beside him with his hands behind his back as he rambled on. Upon realising that Yang Kai never responded to him, he kicked the young man in the backside and demanded, “I’m talking to you. Make your stance clear. Why wouldn’t you reply to me?”
Yang Kai glowered at him and brushed away the dust on his backside.
An amused Xu Ling Gong snapped, “Are you mad? We’ve agreed that we’d all make a concession. Since a decision has been made, it’s pointless for you to get mad.”
A displeased Yang Kai stood straight up and roared, “All of you are trying to oppress me! I refuse to accept this!”
Xu Ling Gong chuckled and spread his palms. “So, what if you won’t accept it? A few years ago, they hadn’t recovered from their shock as they all focused on the Star Boundary. Since everything has been settled after several years, they can naturally notice things they haven’t paid attention to previously. Consider yourself lucky that you’ve managed to take control of that New Great Territory.”
“That was mine from the start!” Yang Kai was so vexed that he started flushing. “I already told them that other than the Star Boundary, everything else in High Heaven Territory belonged to High Heaven Palace. They couldn’t have a hand in anything!”
Xu Ling Gong replied, “High Heaven Territory and the New Great Territory are two different things.”
With a livid expression, Yang Kai refuted, “That’s mine, and the new Star City is also supposed to belong to me!”
Xu Ling Gong sneered as he looked down at the newly built Star City and shook his head. “Don’t blame them for being greedy. You’re fully aware of how attractive a New Great Territory is. How many good things have you found in the New Great Territory over the years? I’ve never asked you about it, but it doesn’t mean I have no idea. You’re exchanging a Star City for the right to take control of an entire New Great Territory. No matter how you look at it, you’re at an advantage. Just think about it; since it’s no longer a secret and a decision has been made, you won’t need to be secretive when exploring the New Great Territory anymore. It’s a good thing.”
Despite knowing that the old man was right, Yang Kai still felt as though he had a chunk of flesh sliced off from his body.
Previously, he had already planned on building a massive Star City outside of the Star Boundary.
The Star Boundary had become the centre of attention for the entire 3,000 Worlds. All 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises had built Dao Temples here. There were also innumerable great forces that came over to find out what was going on. The Star Boundary and the World Tree had changed everything.
This level of popularity in a single place was simply unprecedented.
With so many people gathering together, it was more effective than any advertising campaign. It would be a waste if a Star City wasn’t built to profit from the situation.
Therefore, a few years ago, Yang Kai had already planned on building a Star City outside the Star Boundary.
If the Star City in High Heaven Territory was successfully built, it would soon surpass all other known Star Cities. Even the First Class Star Cities controlled by the Cave Heavens and Paradises as well as Void Land’s Star City at the peak of its popularity wouldn’t be comparable to the one in High Heaven Territory.
However, when his plan was finally carried out, the Cave Heavens and Paradises jumped right in to snatch the benefits.
Certainly, those sly old foxes could see the things Yang Kai could see. Other than the World Tree in the Star Boundary, the new Star City would be a treasure trove that everybody wanted to get their hands on.
Hence, the representatives of all 108 great forces gathered together in High Heaven Palace to negotiate with Yang Kai.
In the end, he was defeated.
Previously, they had to get some benefits from Yang Kai and the Star Boundary, so they were willing to make huge concessions; however, this time was different. Some of them even brought up the New Great Territory. It seemed that if Yang Kai wouldn’t agree to building a Star City and distributing the benefits, they were ready to target the New Great Territory.
Even though Xu Ling Gong and Yu Chang Dao didn’t make things difficult for Yang Kai, they were unable to help him out since all the others shared the same sentiment.
A weak Yang Kai was certainly unable to win the argument against 108 top great forces. It was expected that he would be defeated.
Hence, this was the outcome. The new Star City would be owned by the Cave Heavens and Paradises as well as High Heaven Palace jointly, with all the benefits being shared among them.
However, with Yang Kai fiercely fighting back, he had eventually won the right to manage the Star City in High Heaven Territory, which was what he had expected.
Although it would be exhausting to manage such a big Star City, there were a lot of benefits to be gained.
With such power in possession, those from High Heaven Palace could get 5% of the Star City’s profit. Although 5% sounded like a small figure, it had to be noted that the remaining 95% was shared by all 108 great forces.
In comparison, 5% was a lot.
Xu Ling Gong had also told Yang Kai not to underestimate 5% of profit as it might even surpass what he could get from the Star City in Void Territory.
However, with the Star Boundary as the centre, Yang Kai had to build Space Arrays at the Star City and the Territory Gate of High Heaven Territory so that they could move around swiftly.
Those were the concessions both parties had to make as mentioned by Xu Ling Gong.
High Heaven Palace had gained the most benefits since they had the right to manage the Star City; nevertheless, Yang Kai had to be responsible for arranging the Space Arrays.
A sulky Yang Kai rebuked, “I don’t mind arranging the Space Arrays, but the ordinary ones cannot transfer people across such a long distance. Once it’s too far, the arrays cannot be connected. I can arrange the Arrays that could send people from the Territory Gate to the Star Boundary, but we’d have to draw on the power of the Star Boundary to make that happen. On that note, there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why don’t we just build a Universe Temple in High Heaven Territory instead of asking me to arrange special Space Arrays!”
Every Great Territory had at least one Universe Temple that served as a resting place for cultivators. It could also help them save time on travelling.
However, there wasn’t a Universe Temple in High Heaven Territory since it didn’t even have a name in the Universe Chart previously.
Xu Ling Gong replied calmly, “It’s not that they don’t want to build a Universe Temple here, it’s that they can’t. The Universe Temples left behind in the Great Territories are all from ancient times. No one from the Cave Heavens and Paradises is able to build a Universe Temple now.”
Yang Kai was stunned, “There are things that the Cave Heavens and Paradises can’t do?”
Xu Ling Gong said, “Universe Temples are essentially enhanced versions of Space Arrays, so mastery in the Dao of Space to build them. No one can build a Universe Temple without such skill. You might not be aware of it, but there are some Universe Temples in several Great Territories that have become dilapidated and lost their functions. Although we’ve been trying to restore them, it’s been to no avail. Not many people in the 3,000 Worlds know how to use Space Principles, let alone have mastery of them.”
Yang Kai fell into his thoughts.
Knowing what was on the other man’s mind, Xu Ling Gong continued, “I know what you’re thinking. You want to study the mysteries of the Universe Temples, right?”
Yang Kai nodded, “It’d be for the best if there’s such a chance.” Universe Temples certainly contained the secrets of the Grand Dao of Space. If he could study them carefully, he would gain immense benefits as well.
Xu Ling Gong replied with a smile, “Just wait. I’ve reported this matter to the Sect Master, and he’ll make the arrangements. However, you’re not from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises, so I cannot be sure whether you’ll have a chance to look into the Universe Temples. The decision will have to be made by the higher-ups.”
Yang Kai frowned, “Why are you all so cautious about it? Everyone will benefit if the Universe Temples are restored.”
Following a sigh, Xu Ling Gong replied, “What you can see is not the complete picture of the 3,000 Worlds. You have no right to know many things now. When you become strong enough one day, you’ll find out. Now, I can only tell you that the mystery of Universe Temples has far-reaching implications. If we’re not careful, we might cause a disaster for the 3,000 Worlds.”
An astounded Yang Kai looked dazedly at Xu Ling Gong, but he didn’t think the latter was exaggerating.
“What do you think about creating the Space Arrays?” Xu Ling Gong urged, “Those shameless old people have asked me to persuade you. Just tell me right away whether you’ll agree to it.”
Yang Kai snorted, “In order to send people from the Territory Gate to the Star Boundary, the Space Arrays would be immense and costly. High Heaven Palace and Void Land can’t possibly afford it.”
Xu Ling Gong scoffed, “Stingy brat. Don’t worry, you’ll not pay anything for the materials.”
Yang Kai nodded, “That’s more like it. However, the distance between the Territory Gate and the Star Boundary is too far. Even if they could be connected by Space Arrays, it would still require the power of the Star Boundary to make it happen. The heritage of the Star Boundary would suffer a slight loss every time the arrays were used; therefore, even if the arrays are successfully built, they can’t be used for free. For every transfer, High Heaven Palace will collect a certain fee.”
Xu Ling Gong snorted, “Not only do you possess Void Star City and 5% of High Heaven Star City, but you also have the resources of the New Great Territory as a backup. I can’t believe you’re still trying to profit from the Space Arrays.”
Yang Kai grinned meaningfully, “Haven’t you heard that many grains of sand can build a tower? You can never underestimate the amount of money something will generate. Martial Uncle Xu, you’re not responsible for managing a Sect, so you have no idea how difficult it is to run one.”
After giving it a thought, Xu Ling Gong replied, “Give some free quotas to the Cave Heavens and Paradises every year. Within those quotas, they won’t be charged a fee. Anyone who exceeds the quotas will have to pay the same fee as outsiders.”
Yang Kai pondered on it for a moment and replied, “Fine.”
“Write down the materials needed to arrange the arrays and give the list to me later. I’ll ask them to share the cost.”
With a smile, Yang Kai fished out a jade slip and passed it to him, “Here.”
Seeing that this boy was already prepared, Xu Ling Gong rolled his eyes, and upon looking into the jade slip, he did so again.
Even though he had no idea how many materials were needed to arrange these Space Arrays, it was obvious Yang Kai was trying to get more than what was required.
Without pointing it out though, he stored the jade slip and left. He was obviously going to ask the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters to share the cost.
Xu Ling Gong was pretty efficient as he passed Yang Kai a Space Ring three days later. Yang Kai directly stored the ring without looking into it, then he returned to the Star Boundary. After bringing Luan Bai Feng and some people with him, he headed straight to the first Territory Gate.
Fortunately, before the epic battle against Heavenly Sword Union, he had left behind many Space Beacons around High Heaven Territory. Therefore, they didn’t really have to fly over as they soon reached the Territory Gate by making use of those Space Beacons.
Arranging Space Arrays was like a walk in the park for Yang Kai. However, the one he was building was much larger than any array he had arranged before, and it would require a lot of materials.
Working for a full month, the gigantic array finally took shape near the Territory Gate.
Without taking a rest, he headed straight to the Star Boundary and found a suitable location before working on a corresponding Space Array.
Since this array was connected to the Star Boundary, it would draw on the Universe World’s immense World Force every time it was used. Otherwise, it couldn’t be linked to the array at the Territory Gate that was trillions of kilometres away.
Yang Kai wasn’t lying when he said to Xu Ling Gong that the heritage of the Star Boundary would be consumed every time the array was used. It was the truth.
However, only a small amount of heritage would be needed. With the continuous nourishment from the World Tree, the consumption was essentially negligible.
Ten days later, the array in the Star Boundary was completed. Yang Kai then headed to the Star City. This time, it only took him one day to finish building a new Space Array.
Hence, the arrays that connected the Territory Gate to the Star Boundary and then led to the Star City had been completed. The presence of these arrays could allow cultivators to move around easily. Otherwise, when the visitors arrived at High Heaven Territory, it would take them about half a month to go from the Territory Gate to the Star City.
During this period of time, the Star City had also been completed. The Cave Heavens and Paradises as well as High Heaven Palace had selected the best locations to open their shops, while the rest of the land was rented out.
Some astute business people had started asking about the Star City as they were apparently ready to start businesses there. However, since Yang Kai hadn’t come up with a framework to manage the Star City, he decided to ignore them for now.
Void Star City was currently managed by Mo Mei, a Sixth-Order Master, and since High Heaven Star City was much larger, the person in charge naturally couldn’t be weak.
Yang Kai intended to select one of the Great Emperors from the Star Boundary.
The Great Emperors also had the ability to borrow World Strength from the Star Boundary. Given the powerful heritage of the Star Boundary, after borrowing its World Force, they could exert the might of the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. They would certainly be less powerful than Yang Kai, but that was because their heritages were weaker to begin with.
Only by doing so could they have a better control over High Heaven Star City. The reason Yang Kai decided to build the Star City near the Star Boundary was that the Great Emperor in charge of the city would be able to draw on the power of the Star Boundary.
Since he now had some free time, Yang Kai gathered all the Great Emperors together and told them about his plans, and after he finished, everyone turned to look at Duan Hong Chen at the same time.
Bustling World Great Emperor chuckled, “Well, it seems that I’ll have to take up the responsibility.”
The decision was made just like that. Bustling World Great Emperor would become the Governor of High Heaven Star City. Even though it might occupy some of his cultivation time, there shouldn’t be a problem as long as he could manage his time well.
On the day the Star City opened for business, innumerable merchants streamed into the city as they continuously knocked on the door of the Governor’s Mansion.
Meanwhile, in a Universe World in the New Great Territory, Yang Kai was seated across from Wu Kuang. It had been a few years since they last met, and Wu Kuang had become even more formidable. Perhaps it was because he had swallowed the heritages of a few Sixth-Order Masters that he was unable to fully conceal his aura now and was shrouded in Demon Qi.
There were some living creatures in this Universe World, but none of them had any sentience. It was obvious that it had been a short time since they were born, and the environment was hostile as the place was covered in a sandstorm.
However, Wu Kuang didn’t mind it at all as he decided to settle down here.
Yang Kai gazed at him and asked, “What are your future plans?”
Wu Kuang was holding a wine bottle given to him by Yang Kai as he leaned against a chair. His demeanour didn’t look like that of a senior expert. As he raised the bottle and let the wine flow into his mouth, he replied nonchalantly, “I’ll keep hiding for a few years and digest what I’ve eaten.”
Yang Kai nodded, “That’s for the best. More than a hundred High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters have gathered together in the Star Boundary. They’ll notice you as soon as you show up, and they’ll definitely try to kill you. Nevertheless, it’s not like you can keep hiding forever. You’ll have to go out one day.”
Wu Kuang shot him a glance, “Don’t worry. Since this King has tasted so many palatable dishes, I can never go back to having coarse food. Anyone that’s lower than the Fifth Order will be tasteless to me, not to mention the lowly living beings in those Universe Worlds.”
Yang Kai didn’t feel strange even though Wu Kuang pointed out what was on his mind.
Although the person before his eyes had lent him a hand in many ways, Yang Kai had never forgotten that the man was the Heaven-Devouring Great Emperor who had devastated many Star Fields in the past. Wherever he went, all the Stars would be destroyed and all living creatures killed.
If he suddenly had the urge to commit an outrageous act in the New Great Territory, the consequences would be dreadful. The Martial Dao of the Universe Worlds in this New Great Territory was generally low, so they were certainly unable to ward off the Heaven-Devouring Great Emperor if he was determined to kill.
Furthermore, the Heaven-Devouring Great Emperor was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
With that said, Yang Kai became at ease upon hearing Wu Kuang’s words. Given the latter’s cultivation, he wouldn’t be able to get any benefits by harming those Universe Worlds.
“Just spill it. Why have you come all the way here to look for me? I don’t think you’re here just to see how I’m doing,” Wu Kuang asked nonchalantly.
“There’s indeed something I need to ask you about.” Yang Kai nodded and looked at him frankly, “After the Dao Theory Assembly, I entered a Small Source World named the Divine Armament World in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to get some training. I tried cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law in there, but I almost suffered from cultivation dissonance.”
Wu Kuang said with a grin, “You’ve really cultivated the Heaven Devouring Battle Law?”
Yang Kai nodded, “The effects of this Secret Art are Heaven-defying. It’s able to absorb all sorts of energy, and my cultivation increased swiftly in the initial phase. However, as my cultivation improved, the downsides of the Secret Art also started appearing. My temperament was affected and I nearly lost all rationality.”
“That’s to be expected. There are pros and cons to everything in this world. How could there be no downsides for an amazing Secret Art like the Heaven Devouring Battle Law?”
Yang Kai looked fervently at him, “But I don’t think you’ve suffered from any downsides as you cultivate it.”
Wu Kuang scoffed, “Who told you that? Do you think this King was born a heinous murderer who thought nothing of slaughtering people?” He seemed to be reminiscing about the past, “When I first started cultivating, I treasured life so much that I wouldn’t even dare to kill the ants on the ground!”
As astounded Yang Kai stared at him in shock. Could the infamous Heaven Devouring Great Emperor of the Star Boundary have once been a kind-hearted man in the past? Although he couldn’t believe it, he thought that it was at least possible; after all, everyone was supposedly born to be kind.
All of a sudden, Wu Kuang cackled wildly as a fierce look spread all over his face, “Of course, I’m lying you brat! This King was born wild and savage. All living creatures are no different from ants in my eyes! The reason you’re suffering from the downsides of Heaven Devouring Battle Law is that you can’t resolve the impurities you’ve absorbed. This King can do that, so I’m not bothered by it.”
“How do you resolve them?” Yang Kai asked humbly. There was no doubt that Heaven Devouring Battle Law was an evil Secret Art, but he had to acknowledge that it was astonishing. He had a taste of it while getting his training in the Small Source World, so he could declare with certainty it was the pinnacle of Secret Arts.
He might have more chances to enter other Small Source Worlds in the future, so if he had to start over like he had experienced in the Divine Armament World, he could rely on Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Despite having a Dragon Vein though, Yang Kai couldn’t guarantee that he would never suffer from cultivation dissonance when cultivating the evil art. This problem could be solved if Wu Kuang was willing to teach him a thing or two.
“You can’t resolve them.” Wu Kuang waved his hand with a smile, “Many things are predestined, just like how the Stone Spirits are born to be suitable for cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. Everyone else who wants to cultivate it won’t be able to escape the downsides.”
Yang Kai fell into his thoughts.
Although Wu Kuang never pointed it out, the insinuation in his words was apparent to Yang Kai. He was trying to say that just like the Stone Spirits, he was born suited to cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. This couldn’t be achieved with hard work as it was an innate trait.
Several tens of thousands of years ago, Wu Kuang was killed while some of the Great Emperors perished in the battle in the Shattered Star Sea. However, Wu Kuang’s Remnant Soul remained as he hid inside the Shattered Star Sea and waited for a chance to revive himself. Bustling World Great Emperor was willing to cripple his own cultivation repeatedly, causing him to fall from the status of Great Emperor to below the Dao Source Realm, then enter the Shattered Star Sea in order to get rid of Wu Kuang for good.
Unfortunately, his body was occupied by Wu Kuang instead. Although Wu Kuang had only partly succeeded, he managed to escape the fate of death.
After the battle against Great Demon God Mo Sheng, Wu Kuang seized Mo Sheng’s body and finally resurrected completely.
However, he was still able to cultivate the Heaven Devouring Battle Law. In other words, the body didn’t matter when it came to cultivating this evil Secret Art, nor was it the kind of support he relied on. Otherwise, he couldn’t have practised Heaven Devouring Battle Law after occupying someone’s body.
Yang Kai’s eyes brightened as he asked, “Is there something special about your Soul?”
Wu Kuang, who was about to directly drink from the wine bottle again, paused his movement and gazed at him in shock, “Brat, you’re really something to be able to realise it.”
“It’s really because of your Soul?” Yang Kai’s interest has been piqued. He didn’t expect his speculation to turn out to be true.
Wu Kuang put down the wine bottle and gave it a thought for a moment. Then, he put on a grin, “Fine. Since you’re able to realise this, I’ll show you something good. I never even let Old Ghost Duan see it before.”
Yang Kai immediately raised his hand to stop him, “If you’re going to kill me after showing me that thing, I don’t want to see it.”
It had to be noted that Wu Kuang and Duan Hong Chen had stayed in the same body for years. If Wu Kuang really had any secrets, Bustling World Great Emperor should have been fully aware of them. However, since he said that Duan Hong Chen was also not aware of it, he must have carefully hid this particular secret.
It was probably his best-kept secret.
Wu Kuang snickered, “I’m not able to defeat you anyway, so how am I supposed to kill you in order to keep the secret hidden? You also have something similar; otherwise, I wouldn’t have decided to show you.”
“I have something similar?” Yang Kai frowned as he had no idea what the other man was talking about.
While he was doubtful, he suddenly became horrified because Wu Kuang reached up his hands and clenched his own head before pulling it apart.
His skull cracked open and his brain was revealed!
It was an understatement to say that Yang Kai was horrified. He almost wanted to curse at him.
On the other hand, Wu Kuang lowered his head and showed him his brain in an undefended manner. There was a petite Soul Avatar, which was transformed from Wu Kuang’s Soul, sitting there; however, the Soul Avatar was presently solemnly seated on a blooming lotus.
When Yang Kai caught sight of the lotus, he became startled for a moment. That was because the lotus looked just like his Soul-Warming Lotus. The only difference was its colour. The Soul Warming Lotus radiated a glow of seven colours while the lotus in Wu Kuang’s head was pure white, which looked like it contained absolutely no impurities.
“The Two Supreme Lotuses, Innate Supreme Treasures of the World. One of them is Soul Warming Lotus while the other is my Flawless Purifying Lotus.” The Soul Avatar that was seated on the lotus opened his eyes and looked smilingly at Yang Kai. Instead of appearing savage though, he looked like the purest person in the world.
“One of the lotuses works on the Soul while the other works on the body. The Soul Warming Lotus is able to nourish the Soul and increase the power of one’s Divine Sense. Even though the Flawless Purifying Lotus is also slightly beneficial to the Soul, its biggest effects are on the body. It can cleanse all impurities from the body. Whoever has the Flawless Purifying Lotus in their possession will obtain the Divine Flawless Body. After the battle in the Shattered Star Sea in the past, this King’s body was destroyed, and my Remnant Soul survived by hiding inside the Flawless Purifying Lotus. Without this thing, this King’s Soul would’ve been extinguished long ago. Unfortunately, the Flawless Purifying Lotus doesn’t have a great impact on the Soul like the Soul Warming Lotus. I only managed to recover after many years. The reason I was more powerful than the other Great Emperors in the past was because I had the Divine Flawless Body.”
While Wu Kuang slowly narrated his story, the emotions in Yang Kai’s heart undulated.
He finally came to the realisation why Wu Kuang never suffered from any downsides while cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law and what the latter meant that he had something similar.
The Soul Warming Lotus worked on the Soul while the Flawless Purifying Lotus worked on the body. It was no wonder that Wu Kuang was able to subsequently occupy the bodies of Duan Hong Chen and Mo Sheng without any downsides. It was because he had the Flawless Purifying Lotus.
With this thing in possession, all the impurities Wu Kuang absorbed while cultivating the Heaven Devouring Battle Law could be easily dispersed, and he wouldn’t be affected in any way. It was a Supreme Treasure that perfectly complimented the Heaven Devouring Battle Law.
That also explained why he was able to hide his cultivation from Seventh-Order Masters so easily. It was all thanks to the Flawless Purifying Lotus. After all, the Flawless Purifying Lotus had the biggest effects on the body. It had been many years since Wu Kuang obtained it, so it wasn’t surprising that he had developed some Secret Techniques that took advantage of the Flawless Purifying Lotus.
It was just like how Yang Kai had comprehended Blossoming Lotus and Sealed Lotus.
Otherwise, a Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, even a Sixth-Order one, could never hide his cultivation from High-Rank Masters.
Wu Kuang closed his skull as the crack perfectly healed. Not even a drop of blood was shed.
A dumbfounded Yang Kai said enviously, “With the Flawless Purifying Lotus in your possession, you would never be killed.”
Wu Kuang questioned, “You have Soul Warming Lotus. Does it mean your Soul will never be destroyed?”
It was then the realisation dawned upon Yang Kai. The Soul Warming Lotus was able to protect the Soul and help it heal from any damage, just like how the Flawless Purifying Lotus could help restore Wu Kuang’s body. However, if his Soul was instantly destroyed, no treasure would be able to help.
Wu Kuang then said with a grin, “This King wouldn’t have revealed his biggest secret if it weren’t because I know you have the Soul Warming Lotus. You have to keep it a secret.”
Yang Kai pursed his lips, “That will depend on what price you’re willing to pay.”
Wu Kuang curved his lips into a smile without responding to him.
Initially, Yang Kai wanted to ask him how to hide his own cultivation. The skill was immensely useful as it could be used to fool enemies. It might even help to turn things around at critical moments. However, there wasn’t a need to ask him about it now.
The reason Wu Kuang was able to hide his cultivation was that he had the Flawless Purifying Lotus, not because of some Secret Technique.
“The Two Supreme Lotuses respectively work on the body and the Soul. If we can combine them, the results would certainly be incredible,” Wu Kuang said longingly.
Yang Kai said, “You’ll find out if you give me your Flawless Purifying Lotus.”
Wu Kuang shot him a glance, “Why don’t you give me your Soul Warming Lotus instead?”
Yang Kai grinned meaningfully, “Let’s see who will live longer then. If you pass away, I’ll have a chance.”
“I’ll wait for that chance as well.”
Yang Kai rose from the chair and said, “Inform me whenever you want to leave. If you have some free time, help explore this New Great Territory and see whether there are any good things.”
Wu Kuang leaned against the chair and closed his eyes before waving his hand impatiently, “Get lost.” As he spoke, he fished out a jade slip.
Yang Kai took it and looked into it, then left the place with a smile.
“Young Master, Gathering Yuan Union’s Lu Jing is here. He has also brought back several hundred thousand disciples from Void Land.”
Yue He approached Yang Kai as soon as he returned to High Heaven Palace.
“I saw.” Yang Kai looked up at the fleet of ships outside of High Heaven Palace, “Where’s Lu Jing?”
“He’s waiting for you in the reception hall,” Yue He replied.
“I’ll see him now.” Yang Kai left the place upon finishing his words.
The next moment, in the reception hall, Lu Jing rose from the chair and cupped his fist, “Senior Brother Yang!”
Yang Kai patted the other man’s shoulder and extended his hand, “Have a seat.”
After both of them were seated, Yang Kai spoke first, “Many thanks for your efforts, Brother Lu.”
Lu Jing quickly waved his hand, “Don’t mention it, Senior Brother.”
Before Mo Mei returned to Void Land, Yang Kai had told her to have the disciples of Void Land prepare to return to the Star Boundary. When he previously brought 600,000 disciples to Void Land from the Star Boundary, his intention was to give them a better environment to cultivate and develop in.
However, he had not expected that once the World Tree grew up, the benefits it would give back would be so immense. By residing in the Star Boundary, one could better understand the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao. This in turn allowed one to condense a firmer Dao Seal, which would allow them to achieve a higher initial Order when ascending to the Open Heaven Realm.
Therefore, Yang Kai decided to bring several hundred thousand disciples back. The only ones who remained were those who had already condensed their Dao Seals.
When he previously moved those people from the Star Boundary to Void Land, Yang Kai made use of his Small Sealed World. However, his Small Sealed World was gone for good, and he was swamped with work; hence, he could only ask Mo Mei to come up with a solution to send the disciples back.
Several hundred thousand people were a staggering number. While Mo Mei had no idea how she should handle this matter, Lu Jing came knocking on the door and offered to transfer the people by using Gathering Yuan Union’s fleet of ships.
Mo Mei didn’t turn him down and let him take over the matter.
Gathering Yuan Union was a great force focused on commerce, with many ships scattered all over the 3,000 Worlds. Since Lu Jing was the Young Union Master, he was able to mobilise 100 such ships at once. However, it still wasn’t enough.
In the end, it was the merchants in Void Star City who decided to help out by offering some ships, thus allowing the several hundred thousand people to return to the Star Boundary safely.
Presently, about 1,000 ships of different shapes and sizes were hovering in the sky outside of High Heaven Palace. The sight was truly magnificent.
Since they had offered to help, Void Land would certainly repay the favour. They were given some benefits in both the Star Cities of High Heaven Territory and Void Territory, so it could be considered a deal that would please both parties.
As of now, only about 10,000 disciples were left in Void Land. These people had all condensed their Dao Seals, so it was pointless for them to come back to the Star Boundary.
Looking back, Yang Kai realised that it wasn’t a wise move to bring those 600,000 people to Void Land in the past, for he now had to transfer almost 99% of them back to the Star Boundary.
Nevertheless, given the situation at that time, he couldn’t have imagined that the World Tree would have such amazing effects on the residents living in this place. Fortunately, it still wasn’t too late to rectify his mistake.
Furthermore, those 10,000 people managed to condense their Dao Seals because they were sent to Void Land.
In just ten to twenty years, these 10,000 people from the Star Boundary would subsequently ascend to the Open Heaven Realm. By then, Void Land’s shortage of manpower would be alleviated.
When Zuo Quan Hui previously led Heavenly Sword Union to cordon off the Territory Gates in order to slowly starve out Void Land, many of the merchants in the Star City fled, which caused the popularity of Void Star City to plunge. However, Lu Jing did exactly the opposite. Regardless of whether he had sharp vision or he was simply grateful to Yang Kai who had protected him in the Prison Star back then, he would never be treated poorly by Yang Kai since he had offered to help when Void Land was in crisis.
This time, Lu Jing was also the biggest contributor in bringing the disciples of Void Land back to the Star Boundary.
Therefore, after some small talk, Yang Kai told Yue He to bring over the map of the Star City in High Heaven Territory. Upon opening it, he said to Lu Jing, “The shops labelled in green on the map already have owners, and the rest are ownerless. You can choose ten shops from this map. Consider it a gift from me.”
Lu Jing was amazed by Yang Kai’s generosity.
It had to be noted that the Star City in High Heaven Territory was different from any other existing Star City. All the Cave Heavens and Paradises had gathered together in this place, which made it the centre of attention for the entire 3,000 Worlds. The place was destined to be a super Star City where resources from countless Great Territories would converge.
The average great force would be lucky to acquire a single shop here, let alone ten shops.
However, Yang Kai was generous enough to give him ten shops right away. The shops alone were incredibly valuable, so the profits that would follow would be unimaginable.
Before Lu Jing came to this place, his Father, the Union Master of the Gathering Yuan Union, told him that if they could get a shop in the Star City in High Heaven Territory, they would be able to take the business of Gathering Yuan Union to the next level; therefore, he asked his son to rent a shop in the Star City in High Heaven Territory regardless of what it cost.
If his Father knew that they were getting ten shops instead of one, he would probably faint from happiness.
Lu Jing was still in a dazed state as he had never expected that he would get such a tremendous reward in return for his offer to help a few years ago.
While suppressing the excitement in his heart, he said, “You’ve already helped me a lot, Senior Brother. If it weren’t because of your protection in the Prison Star, I wouldn’t have survived. It was the least I could do help deliver the disciples of Void Land back to the Star Boundary. It’s not worth such a reward.”
Yang Kai patted the other man’s shoulder with a smile, “Business is business. The ten shops won’t be given to the Gathering Yuan Union for no reason. See it as a gift to you for cooperating with High Heaven Palace. In the future, High Heaven Palace and Void Land might need your help again.”
When developing the New Great Territory, they would surely acquire a lot of resources. Some of those resources were useless to Void Land, so it would be best to exchange them for something else or simply sold.
Therefore, they would have to rely on the network the Gathering Yuan Union had.
Upon hearing Yang Kai’s words, Lu Jing stopped turning him down. However, ten shops were a lot, and Gathering Yuan Union might not effectively use them all. After giving it a thought, he continued, “Senior Brother, I’ll accept the ten shops on Gathering Yuan Union’s behalf, on the condition you remain a shareholder. If there’s any profit at all, you’ll receive 30%. If you don’t agree to this, I won’t dare to accept the shops.”
He reckoned that he might invite trouble to himself by taking the shops directly. Presently, countless great forces were trying to secure a place in the Star City, and many people visited the Governor’s Mansion every day, which was giving Bustling World Great Emperor a severe headache. Other than the Cave Heavens and Paradises, no one else could even dream of obtaining ten shops at once.
Although Gathering Yuan Union was fairly powerful, it still wasn’t comparable to the Cave Heavens and Paradises. If they suddenly obtained ten shops in the most coveted Star City in the 3,000 Worlds, some ill-intentioned people might try to sabotage them.
Without Yang Kai as a backer, Gathering Yuan Union might not be able to bear the burden; therefore, it would be beneficial to form a cooperative relationship by offering a 30% share of the profits, trading some money for peace of mind. After all, for business people, they could only make money by having a harmonious relationship with others. If they had to deal with all sorts of strife every day, they wouldn’t have time to do business.
Understanding apparently dawned on Yang Kai as well, so he didn’t bother to decline, “Sure.”
An elated Lu Jing cupped his fist, “Many thanks, Senior Brother.”
He then wiped his mouth as though there was a palatable dish in front of him. As he looked at the map, he asked, “Senior Brother, can I choose any shops that are not labelled in green?”
Yang Kai picked up his teacup and replied with a smile, “Yes.”
Lu Jing directly pointed at the map and made a swipe, “I want half of this street, then.”
After taking a sip of the tea, Yang Kai looked down and chuckled, “You do have sharp vision. This street will certainly be popular in the future. We were planning on opening an auction house there after all.”
An ecstatic Lu Jing replied, “Since you’re going to build an auction house there, there’s no way the street won’t be filled with people.”
The reason the Star City in Void Land was able to garner so much popularity in a short time was because of its auction house.
Other auction houses might not be able to cause such a big impact, but it was made possible by Yang Kai since his auction house had Heavenly Yuan Seal Stabilizing Pills to sell.
Yang Kai initially wanted to treat him to a meal, but Lu Jing was eager to head to the Star City to secure his ownership of the shops, so Yang Kai reluctantly let him go. After writing something in the jade slip, he passed it to Lu Jing and told him to give it to Bustling World Great Emperor when the latter arrived at the Governor’s Mansion in the Star City.
The popularity of the Star City was rising rapidly as more merchants started opening their shops. Even though it was still in the early stage, they could see that the place would certainly develop into a super Star City one day.
On the other hand, the three Space Arrays set up by Yang Kai in High Heaven Territory could now be used by anyone. It could save them more travelling time than simply using a Universe Temple.
In the Star Boundary, Hua Qing Si had been very busy since she had to help the several hundred thousand disciples who had returned to High Heaven Palace settle down. The Cave Heavens and Paradises had also moved many young disciples from their own Great Territories into the Dao Temples in the Star Boundary.
These were the people those Cave Heavens and Paradises had high hopes for. Most of them were children that had never cultivated. There were even some newborn toddlers. Of course, many parents and caretakers were also brought to this place. No one knew whether these kids would grow up to be amazing Masters in a few hundred years, but they were all looking forward to the possibilities.
As time passed, High Heaven Territory became organised following the initial commotion.
More good news soon arrived from Void Land. The Pseudo-Great Emperors Li Wu Yi, Jiu Feng, Yang Yan, Bing Yun, and several others, including Yang Kai’s Wives Su Yan, Xia Ning Chang, Xue Yue, Shan Qing Luo, Ji Yao, and Yu Ru Meng had all ascended to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, which significantly increased the overall power of Void Land.
Apart from that, the number of Open Heaven Realm Masters had increased by 100 people. The people who had followed Yang Kai in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary like Lang Qing Shan and the others had also made it to the Open Heaven Realm. Lang Qing Shan didn’t disappoint Yang Kai as he directly ascended to the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm, while the others were mostly in the Fourth-Order.
In a secret room in High Heaven Palace, Yang Kai slowly opened his eyes and let out a turbid breath. Following years of cultivation in seclusion, his cultivation saw a significant increase.
When he previously battled against Zuo Quan Hui, he borrowed the Star Boundary’s World Strength to temporarily become a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Although he returned that power to the Star Boundary afterwards, his foundation had been strengthened during the process, which saved him years of cultivation.
Unfortunately, in the battle in the New Great Territory, Zuo Quan Hui made a surprise move before his death, which contaminated Yang Kai’s Small Universe with impurities, effectively rendering the gains he made moot.
In order to ward off Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan, Yang Kai borrowed the Star Boundary’s World Force again.
However, he couldn’t get as many benefits as when he did it the first time. The increase in the heritage of his Small Universe was only half of that of the first time.
Yang Kai reckoned that if he ever borrowed World Force for a third time, there wouldn’t be any benefits at all. Borrowing World Strength was just like consuming special cultivation Pills. The effects of the first time were the best, but repeated uses yielded progressively fewer benefits.
In the Grand Hall, Yang Kai was seated across from Hua Qing Si as he listened to her report and nodded from time to time.
Everything in High Heaven Territory was running smoothly as the Cave Heavens and Paradises had settled down in the Star Boundary. The Star City in High Heaven Territory was also on the rise.
The development in the New Great Territory was still slow, but it wasn’t a problem that could be resolved in a short time.
However, there was one thing that surprised Yang Kai.
“Many of the High-Rank Masters remained in the Star Boundary?”
Hua Qing Si nodded, “Only about 30% of them have left. The rest are still in the Star Boundary. Moreover, most of them are meditating on the World Tree. I’m not sure if there are any unexpected benefits to be gained by cultivating there.”
Yang Kai arched his brow.
Even though only a few years had passed, everything in High Heaven Territory had stabilised; therefore, it was surprising that the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises had remained in this place.
It had to be noted that those High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were Inner Elders of their respective Sects. Not only did they have noble identities, but they were also very powerful. Furthermore, since they were responsible for handling external affairs, they should be swamped with work.
Yang Kai initially thought that most of them had left, so he was surprised to learn that not only had they stayed, but they were also cultivating on the World Tree.
[What’s going on?]
Seeing that Hua Qing Si appeared hesitant, he demanded, “Just spill it!”
With a frown, Hua Qing Si replied gently, “I’m not sure if this is my misconception, but after years of observation, this Mistress has a feeling that the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters are guarding against something.”
A shocked Yang Kai asked, “Guarding against what?”
Hua Qing Si shook her head, “I have no idea. Perhaps we’ve underestimated the importance of the World Tree to those High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.”
Yang Kai fell silent.
Hua Qing Si went on to say, “Senior Xu said that once you exited retreat, you should head to the World Tree to look for him. It seems that there’s something he needs to discuss with you.”
Yang Kai nodded and got up, “I’m going over now. After meeting Martial Uncle Xu, I’ll be leaving, and I’m not sure when I’ll return.”
Hua Qing Si hurriedly asked, “Do we need to inform Madam Yue He and the others?”
Yang Kai waved his hand, “There’s no need for that. Just tell them to take care of High Heaven Territory and Void Territory. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll be back within 100 years.”
“Yes,” Hua Qing Si replied respectfully. When she looked up again, the man was nowhere to be seen.
Yang Kai no longer had to worry about anything in High Heaven Territory and Void Territory, and after a few years of cultivation in seclusion, he desperately needed to go out and take a stroll. Moreover, there were really some matters he had to handle.
The next instant, he appeared at the bottom of the World Tree. When he looked up at the gigantic tree that covered the entire sky, he was still awestruck by its magnificence.
He could clearly feel that some hidden and powerful auras were swirling around the branches. They were none other than the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who were cultivating on the tree.
Besides that, he also realised that there were some traces of an abstruse Grand Array around the World Tree. The way the Grand Array was arranged was ingenious and extremely well-hidden. If it weren’t because he was a Great Emperor who was fully aware of everything that was going on in the Star Boundary, he wouldn’t have noticed it at all.
This prompted him to furrow his brows.
He initially didn’t mind it when Hua Qing Si said that the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were guarding against something, but now it seemed that she was right.
However, what could possibly make so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters act so cautiously? They had even arranged a powerful Grand Array around the World Tree.
Yang Kai directly leaped onto a thick branch without anyone around and sat down with his legs crossed. As he closed his eyes, he started circulating his Secret Art.
A moment later, he opened his eyes while feeling helpless. He initially thought that there were some unexpected benefits to be gained by cultivating on the World Tree that made so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters remain here. Nevertheless, after giving it a try, he realised that it wasn’t the case.
There was no doubt that the World Tree was continuously nourishing the Star Boundary, but cultivators were unable to refine that power directly from its source. There were no additional benefits by cultivating in this place.
Then, he looked up and saw Xu Ling Gong beckoning to him with a smile from a higher branch. Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue were also standing behind him.
Yang Kai leaped into the air and landed in front of Xu Ling Gong before cupping his fist, “Martial Uncle Xu.”
“You’ve finally left seclusion.” Xu Ling Gong examined him.
Yang Kai nodded and asked curiously, “Why are all of you here?”
“It’s said that Humans are driven by greed and interests.” There was an inscrutable smile on Xu Ling Gong’s face.
Yang Kai knitted his brows, “What do you mean?”
Xu Ling Gong directly drew a circle in the air, “They’re trying to put the World Tree inside their Small Universes.”
Yang Kai instantly became infuriated. The reason the Star Boundary didn’t fall apart in the past was that he had planted a root of the real World Tree here. The prosperity that the Star Boundary now enjoyed was also thanks to the World Tree. If someone managed to put the World Tree inside his or her Small Universe, the Star Boundary would be doomed.
By then, not only would the Star Boundary lose its stability, but its very existence would also be in question.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but feel that he had been betrayed by these people.
With the continuous nourishment from the World Tree, more talented youths started appearing in the Star Boundary. Although Yang Kai had no other choice, he was still willing to share the benefits with the Cave Heavens and Paradises; however, he had never expected that while he was cultivating in seclusion over the past few years, these people were trying to harm his interests.
That was the reason Yang Kai was incensed. He then summoned his Azure Dragon Spear directly and unleashed Dragon Pressure all around as he roared, “Don’t you all dare cross the line!”
The weather in the Star Boundary changed dramatically since the Great Emperor was furious. Even the World Tree shook. The High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were cultivating with their eyes closed on the branches, were shocked as they opened their eyes and gazed at Yang Kai from all directions.
It was expected that Yang Kai was worried. Even though the World Tree was gargantuan, the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were still able to put it inside their Small Universes if they insisted on doing that.
Yang Kai was also able to do that in the past, not to mention those High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Xu Ling Gong quickly raised his hands and placated him, “Stop being so agitated. It’s not as bad as you think!”
A furious Yang Kai refuted, “It’s still not bad enough? Would it only be considered bad when they finally snatch the tree?”
Xu Ling Gong broke into a fit of laughter, “The World Tree is now connected to the Star Boundary. As a Great Emperor of this place, you must be fully aware of that. The roots of the World Tree have penetrated the cores of the Star Boundary and Demon Realm. In order to obtain the World Tree, one has to put both the Star Boundary and Demon Realm inside their Small Universe. Do you think any one of them can do that?”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai relaxed slightly.
Just like Xu Ling Gong had said, as a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, Yang Kai was fully aware of what was going on in this place. Beneath the ground where no one else could see, the roots of the World Tree had spread and penetrated the entire Universe World. It had indeed merged with the Star Boundary and Demon Realm.
In order to take away the World Tree, one had to put both the Star Boundary and Demon Realm inside their Small Universe, which was an extremely difficult task.
Xu Ling Gong went on to say, “Moreover, even if there’s really a person who can do that, it wouldn’t be worth it. The Star Boundary and Demon Realm have their own unique World Forces. Putting them inside their Small Universe is no different from absorbing countless impurities that don’t match their own foundation. That might destabilise their Small Universe and cause their realm to plunge.”
It was only then that Yang Kai lowered his Azure Dragon Spear, “Why did you say they’re trying to put the World Tree then, Martial Uncle Xu?”
Since there were so many downsides to it, why were they still trying to do it?
Xu Ling Gong explained, “It’s not what you think. What I mean by putting the World Tree in their Small Universes is that we’re cultivating here in an attempt to obtain the World Tree’s acknowledgement so that we can transfer a root into our Small Universes. If we can do that, it’ll be immensely beneficial.”
The Star Boundary had been transformed from a desolate place into a prosperous one thanks to the World Tree. If any High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master was able to plant a root of the World Tree in their Small Universe, they would get tremendous benefits once it started growing.
“Unfortunately, it’s just the subtree of the World Tree, so we can’t guarantee that the root will survive such a transplant. There wouldn’t be such a problem if it was the Mother Tree.” Xu Ling Gong sighed and gazed at Yang Kai, “If you planted the root in your Small Universe instead of putting it in the Star Boundary in the past, you wouldn’t have faced any bottleneck when trying to ascend to the Ninth Order.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was startled for a moment.
“Do you regret it?” Xu Ling Gong stared at him with narrowed eyes.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I’ll certainly make it to the Ninth Order sooner or later; however, if the root of the World Tree hadn’t been planted in the Star Boundary in the past, my home would have fallen apart. Despite my loss, the Star Boundary has stabilised and even started thriving. It was worth it, so why would I regret anything?”
Xu Ling Gong stared fixedly at him as though he was trying to look deep into his mind, but Yang Kai’s gaze was clear and calm.
“A decision has been made regarding the matter I had mentioned some time ago,” Xu Ling Gong suddenly changed the topic.
A puzzled Yang Kai asked, “What are you talking about?”
“The Universe Temples. Have you forgotten about it?”
Yang Kai arched his brow, “Have the higher-ups agreed to it?”
Xu Ling Gong replied with a smile, “You’re only going to be given a chance. As for whether you’ll get their acknowledgement, you’ll have to go through a test.”
With a frown, Yang Kai asked, “You said that some of the Universe Temples have broken down. If I can figure out the secrets of the Universe Temples, I might be able to repair them. Since I have to exert myself to do that, why should I go through a test?”
Xu Ling Gong shook his head, “Do not think that it’s unfair to you. The secrets of the Universe Temples have far-reaching implications, so we must not be negligent. I can’t tell you the details, but you just have to know that I won’t harm you.”
“Of course, I trust you, Martial Uncle,” Yang Kai nodded.
“In that case, come with me,” It was then Xu Ling Gong stepped forward, followed by Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue.
After storing the Azure Dragon Spear, Yang Kai hurriedly followed them.
A moment later, Yang Kai suddenly sensed something, and as he turned his head to look, he couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
That was because the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were cultivating in hidden places just now, had all appeared in front of the World Tree. Regardless of their age, status, or gender, all these Inner Elders from the various Cave Heavens and Paradises wore solemn expressions.
When Yang Kai turned his head to look, dozens of people suddenly lowered their heads and cupped their fists. Even Zhuo Bu Qun and Yu Huan, who were clearly on bad terms with Xu Ling Gong, were doing so.
These people saluted the four of them in a way as though they would never return.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai felt a sense of solemnity and forlornness in the air.
It was convenient to go from High Heaven Palace to the Territory Gate that led to the neighbouring Great Territory through the Space Arrays.
There was a Grand Hall in this place where Open Heaven Realm Masters from Void Land were in charge of the Space Array and collected the fees from the cultivators who used their arrays.
Upon seeing Yang Kai, these Open Heaven Realm Masters quickly saluted him.
Yang Kai waved his hand and left the Grand Hall alongside Xu Ling Gong as they headed straight to the Territory Gate.
After passing through the Territory Gate, they entered a different Great Territory. It was then Xu Ling Gong fished out a flight-type artifact. The four of them stepped into the artifact, after which Qing Kui was responsible for controlling it while Xu Ling Gong led Yang Kai to a secret room and took a seat.
As he looked out the window, he fell into a dazed state. It wasn’t certain what was on his mind.
On the other hand, Yang Kai couldn’t help but recall the sight when they left the World Tree just now. He had a feeling that something was going to happen, but he couldn’t figure out what it was.
“It has been ten years since Qu’er was confined. When her punishment is over, brat, you must not forget to head to Yin-Yang Cave Heaven to look for her,” Xu Ling Gong suddenly said.
Yang Kai nodded, “Of course, I will remember.”
“You don’t have to worry about Myriad Demons Heaven and Xuan Yuan Heaven. Although you haven’t perfectly concealed the death of Pei Wen Xuan and Yin Xin Zhao, there’s no solid evidence either. No one saw how they passed away or whether you were the one who killed them. Although those from the two Cave Heavens have their speculations, they can only keep their mouths shut in order to protect their interests with the World Tree; after all, they’re aware that it was Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan who provoked you first, and the reason they were killed is that they were weaker than you. Dead people are not as valuable as those who are alive. Of course, if you hadn’t also killed Zuo Quan Hui, they wouldn’t have made a concession so easily. The reason they’re willing to give in is that you’re strong enough now.”
Yang Kai nodded again.
“However, you’d be seriously mistaken if you think that the two Cave Heavens are pushovers. They’re willing to hold back their fury not because they’re afraid of you or Void Land, but rather because you’ve made use of other Cave Heavens and Paradises to make them concede. You’d better not let them find any mistakes that you’ve made; otherwise, they’ll not hesitate to destroy you.”
“Senior,” Yang Kai gently called out.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Ling Gong gazed at him.
“Are you going somewhere dangerous?”
“Why do you think so?” An amused Xu Ling Gong stared at him.
Yang Kai replied frankly, “It feels like you’re telling me your last words.”
As soon as he finished his words, Xu Ling Gong landed a slap on his head, “You’re such a jinx!”
Yang Kai covered his head, “Also, why did those people at the World Tree salute us?”
A shameless Xu Ling Gong guffawed, “Now you know how important I, your Father, am. I was just going away for some time, but they were not willing to see me go like they were toddlers who still needed care and attention.”
Yang Kai pursed his lips, thinking that instead of realising how important this old man was, he could clearly see that the latter was unabashed. Nevertheless, he would never dare to say it out loud, for Xu Ling Gong would really beat him up if he did.
“What a magnificent view in the 3,000 Worlds!” Xu Ling Gong looked out the window and remarked.
Yang Kai followed his gaze but couldn’t see anything special. He wondered why the other man was so dispirited.
On the way to their destination, Xu Ling Gong told Yang Kai about some interesting encounters he had in the past. Time flew by while they were having a friendly chat as they passed through several Universe Temples.
It wasn’t until two months later that Su Ying Xue knocked on the door one day and said in a clear voice, “We’ve arrived at our destination, Honoured Master.”
Following a grunt, Xu Ling Gong got to his feet and pushed the door open.
He was followed by Yang Kai.
A moment later, they appeared in front of a Universe Temple. Unlike the ones Yang Kai had seen before, this Universe Temple was devoid of people. Although there were some shops on the streets, they were dilapidated and it was apparent that no one had visited this place for a long time.
Meanwhile, a Golden Armour Great General stopped them from going further with a halberd in hand. This majestic-looking man was entirely clad in golden armour. He was none other than an Open Heaven Realm Master from Great Battle Heaven.
Xu Ling Gong loudly declared, “Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Xu Ling Gong, on orders from the Sect Master has brought Void Land’s Yang Kai to this place.”
Just then, Yang Kai could clearly see that the eyes behind the golden helmet were glowing as the man looked fixedly at him, as though he was able to figure out all of his secrets.
This prompted Yang Kai to frown.
However, the Golden Armour Great General didn’t do anything else. After taking a glance at Yang Kai, he stepped aside and revealed a passageway. Xu Ling Gong led Yang Kai to move forward while Su Ying Xue and Qing Kui followed them.
Yang Kai turned his head to take a glance and narrowed his eyes.
Back then, when he heard Xu Ling Gong say that the secrets of the Universe Temples had far-reaching implications that might cause a disaster in the 3,000 Worlds if they fell into the wrong hands, he thought that the latter was exaggerating. However, he now realised that the Cave Heavens and Paradises were truly concerned about the Universe Temples.
Even an abandoned Universe Temple was guarded by a Golden Armour Great General from Great Battle Heaven, which went to show how important it was.
The Proprietress had told him before that those who wore golden armour in Great Battle Heaven were Generals at the very least, which meant that they were Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. The person he saw just now was a Sixth-Order Great General.
Furthermore, Yang Kai could detect other hidden auras, which meant that there was more than one Sixth-Order Master around.
While Yang Kai was doubtful, Xu Ling Gong spoke, “When you see the Ancestors later, there’ll be a test for you. It’s entirely up to you whether you want to take part in it. If you don’t, however, you won’t be allowed to enter the Universe Temple’s core to explore its secrets.”
Xu Ling Gong had already told him that when they departed from the Star Boundary.
Yang Kai hurriedly asked, “What kind of test is it?”
Xu Ling Gong brushed him off by saying that he would find out soon.
A moment later, they arrived at a hall. Xu Ling Gong jerked his head to the side and said, “You’ll go in yourself. I’m not going to keep you company.”
Yang Kai bowed his head and shuffled forward.
All of a sudden, Xu Ling Gong said, “Kid, do not forget to look for Qu’er when her punishment is over.”
Without turning his head, Yang Kai waved his hand, “Got it.”
When he opened the door and stepped into the hall, he realised that there was no one around. There was a complicated pattern on the ground though and Yang Kai instantly recognised that it was the Grand Array of the Universe Temple.
Usually, when a cultivator used the Universe Transference Law to travel to a Universe Temple, they would arrive at such a place.
Yang Kai had made use of Universe Temples to move around many times before, so he was familiar with this kind of scene.
Upon making sure that there was really no one around, he walked over to the centre of the Grand Array and looked down to observe it. He had always wanted to study this Grand Array, but unfortunately, he was unable to stay for much time every time he appeared on the Grand Array, which was a shame.
Since the chance was right before his eyes now, Yang Kai certainly wouldn’t want to miss it.
Outside of the Universe Temple, Xu Ling Gong shuffled forward while Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue approached him. The Golden Armour Great General was nowhere to be seen, and it wasn’t certain where he had gone.
“Honoured Master,” Su Ying Xue called out gently.
Xu Ling Gong looked smilingly at her and lovingly stroked her head, “When I picked you two up in the past, your Senior Brother was very protective of you. He thought that I was a bad person, so he tried to bite my hand.”
Qing Kui blushed in response. Back then, he was a young teenager who was always starving and had to deal with all sorts of bandits and beasts. Therefore, he became a ferocious person. One day, he came across a guy who spoke foul language and did not look like a good thing. He certainly wouldn’t agree to it when the man wanted to bring him and his Junior Sister away, for he and the young girl had stayed together for quite some time. Despite his young age, he had seen countless people plotting against one another just for the slightest benefit. At that time, he attempted to jab a sharp bone into the man’s stomach, but the bone instantly broke apart while his hands were injured.
While he was in a dazed state, the burly man picked him up with one hand. Without hesitation, he bit down on the man’s wrist and almost broke his own teeth.
The young but bony girl was only eight years old at that time. She had always been protected by the young boy, and even though she didn’t even have the strength to walk, she still grit her teeth and pounced at the man. After wrapping her arms around the man’s thigh, she also tried to bite him.
That was what happened when the Master and his Disciples met for the first time.
Qing Kui and Su Ying Xue still remembered it vividly as though it had just happened yesterday.
At that time, their Honoured Master was still a young and headstrong man. Without allowing them to protest, he picked up both of them at once and moved forward at the speed of lightning. The little ones started bawling while he guffawed in an unconscientious manner.
Now, their Honoured Master’s sideburns had started becoming grey. As Su Ying Xue gazed at the conspicuous grey hair, she felt heartbroken while Qing Kui looked away.
“Do you blame me?” Xu Ling Gong asked, in a gentler tone than he had ever used in his life. If anyone who was familiar with him saw his expression, they would be astonished.
His Legacy Disciples shook their heads.
A gratified Xu Ling Gong put on a smile, “I’m glad that you don’t blame me. Even if you do, there’s nothing you can do because I was the one who picked you up in the past. We’ll not come back once we set off on this journey. I’ll give you two half a year to fulfil any wishes you have.”
Qing Kui exchanged glances with Su Ying Xue, then said, “Our greatest wish is to remain by your side, Honoured Master.”
Su Ying Xue on the other hand appeared a bit hesitant.
Knowing what was on her mind, Xu Ling Gong asked, “You want to take a look at Qu’er?”
Su Ying Xue nodded, then shook her head, “Little Junior Sister is beautiful and intelligent. If I visit her, she’ll probably figure out what’s going on. I’d better not see her.”
Xu Ling Gong chuckled and said, “Yang Boy is a man of his word. If he’s not killed, he’ll look for Qu’er when the time comes. I can rest assured since he’ll protect her.”
“You’ve always been meticulous when it comes to the judgement of people, Honoured Master.” Qing Kui bowed his head.
“Since there’s no wish you want to fulfil, let’s go now.” Xu Ling Gong waved his hand.
It was going to be a long journey, one they would not be returning from. Once they departed, they would be involved in a life-and-death battle, and whether they’d survive depended entirely on the Heavens’ whims.
In a Restricted Area in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, Qu Hua Shang, who was meditating, suddenly opened her eyes. She felt extremely anxious, as though there was an invisible hand that was clenching her heart, which made it hard for her to breathe.
Her alluring face instantly turned as pale as a white sheet. As she looked at the weltering clouds outside the Restricted Area, she muttered under her breath, “Honoured Master.”
Following that, she felt the urgent need to leave the Restricted Area.
However, she soon stopped in her tracks and remained on the same spot for a long time as her tears slid down her face.
Suddenly, she wiped the tears off her eyes with her sleeves and went back to cultivating in seclusion. She sat down with her legs crossed and emptied her mind.
Only by ascending to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm quickly could she request to look for her Honoured Master, Senior Brother, and Senior Sister sooner.
Inside the Universe Temple, Yang Kai, who was squatting in an indecent manner, was studying the Grand Array on the ground when all of a sudden, he froze.
When he looked up, he realised that there was a figure at the edge of the Grand Array. It seemed that the person had always been there, but Yang Kai was completely unaware of it. It wasn’t until he realised that someone was watching him that he noticed the person.
He was unable to make out the person’s face since the figure was somewhere between illusion and reality and shrouded in a faint light.
Yang Kai turned around and realised that there were two more figures on each side of him.
They seemed to have formed into a triangular formation as Yang Kai was trapped in the middle.
Not daring to make a scene, he slowly got up. The auras of these three people were even ampler than that of Xu Ling Gong, so it was apparent that they were all Eighth-Order Masters.
As he recalled what Xu Ling Gong had said, he came to the realization that these were Ancestors of the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
“Void Land’s Yang Kai greets Seniors,” Yang Kai saluted them respectfully.
However, the three of them only examined him in silence, the invisible pressure causing Yang Kai to frown.
A moment later, the person that Yang Kai first saw finally spoke, “I’m sure Xu Ling Gong has told you everything.”
Yang Kai replied, “Martial Uncle Xu said that I would have to go through a test, but he didn’t specify what kind of test it would be. Please enlighten me, Seniors.”
The figure remained silent as he raised his hand and pointed one finger at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn’t move a muscle, not because he trusted these mysterious Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, but because he believed that Xu Ling Gong wouldn’t bring him here to get him killed.
Moreover, if these Eighth-Order Masters really wanted to harm him, there was nothing he could do anyways.
The person’s finger suddenly started radiating a pure-looking white light. As the light expanded, it engulfed Yang Kai in it.
Yang Kai looked down to examine himself, but he couldn’t find anything unusual. The white light seemed to be just a means to inspect him without the ability to cause any harm.
Despite not knowing what they were trying to inspect, Yang Kai could only set his mind at ease.
A while later, the white light went out as the figure nodded gently. The pressures coming from the other two figures also subsided.
A curious Yang Kai asked, “Have I passed the test?”
The figure replied with what seemed to be a faint smile, “It hasn’t even started yet.”
A speechless Yang Kai calmed himself down and said, “What do I need to do?”
The figure didn’t seem one for small talk so he simply replied frankly, “We need to examine your Small Universe. So, you have to open it for us.”
Despite trying to prepare himself for whatever this test might have been, Yang Kai was still vexed upon hearing such an unreasonable demand, so he asked grimly, “You want to inspect my Small Universe?”
“Yes.” The figure nodded.
Yang Kai was so exasperated that he started laughing while the three figures remained dispassionate.
The Small Universe of an Open Heaven Realm Master was their foundation and contained all their secrets. There was no way he would easily let anyone else look at it, much less perform a thorough inspection.
One’s Small Universe was even more confidential than their Space Ring.
Usually, it would be a humiliation when a person was asked to hand over their Space Ring to be examined, let alone their Small Universe.
Yang Kai had never expected this to be the test. What did repairing the Universe Temple have anything to do with this? Why were they so cautious?
Since Yang Kai was unable to figure it out, he instinctively wanted to reject them, “What if I don’t agree to it?”
The figure replied impassively, “No one will force you. If you don’t agree to it, you may leave now.”
Yang Kai instantly cupped his fist, “Farewell, then.”
He then turned around and shuffled out of the Main Hall.
The three figures remained standing on the edge of the Grand Array without moving a muscle.
A moment later, Yang Kai nonchalantly returned with his hands behind his back. Upon taking a seat in the middle of the Grand Array, he made a concession and said, “Let’s start.”
Although he didn’t trust these Eighth-Order Masters who never showed their faces, he had faith in Xu Ling Gong. Since the old man had made such an arrangement, he didn’t want his efforts to go to waste simply because of his pride.
Furthermore, Yang Kai didn’t have any secrets that must not be exposed anyway. The only thing special about his Small Universe was that it had materialised. What’s more, the secrets of the Dao of Space in this ancient building were deathly attractive to him.
After weighing the pros and cons, he decided to give in.
The figure put on a smile, “Don’t worry. It’ll only take a while.”
As Yang Kai proactively opened his Small Universe and felt three auras streaming into it the next instant. Despite knowing what was about to happen, he still felt disgruntled as it was like three burglars had barged into his home.
Upon entering the Small Universe, the three figures were startled for a moment as they realised that Yang Kai’s Small Universe was different from ordinary.
Only when a cultivator ascended to the Seventh Order could their Small Universe transform from ethereal to corporeal; however, Yang Kai was only in the Sixth Order and had already achieved this, something thought exclusive to the High Rank.
Moreover, the heritage in the Small Universe of this Sixth-Order Master was amazingly ample.
The three of them were Eighth-Order Masters, so throughout the entire 3,000 Worlds, rarely was anyone a match for them when it came to experience and knowledge. However, they had never seen a Sixth-Order Master whose heritage was as strong as that of Yang Kai.
They were amazed and thought that it was no wonder this person was able to kill Zuo Quan Hui. Even though he wasn’t alone at that time, he would need to have strength far above average to even stand before a Seventh-Order Master when he was only in the Sixth-Order.
After they recovered from their shock a moment later, they split up and began wandering around Yang Kai’s Small Universe.
Yang Kai had a feeling that they were looking for something specific as they carefully examined every plant and piece of land in his Small Universe.
His entire Small Universe was inspected by three auras repeatedly as they never seemed to run out of patience.
They went through his Small Universe three times in total, and it was already half a month later when they finally left.
Yang Kai reckoned that they must be exhausted. While he just had to open up his Small Universe and remain seated, the three of them had to meticulously examine every area three times, which had certainly taken quite some effort on their part.
The three of them exchanged glances and nodded.
Yang Kai sealed off the portal that led to his Small Universe and asked, “Have I passed the test, then?”
The figure right in front of him replied, “Yes.”
“May I know what you were looking for, Seniors?” Yang Kai asked.
Without answering his question, the figure went on to say, “The Grand Array in a Universe Temple is divided into the Outer Array and the Inner Array. The average person can only see the Outer Array, which is used to transfer people to the Universe Temple. On the other hand, the Inner Array is a top secret that most people are never allowed to see. From now on, the Inner Array of the Universe Temple is open to you as you can try to comprehend it. If there’s anything you need, just inform the disciple of Great Battle Heaven in this place.”
Following that, a piece of jade gently flew towards him.
Yang Kai took it, and just when he wanted to ask something, he realised that all the figures had vanished. As he looked around, he felt somewhat dejected that he was left alone in the Main Hall.
The three Eighth-Order Masters were extremely elusive. Up until this moment, Yang Kai still wasn’t sure if those were their real bodies or just projections. He also hadn’t figured out how they appeared and disappeared.
After he examined the Main Hall and realised that there was nothing unusual, he reached for the door and stuck out his head.
Before he could scan his surroundings, he saw a golden light approaching him rapidly and then standing in front of him. The person was none other than the Golden Armour Great General he and Xu Ling Gong had come across earlier.
The Golden Armour Great General never said a word as he stared at him through the gap of his golden helmet.
Yang Kai batted his eyes and said, “Please ask Xu Ling Gong to come over.”
The Golden Armour Great General didn’t respond to him or move a muscle.
Yang Kai called out to him again, and upon seeing that the person remained unmoving, he walked out on his own impatiently.
A moment later, Yang Kai knitted his brows because he couldn’t find Xu Ling Gong, Qing Kui, and Su Ying Xue. It was apparent that they had left.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but criticize them for leaving without informing him. He initially wanted to ask Xu Ling Gong what the test was about, but he was unable to do that now.
The Golden Armour Great General followed him closely as his armour clanged. If it weren’t because the person’s aura could be felt coming from the golden armour, Yang Kai would’ve thought they were some kind of corpse or puppet.
Xu Ling Gong had left, and this Golden Armour Great General didn’t seem like someone he could have a heart-to-heart talk with. Since Yang Kai was eager to find out the secrets of the Universe Temple though, he directly flew to the Main Hall.
With the jade in his hand, Yang Kai infused his power into it and instantly realised it was an Array Jade that was used to control this Universe Temple, just like how there was a jade that could be used to control the Nine Heavenly Layers Grand Array in Void Land.
However, in order to control the Grand Array, he’d first have to refine the jade.
It took him half a month to finish the refinement, and it was then that he was able to access the Inner Array of this Universe Temple. A buzzing sound was heard permeating the Universe Temple as the pattern on the ground started flickering. The array charts of the Inner Array that were usually hidden started appearing in the Main Hall.
An elated Yang Kai became engrossed in studying it tirelessly.
When he came into contact with a Universe Temple for the first time, he realised that this thing worked in a similar way to his Space Beacons. Both things could serve as locators in the Void and allow the cultivators to move to them.
The difference was that Space Beacons worked in pairs and were bidirectional while a Universe Temple was a singular entity and unidirectional. A Universe Temple wasn’t comparable to Space Beacons in this regard.
With that said, a Universe Temple had its own advantages. After a person left behind his Imprint in a Universe Temple, they could return to it by using the Universe Transference Law as long as they were in the same Great Territory.
Additionally, a Universe Temple was vastly superior to Space Beacons when it came to the distance the user could travel across.
Certainly, the further the distance, the more pressure a cultivator would bear while they were teleporting to the Universe Temple; therefore, a cultivator would usually be careful about the limits they could bear and wouldn’t choose a Universe Temple that was too far away. Otherwise, before they even reached the Universe Temple, they would lose their life.
Moreover, it took some time to execute the Universe Transference Law, so it wasn’t as swift as using Space Beacons. Therefore, a person could be easily disrupted before they were successfully sent to the Universe Temple.
All in all, Universe Temples and Space Beacons had their own advantages and disadvantages. Yang Kai had always wanted to merge the two by eliminating their drawbacks and only retaining their benefits. Unfortunately, he hadn’t had a chance to study the Universe Temple in the past. Now, he could finally fulfil his wish.
However, the most pressing issue for him now was to figure out the secrets of the Universe Temple.
When a person was totally engrossed in something, they couldn’t feel the passage of time.
Yang Kai was now trying to comprehend the secrets of the Universe Temple as he compared it to his understanding of the Dao of Space. Instead of feeling bored, he was completely immersed in it.
The Universe Temple was an ancient building where there was a very abstruse Grand Array. Yang Kai’s eyes would brighten whenever he discovered something new as the new insights allowed him to further enhance his mastery of the Dao of Space.
It took him five years to go through the entire Grand Array. He had noticed many damaged spots in the Grand Array, and only by deducing and repairing the damaged spots could he make it functional again.
Deduction was a taxing activity. Yang Kai had to exert himself every single day, and every time he surmounted a difficulty, his mastery of the Dao of Space would be strengthened.
However, regardless of how engrossed he was, he still felt pressured and isolated doing the same thing every day for years on end. If it weren’t because he was a staunch and determined person, he would’ve gone mad.
Therefore, he would take a stroll outside from time to time. Only by getting enough rest would he be able to be more efficient in his work.
Every time he left the Universe Temple, the Sixth-Order Golden Armour Great General from Great Battle Heaven would immediately approach him in anticipation of any needs he might have.
Nevertheless, this person was completely unresponsive. In the beginning, Yang Kai would still try to talk to him, but he never got any response.
Eventually, he stopped expecting him to give a response. Sometimes, he would talk to himself when he had the urge. Sometimes, he would walk around the outside of the Universe Temple to relax his mind. The Golden Armour Great General would follow him closely as though he was a servant.
There were also times when Yang Kai asked him to get some dishes and wine so that he could enjoy a meal alone.
The Golden Armour Great General never complained about anything. Regardless of what request Yang Kai had, he would do his best to fulfill it. Yang Kai was initially worried that he was being bothersome, but he soon got used to it and became at ease.
When he left the Universe Temple this time, he told the General to prepare a meal for him.
Just in front of the Grand Hall of the Universe Temple, Yang Kai nonchalantly took a seat on an abandoned bench and drank wine on his own. The Golden Armour Great General was just standing nearby. His figure was as straight as a spear while he looked fixedly at the front.
After drinking for a bit, a joyous Yang Kai started talking to himself, “After five years of going through the Grand Array, I’ve found 1,135 damaged spots. Following two years of deduction, I’ve only repaired seven spots. At this rate, it’d take me more than 100 years to finish repairing the Grand Array.”
100 years was neither long nor short. It was the entire lifetime for a long-lived mortal, but for an Open Heaven Realm Master, 100 years would pass in the blink of an eye.
“Brother Jin,” Yang Kai looked up at the Golden Armour Great General. He had no idea what the person’s name was, so he randomly gave him a surname. The other person never protested, so Yang Kai kept addressing him in such a way, “I’m worried that you’ll have to keep me company for a long time, but don’t worry, 100 years is just a rough estimate. It took me half a year to repair the first spot while it was five months for the second spot and four months for the third spot. The speed with which I can make repairs will only accelerate from now on. Perhaps it won’t take long before the Universe Temple is completely restored.”
As usual, Brother Jin remained silent.
Yang Kai chugged down the wine, then rose from the bench before shuffling towards the Grand Hall, “I’ll continue working now. You can get some rest.”
“Why don’t you take a look at other Universe Temples?” An unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
Yang Kai turned around and gazed at the Golden Armour Great General in shock. With widened eyes, he examined the person again.
It wasn’t until a moment later that he broke into a fit of laughter, “So it is Senior Sister Jin, not Brother Jin.”
If the Golden Armour Great General hadn’t spoken on this day, Yang Kai wouldn’t have found out that she was a woman. Furthermore, she actually had a clear and pleasant-sounding voice.
A woman with such an enchanting voice was certainly quite beautiful.
However, during their contact over the years, she had never said a word. Moreover, she looked sturdy in her golden armour, which was why Yang Kai believed she was a man. It never crossed his mind that the person was actually a woman.
After recovering from his shock, he slowly shook his head, “I know what you mean. There are several Universe Temples in the 3,000 Worlds that have broken down, and the damaged spots of these Universe Temples are definitely different. If I take a look at the other places, I wouldn’t need to exert myself to deduce anything in order to find solutions. After all, while this spot is damaged in this place, it might be in perfect condition in another place. However, in that case, why don’t I just look for a perfectly fine Universe Temple and study it? By doing so I could have a reference and easily repair all the damaged spots.”
Senior Sister Jin fell silent.
Yang Kai went on to say, “The reason I’m not going to do that is that it will be pointless if I don’t deduce things myself. By imitating the ancients, I’ll only be walking down a well-trodden path. Only by making deductions myself would the understanding belong to me,” He nodded and inadvertently took a glance at Senior Sister Jin’s chest.
In an instant, she unsheathed her sword from her waist as a cold glint flashed through Yang Kai’s eyes.
Yang Kai hunched his back and dashed into the Universe Temple as his voice could be heard faintly, “Thanks for the meal, Senior Sister. I’ll need you to prepare some materials for repairing the Universe Temple the next time I come out.”
After the door was closed, Yang Kai still felt extremely guilty as he thought that women were truly sensitive. Just now, when he thought of the saying that women with big chests were brainless, he was instantly engulfed in murderous intent. Women from Great Battle Heaven were truly not to be trifled with.
With that said, he had thought about Senior Sister Jin’s suggestion before, but he rejected the idea in the end. It could save him time and effort by emulating his predecessors, but it would do nothing to enhance his mastery of the Dao of Space. If he took a peek at the abstrusity of the Grand Array in advance, he would only be using solutions that were readily available; however, if he could make a deduction and construct the solution himself, he would be rewarded handsomely.
That was the reason he was willing to exert himself in this place.
Just like what he had said, it took him half a year before he found a solution for the first damaged spot, then it took him five months for the second spot and four months for the third spot. The time he would need would only shorten, and eventually, he would just have to take a glance before he could come up with a fix.
Three years later, Yang Kai had successfully deduced solutions for the 1,000-plus damaged spots. Presently, he was seated in the centre of the Grand Array as his World Force undulated. After going through the Grand Array that he had reconstructed in his mind and making sure that there was no problem, he left the Grand Hall.
Unsurprisingly, Senior Sister Jin approached him again.
Yang Kai appeared exhausted, but his eyes remained bright. He then fished out a jade slip and passed it to her, “Please get these materials ready, Senior Sister.”
After taking it, Senior Sister Jin turned around and left without asking any questions.
For the next few days, she was nowhere to be seen. It was apparent that she was in the process of preparing the materials for Yang Kai.
The Universe Temple in this Great Territory was no longer in use since it had broken down, but there was a Star City here. Although the materials Yang Kai needed were expensive, they weren’t rare. Given Great Battle Heaven’s wealth, it wouldn’t take Senior Sister Jin long to obtain what he needed.
After having some rest for a few days, Yang Kai was fully refreshed. He then flew out into the void and closed his eyes before slowly pushing out his fists.
Ten years of cultivation in seclusion in the Universe Temple and deducing solutions to the damaged spots of the Grand Array allowed him to achieve greater heights in his comprehension of the Dao of Space.
After years of cultivation, Yang Kai had divided Dao comprehension into ten levels based on his own feelings. From the lowest to the highest, they were Superficial Contact, Peering Through the Doors, Taking the Initial Steps, Traversing a Familiar Path, Attaining Mastery Through Comprehensive Understanding, Exceeding the Ordinary to Reach the Extraordinary, Standing Above All Others Within Sight, Summiting the Peak, Transcending the Mundane, and Shocking History and Dazzling the Present.
This kind of classification was clear and it could allow a cultivator to determine their current position in their cultivation. Yang Kai had already passed down this kind of ranking system to those in Void Land and High Heaven Palace.
When he mentioned it to Xu Ling Gong in the past, the latter praised him for coming up with this classification system and said that he could possibly establish an entire standardized system for Dao comprehension. If this method became widely adopted, Yang Kai would be its creator and biggest contributor, and his name would never be forgotten in the history books. When anyone used this system to refer to his or her own comprehension in the future, he would naturally remember the man who invented it.
According to the system Yang Kai had created, his comprehension of the Dao of Space stood at the peak of the Seventh-Level, Standing Above All Others Within Sight, and he was about to achieve a breakthrough to the Eighth-Level, Summiting the Peak.
As his understanding of the Dao of Space improved, Yang Kai faintly felt like he had gained enlightenment into something new.
While he repeatedly pushed out his fists, Space Principles weltered as the Void around him contorted.
He felt as though he was a silkworm that had been trapped in a cocoon. If he could break free from the cocoon, he would be able to make it to the next level; however, he was crestfallen since he was unable to achieve that last breakthrough.
Presently, a golden figure was standing on a spot near Yang Kai as she silently watched his movements. To outsiders, his movements were rather comical as he repeatedly pushed out his fists without any regular patterns. He alternated between slow and fast as though he was an old man who was trying out various exercises. There was no awe or intimidation to speak of.
However, it was these seemingly powerless attacks that caused space itself to shudder and shake.
After a long period of observation, Senior Sister Jin suddenly summoned her halberd. As her World Force surged, she turned into a ray of light and attempted to stab Yang Kai with her weapon.
She didn’t seem to be holding back at all, as though she was determined to end his life while he was distracted.
Her World Force was surging like violent waves, and Yang Kai was forced to turn his head and deal with the halberd with his bare hands. As he drew upon his Small Universe, World Force surrounded his fists.
Following the silent clash in the void, two figures brushed past one another. While Yang Kai’s clothes became tattered, some sparks were also seen on Senior Sister Jin’s armour.
Nevertheless, the woman didn’t seem to have the intention of stopping. As she whirled around, her halberd turned into countless shadows which surrounded Yang Kai, all of them wrapped in thick murderous intent and a sense of ferocity.
Yang Kai kept taking steps backwards, but the movements of his fists still alternated between fast and slow as he clashed with the halberd with various degrees of force and resolved the other party’s fierce attacks.
As the two figures entangled with one another, flickering back and forth as they exchanged places numerous times. Their battle raged across more than 10 million kilometres as they traded countless moves every breath in an intense melee.
Senior Sister Jin from Great Battle Heaven was definitely not a cultivator who made it to the Sixth Order through cultivation in seclusion. She was adept at fighting, so it was apparent that she had quite a number of life-and-death battles in the past.
As she fully pushed her power, she didn’t show any signs of frailty as a woman; instead, she was tough and strong.
Yang Kai took the approach of passively reacting as he was faced with the bombardment of attacks.
They went on to fight fiercely in a radius of 10 million kilometres in the void for half a month.
Then suddenly, there came a moment when Yang Kai’s eyes no longer appeared turbid as his gaze brightened. He had been trapped inside a cocoon for days, and at this moment, he finally broke free from it and became a butterfly.
Faced with the halberd, he didn’t have the intention of dodging; instead, he just gently pushed out his fist.
Despite his seemingly powerless attacks, the impact was tremendous. Senior Sister Jin’s movements came to an abrupt halt as though she was no longer able to circulate her strength smoothly. Her halberd stopped right in front of Yang Kai’s chest.
Yang Kai remained silent with a smile while Senior Sister Jin slowly put away her halberd. Her eyes behind the golden helmet appeared astounded.
“Many thanks for your help, Senior Sister,” Yang Kai cupped his fist.
Over the past fifteen days, Senior Sister Jin used her full strength to battle against Yang Kai, which helped him break through the fog which was clouding his vision and gain enlightenment in battle. If not for her assistance, he would’ve needed another opportunity to take his comprehension of the Dao of Space to the next level.
Now, he had finally made it to the Eighth Level, Summiting the Peak. Besides that, he had also obtained a new technique to deal with his enemies.
“What’s the name of this roguish Divine Ability of yours?” Senior Sister Jin asked.
Yang Kai shook his head with a smile, “It’s not a Divine Ability. It’s just a method of applying Space Principles. I don’t think it’s roguish in any way.”
Senior Sister Jin replied dispassionately, “You trace your opponent’s aura back to its source and directly attack their Small Universe. Once their Small Universe falls into turmoil, they can’t attack or defend. However, if one completely seals off their aura, how are they supposed to use their World Force to battle against you? If this isn’t the method of a rogue that gives an absolute advantage in combat, what else could it be?”
To put it simply, Yang Kai’s new way of dealing with his opponents was attacking their Small Universe by using Space Principles. That was how he managed to easily disperse Senior Sister Jin’s last attack with just a simple punch. Since her Small Universe had been shaken, she was unable to keep fighting regardless of how strong she was.
Even though she could withdraw and then continue to fight, she would be suppressed once Yang Kai used this technique again. That was the reason she directly gave up.
Furthermore, she didn’t really intend to defeat Yang Kai, she just wanted to help him.
The Small Universe was the foundation of an Open Heaven Realm Master as well as their source of power. When Yang Kai was battling against Zuo Quan Hui in the past, his Small Universe often shook as his realm was lower. As a result, he suffered setbacks numerous times. After such an experience, coupled with his newfound knowledge of the Dao of Space, Yang Kai managed to create this technique.
Just like Senior Sister Jin had implied, this technique was quite unscrupulous. Even for High-Rank Masters, it was difficult to directly attack an opponent’s Small Universe, let alone an average cultivator; however, Yang Kai was able to target his opponent’s Small Universe directly by tracing their World Force back to its source using Space Principles.
It was basically impossible to guard against such a technique; however, in order to successfully use it, it still required some luck and patience. The reason Yang Kai was able to easily resolve Senior Sister Jin’s last attack was that he had become familiar with her moves following fifteen days of battle.
“How did you come up with such a roguish technique?” Senior Sister Jin looked curiously at him.
It seemed that Yang Kai could never get rid of that label, so without refuting her, he replied, “I had the luck to witness Purple Jade Cave Heaven’s Shattering Dao Seal Technique in the past and was inspired by it. Some ideas also flashed through my mind when I battled against Zuo Quan Hui. That’s how everything came into place on this day.”
When Yang Kai was in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary in the past, he entered the Primordial Land in order to take part in the Spirit Seizing War. At that time, he was ambushed by someone who used the Shattering Dao Seal Technique, which was a Divine Ability from Purple Jade Cave Heaven. It was a famous technique that was only taught to the most important disciples.
The name of the technique suggested that it was a Divine Ability that targeted a person’s Dao Seal. This Divine Ability was horrifying for people that were somewhere between the Emperor Realm and the Open Heaven Realm. That was because, for those cultivators, their Dao Seals were their foundation. Once their Dao Seal was damaged, they would end up in a horrible state.
The foundation of an Open Heaven Realm Master was their Small Universe, so if there was a way Yang Kai could directly target an enemy’s Small Universe, he could easily gain the upper hand in combat.
Senior Sister Jin nodded and praised him by saying, “This is a rare technique where a weaker person can hope to defeat a stronger opponent. Unfortunately, this technique requires Space Principles as its foundation, so no one else can learn it.”
“Many thanks for your compliment, Senior Sister,” Yang Kai replied humbly.
Given Yang Kai’s current strength, he was practically peerless among those below the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm; however, if he was faced with a High-Rank Master, he would be defeated. He had temporarily possessed the might of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master before, so he was fully aware of the huge gap between a Seventh-Order and a Sixth-Order Master.
Now that he had such a technique though, he wouldn’t be so battered when dealing with a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master like Zuo Quan Hui.
“Among mortals, they call it a cow punch when such an unfair method is used.”
Yang Kai played along and put on a meaningful grin, “Many thanks for giving it a name, Senior Sister! This technique will be called Cow Punch from now on!” Instead of punching a cow though, this technique targeted an opponent’s Small Universe.
Senior Sister Jin fell silent with conflicted feelings. Such an amazing technique was given such a foolish name, which didn’t do justice to its abstrusity.
Just then, a Space Ring flew towards Yang Kai. Senior Sister Jin turned around and dashed towards the Universe Temple, soon disappearing.
The ring contained materials that Yang Kai had asked her to buy. Upon making sure that all the materials were right, he also decided to return to the Universe Temple and start repairing the Grand Array.
He had come up with a plan to repair the more than 1,000 damaged spots in the Grand Array, and with these materials in possession, he just had to execute his plan.
The entire process took Yang Kai a year to finish.
One day, Yang Kai, who felt extremely bored, was seated in the centre of the Grand Array and waited patiently.
The Grand Array had been restored, and even though he believed there wouldn’t be a problem with it, he had to give it a test. He initially intended to do it himself, but Senior Sister Jin rejected his idea. Left with no choice, he could only let her give it a try.
Yang Kai knew that she was well-meaning. There wouldn’t be a problem if the Grand Array had been successfully repaired; however, if there was any mistake, he might come across some danger by using the Universe Transference Law to send himself back to this place from billions of kilometres away.
In the entire 3,000 Worlds, Yang Kai was currently the only one capable of repairing the Grand Array in a Universe Temple. Senior Sister Jin naturally wouldn’t let him take such a risk.
Despite her stern demeanour, she was actually a kind-hearted person. Yang Kai found out about it when she previously helped him achieve a breakthrough in comprehension without him even asking.
However, for all these years, this woman from Great Battle Heaven had never taken off her armour, so he had never seen her face that was covered in the golden helmet.
All of a sudden, the Grand Array started glowing as though fireflies were dancing in the air. As Space Principles undulated, the space in front of Yang Kai started contorting and Senior Sister Jin’s figure abruptly appeared.
After coming to her senses, she nodded at Yang Kai to indicate that the Grand Array had been successfully restored. She then said, “The Sect Masters have told me that once you’re done with repairing this Universe Temple, you’ll have a year to rest. After that, you can come back here, and I’ll take you to the next Universe Temple.”
Yang Kai got to his feet and patted his backside, “There’s no need. Let’s go now.”
After a moment of silence, Senior Sister Jin decided not to persuade him, “Wait a moment, I need to pass my duties to someone else.” She then turned around and left the Grand Hall.
A while later, the two of them flew out of the Universe Temple and headed towards the nearest Territory Gate.
Senior Sister Jin initially intended to summon her flight-type artifact, but Yang Kai rejected her idea. As a Master of the Dao of Space, he usually didn’t need to rely on any artifact to move around when he didn’t have a lot of companions.
In just one month, they moved past more than ten Great Territories and arrived at another abandoned Universe Temple.
This place was also guarded by a Sixth-Order Master from Great Battle Heaven, so the person was from the same Sect as Senior Sister Jin. After the two of them had a brief conversation, Yang Kai was allowed to enter the Grand Hall that had remained closed for years.
With ten years of prior experience, Yang Kai was now far more efficient.
It only took him half a year to identify all the damaged spots in the Grand Array, and it took him another half a year to deduce solutions for them. Following that, he needed half a year to repair it. He could now do it much faster than the first time.
Senior Sister Jin then brought him to the third Universe Temple.
In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only five Universe Temples had been abandoned due to malfunction.
Including the time they spent travelling, it took Yang Kai two years to repair the third Universe Temple.
While they were heading to the fourth Universe Temple, they passed by Lang Ya Paradise’s Territory, so Yang Kai decided to stop by and visit Zhang Ruo Xi since the two of them hadn’t met for a long time.
Since word got out that there was a World Tree in the Star Boundary, all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises had gathered together there, so representatives from Lang Ya Paradise were naturally sent as well. The Seventh-Order Master from Lang Ya Paradise was pretty amicable to Yang Kai, perhaps because of Zhang Ruo Xi and Gu Pan.
Yang Kai had asked him about Zhang Ruo Xi and found out that she was cultivating in seclusion at that time, so she hadn’t tagged along.
It remained a regret in Yang Kai’s heart.
Since they would pass by Lang Ya Paradise, he naturally wanted to visit her.
However, his wish was not granted. Zhang Ruo Xi had made it to the Open Heaven Realm, and two years ago, she and Gu Pan left Lang Ya Paradise to head to the Star Boundary, so Yang Kai couldn’t see her.
Then, he asked about Zhang Ruo Xi’s Order. Upon learning that she had ascended to the Fifth Order just like what he had expected, he felt at ease.
Since Zhang Ruo Xi and Gu Pan were not around, Yang Kai didn’t intend to stay. On the other hand, those from Lang Ya Paradise were quite hospitable; after all, the Star Boundary had become a household name in the 3,000 Worlds because of the World Tree. Not only was Yang Kai a Great Emperor of the Star Boundary, but he was also a Sixth-Order Master, so hardly anyone would dismiss him now.
After turning down various invitations from Lang Ya Paradise, Yang Kai continued on his journey alongside Senior Sister Jin.
A few years later, after testing the fifth Universe Temple, Yang Kai confirmed that the Grand Array had been restored. Then, Senior Sister Jin solemnly fished out a golden token and passed it to Yang Kai with both hands.
With his brow raised, Yang Kai took it and realised that it was pretty weighty. The character ‘Universe’ was engraved on it, but he wasn’t sure what this token was for.
“It’s a Universe Token. The Sect Master specifically asked someone to make it for you,” Senior Sister Jin explained, “With this token, you can enter any Universe Temple and receive the same treatment as a Sect Master of the Cave Heavens and Paradises.”
“Is this considered a reward for me?” Yang Kai raised his brow. He had spent almost twenty years repairing five Universe Temples, which would offer immense benefits to lots of people; however, those Sect Masters were pretty stingy. They only gave him a Universe Token and no other useful benefits.
Senior Sister Jin shook her head, “It’s not really a reward. The Sect Masters hope that when you have a chance to use the other Universe Temples, you can also examine their Grand Arrays. If there’s a problem, they want you to help fix it.”
Yang Kai failed to stifle his laughter, “The Sect Masters are pretty clever, aren’t they? Do they think I’m a free slave or something?”
With a solemn expression, Senior Sister Jin replied, “You can turn them down, but I’ll have to retrieve the Universe Token.”
Yang Kai immediately pocketed the token, “Forget it. I’ll keep it since it’s specifically made for me.”
Senior Sister Jin nodded gently, “Since the matter regarding the Universe Temples has been resolved, I’ll return to Great Battle Heaven now. Farewell!”
Upon finishing her words, she directly turned around and left in a dashing manner. Yang Kai couldn’t help but smile as he watched her leave. Regardless, they had spent the last twenty years together, but she left without any hesitation. She was a true free-spirited person.
The 3,000 Worlds were vast, so they might not have the chance to meet again.
The matter regarding the Universe Temples was an accident of sorts. Yang Kai had never expected that he’d be held up for such a long time. Back then, he decided to take a stroll outside since he wanted to relax. There was a list of things he had to do; however, other than paying a visit to Lang Ya Paradise, he hadn’t managed to complete anything.
Although he had visited Lang Ya Paradise, he hadn’t had the chance to meet Zhang Ruo Xi, which remained a regret in his heart. Fortunately, before his departure, he had told Hua Qing Si that he’d return within 100 years; therefore, even if he didn’t show up for a long time, there shouldn’t be a problem in the Star Boundary or Void Land.
He then fished out a Universe Chart and studied it. Upon confirming his current location and mapping out a route, he disappeared from the spot the next moment.
A few months later, Yang Kai arrived at Black Territory, where Luan Bai Feng personally greeted him.
She was the overlord of the Black Prison and titled herself Warden. In the past, after helping Yang Kai arrange the Space Arrays in High Heaven Territory, she returned to the Black Prison.
She had also brought with her more than 100 Open Heaven Realm Masters from Heavenly Sword Union who had been captured in the war. Although 100 ore slaves was not a lot, they were mostly Fourth-Order and Fifth-Order Masters, so the quality made up for the quantity.
It had to be noted that after the epic battle in High Heaven Territory, many of the Open Heaven Realm Masters from both Heavenly Sword Union and Void Land were injured or killed. The people who had survived the cruel battle were no ordinary cultivators.
If any other great force had obtained more than 100 slaves, it would’ve been difficult for them to handle. They would be considered ruthless and cruel if they simply killed these people, but they would also be considered soft-hearted and weak if they released them. However, these people were immensely useful in Luan Bai Feng’s hands.
The Black Prison was a place where Black Stones were mined, and Luan Ba Feng needed a lot of ore slaves to do this. The environment of this place was hostile, and the deepest parts contained a corrosive aura that would weaken the heritage of a cultivator’s Small Universe. As time passed, one’s foundation would collapse apart and their cultivation would be destroyed.
Hence, countless ore slaves had lost their lives in the Black Prison over the years.
Outside the palace, Luan Bai Feng gazed at Yang Kai with displeasure, “Where have you been all these years? I told Xin Peng to head to the Star Boundary and look for you, but you were nowhere to be seen.”
According to the agreement she had with Yang Kai, he was supposed to have visited Black Territory more than ten years ago. Unfortunately, there had not been any news about him. She told Xin Peng to look for him in the Star Boundary, but he had already left. Hua Qing Si also wasn’t aware of Yang Kai’s whereabouts.
If it weren’t because they were connected by the Loyalty List, Luan Bai Feng would’ve thought that he had passed away.
“I was held up by some matters,” Yang Kai replied nonchalantly, “I’m here now, am I not?”
Luan Bai Feng rolled her eyes, “Do you need to get some rest first?”
“There’s no need for that. This matter cannot be delayed. Let’s begin.” Yang Kai waved his hand.
Although the environment in the Black Prison was terrible, this place was also rich in resources. Presently, Yang Kai possessed Void Star City and a 5% stake in High Heaven Star City. The former was a First Class Star City that was comparable to those controlled by the Cave Heavens and Paradises while the latter was a Super Star City that was the first of its kind. Both Star Cities were extremely popular and prosperous. He also had exclusive ownership of a New Great Territory. Since he had so many properties now, he was no longer a poor man.
The two Star Cities and the New Great Territory were like treasure troves that could continuously provide for the needs of those in Void Land and High Heaven Palace.
However, there was a constant shortage of Yin and Yang Element materials in the Sixth Order and above.
Be it in the two Star Cities or the New Great Territory, they could hardly find any Yin and Yang Element materials in the Sixth Order and above.
On the other hand, in the depths of the Black Prison, Ore Stars had a decent chance of producing Yin and Yang Element materials in the Sixth Order and above.
With the continuous nourishment from the World Tree in the Star Boundary, High Heaven Palace was in a favourable position. In the future, they would have a lot of talented disciples and also quite a number of young people who could directly ascend to the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
These people needed Sixth-Order materials in order to ascend. Yang Kai still remembered the difficulties the Great Emperors encountered when they were cultivating. At that time, in order to look for Sixth-Order Yin and Yang Element materials, they had spent countless amounts of time and energy. In the end, Black Territory was where the majority of his success was found.
Yang Kai had to come up with a long-term plan so that they wouldn’t need to ask around for such resources in the future.
At the mention of Sixth-Order materials, Yang Kai couldn’t help but recall the resources given to High Heaven Palace by the Cave Heavens and Paradises. At that time, all the High-Rank Masters had come to an agreement that they could respectively get five disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years, and they had to give High Heaven Territory a set of Sixth-Order materials for each of these disciples.
Yang Kai had already taken into consideration that Sixth-Order Yin and Yang Element materials were extremely rare. Even though the Cave Heavens and Paradises had some of them, they wouldn’t be willing to give them away.
As expected, the Cave Heavens and Paradises really never gave them any Yin and Yang Element materials. High Heaven Palace had collected quite a lot of Sixth-Order Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth materials, but no Yin or Yang Element. All the materials were traded for Fifth-Order and even Fourth-Order materials of the same value.
That was why Yang Kai was vexed.
Despite that, he wouldn’t blame the Cave Heavens and Paradises for being stingy, for Sixth-Order Yin and Yang Element materials were strategic resources to them too, so they wouldn’t bring them out easily.
If Void Land and High Heaven Palace wanted to become as powerful as those Cave Heavens and Paradises, they had to collect these materials themselves and attract a lot of talented people at the same time.
On the other hand, Yang Kai had high hopes for the Black Prison. More than half of the Sixth-Order Yin and Yang Element materials that Void Land and High Heaven Palace would need would likely come from this place.
“This is the Space Array I’ve spent years developing. You need to see if there’s any problem though; after all, I know nothing about the Dao of Space.” Luan Bai Feng tossed a jade slip at Yang Kai.
After taking it, Yang Kai infused his Divine Sense into it and nodded from time to time.
The Space Array was obviously derived from the ones Yang Kai had shown to her before, but it was larger and much more complex.
When Xu Ling Gong told Yang Kai to arrange some Space Arrays in the past, Luan Bai Feng assisted him. This woman was innately talented when it came to the Dao of Spirit Arrays. Yang Kai had only built several Space Arrays with her, but she could already almost master them and even offer some new insights.
Yang Kai had never seen a person more talented than her in Dao of Spirit Arrays. Even Grandmaster Wu Liang, who built the Nine Heavenly Layers Grand Array, was inferior to her.
If it weren’t because she knew nothing about the Dao of Space, she could’ve built this new Space Array all on her own.
After going through the jade slip, Yang Kai nodded, “There’s no major problems, and I’ve marked the places that require small modifications. Let’s discuss it now as we have to further refine the array. There’s no rush in moving the Ore Stars to another place.”
“Since you’re the boss, you have the final say,” Luan Bai Feng appeared nonchalant.
They then sat on the ground as they started drawing something on the soil while having a discussion.
Yang Kai had spent the past twenty years repairing broken Universe Temples. During that period of time, he witnessed the abstrusity of the Grand Arrays in the Universe Temples and comprehended the wisdom of the ancients. As he also reflected upon his own insights, he had gained immense rewards.
The Grand Arrays in Universe Temples and Space Arrays worked in similar ways, so there was something Yang Kai could learn from.
Soon, Luan Bai Feng’s initial plan was almost completely changed. Instead of getting mad though, she greedily absorbed the essence of Space Arrays into her own knowledge.
A month later, Yang Kai let out a long breath and got to his feet, “That’s it. There’s nothing else we could change.”
Luan Bai Feng stroked her glabella and looked up at Yang Kai, “You’re actually pretty talented in Dao of Spirit Arrays.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I’ve only studied Space Arrays a little. I know nothing about other Spirit Arrays.”
Luan Bai Feng wasn’t interested in fawning over him, so she just asked inquisitively, “If there’s no problem, I’ll tell them to come over now.”
Yang Kai nodded.
A moment later, several hundred dispirited Open Heaven Realm Masters, led by Xin Peng, arrived at this place. The over 100 people at the front sported conflicted expressions when they saw Yang Kai. They were fearful, mad or resentful.
These over 100 people were the captives from Heavenly Sword Union that Luan Bai Feng had previously brought back from High Heaven Territory.
It was apparent that they had been living a terrible life as all of their auras were unstable. Even though some of them glowered at Yang Kai, they appeared as weak as enraged sick cats.
“Xin Peng greets Sir, and greets Warden!” Xin Peng scurried towards them with a fawning smile. This guy had also left his name on the Loyalty List, and although he had no backbone to speak of, he was a fairly powerful Fifth-Order Master.
Luan Bai Feng extended her hand into the void and grabbed a middle-aged man who glared at Yang Kai. While clenching his neck, she pushed her World Force and sneered, “It seems that some of you still don’t know your place. Regardless of who you were in the past, you’re now the lowliest ore slaves in the Black Prison. This Queen can decide whether you’ll live or die as she pleases!”
While the man had the guts to glower at Yang Kai, he was obviously terrified of Luan Bai Feng. It wasn’t certain what he had gone through over the past few years, but as he hovered in mid-air, he appeared greatly flustered. He was also unable to resist her since she was in a higher realm.
“Ore slaves should behave like ore slaves. If anyone dares to be impolite again, you’ll end up like him.” Upon finishing her words, she exerted more force with her hand. The middle-aged man instantly burst into blood mist as his World Force dissipated.
Luan Bai Feng killed the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with a smile on her face, as though she was stepping on an ant. Although these ore slaves were fully aware of how ruthless this woman was, they were still horrified. All of them hung their heads low to avoid getting targeted by her.
There was no expression on Yang Kai’s face as he didn’t sympathise with them. It was said that might made right, and the loser was always in the wrong. If those from Void Land had lost the battle, its more than 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters would’ve ended up in an even worse state.
“Let’s start,” Yang Kai ordered impassively.
Luan Bai Feng nodded and started making the arrangements. The reason they had to gather all the ore slaves in the Black Prison together was that they were going to create something very important, which required a lot of manpower and resources.
Before Luan Bai Feng returned to Black Territory from High Heaven Territory, Yang Kai had mentioned to her a whimsical idea.
Since Open Heaven Realm Masters could travel across the Void through Space Arrays, there was a possibility that the Ore Stars hovering in Black Territory’s Inner Region could also be moved in the same way.
Of course, in order to move the Ore Stars, it would require a gigantic Space Array.
Previously, Yang Kai used brute force to move an Ore Star to the Outer Region. Not only did that consume a lot of time and energy though, but he also had to keep changing directions and control the speed of travel, which was quite troublesome. If he accidentally crashed into other Ore Stars, his effort would go to waste.
However, if he could make use of the Dao of Space and directly move the Ore Stars, things would become much easier.
Nevertheless, in order to achieve this, they needed to do a lot of preparations in advance. Just like Yang Kai had said, there was no rush in moving the Ore Stars as they had to get everything ready first. If their plan was successfully carried out, their efficiency of mining Black Stones would be significantly enhanced, and their source of Sixth-Order and above Yin and Yang Element materials would be secured.
For the past twenty years since Luan Bai Feng returned to Black Territory, she had been designing this new Space Array. It wasn’t until Yang Kai’s arrival that it could be completed though, because she needed the help of his mastery of the Dao of Space.
Since the Ore Stars in the Black Territory came in all different shapes and sizes, the array had to be flexible and adjustable.
With that as a pre-requisite, Yang Kai and Luan Bai Feng combined their insights of the Dao of Space and Dao of Spirit Arrays before creating this Space Array that had never before been seen in the world.
Over the next three years, several hundred Open Heaven Realm Masters became swamped with work at the palace in the Black Territory’s periphery. Some of these Open Heaven Realm Masters were experts in different skills. For example, there were some who were adept at Artifact Refining. Luan Bai Feng would assign some important tasks to these people while those who were strong but unskilled had to help out from the side.
Yang Kai was on top of everything as he examined every process to ensure there were no problems.
Three years later, sixteen artifacts were finally completed. They were divided into two sets with eight artifacts in each set. One of them was Yin while the other was Yang. They were just like two sides of a mirror.
Due to this characteristic, the complete set of artifacts were named Void Yin-Yang Mirrors by Yang Kai.
Every artifact was actually an Array Board that was made using countless resources. If they were traded for Open Heaven Pills, each individual mirror would be worth approximately 3 billion pills.
If Yang Kai hadn’t owned two Star Cities and a New Great Territory and hadn’t prepared an enormous amount of materials before his departure, he wouldn’t have dared to even attempt this.
Since an array board was worth three 3 billion, the set of sixteen artifacts was worth 48 billion in total. With this staggering amount of money, one could buy several hundred Seventh-Order materials. It was enough to bankrupt any Second Class great force.
Half of all the materials Yang Kai owned had been consumed in this single endeavour, which was why he felt quite heartbroken.
If his plan was successful, he would more than make back his losses and even become filthy rich; however, if it failed, he would suffer immense losses.
Despite being wealthy, he still appeared worried after the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors, which consisted of sixteen artifacts, was completed.
He passed eight artifacts, the Void Yin Mirrors, to Luan Bai Feng while storing the corresponding Void Yang Mirrors. After taking a deep breath, he looked in the direction of the Black Territory’s Inner Region and said, “Just wait here and play it by ear.”
Luan Bai Feng nodded with anxiety, but she was already looking forward to this test.
Since such amazing artifacts were made by her, she naturally wanted to find out if these items would work as intended. They had previously carried out an experiment and confirmed that there wasn’t a problem with their functionality, but that was just a trial after all. They didn’t have the confidence that they could successfully move a huge Ore Star.
It wasn’t the first time Yang Kai visited the Black Territory’s Inner Region, where there was an eerie force that could erode a person’s Small Universe. The deeper a person went, the faster the heritage of their Small Universe would be shaved away.
With that said, Yang Kai had the Towering Evergreen, so he could ward off this force and reach a location most people couldn’t.
More than ten days later, he felt that he had reached his limit, and if he went any further, even his Towering Evergreen was unable to protect him.
After finding an Ore Star, he started his preparations.
He fished out the eight Void Yang Mirrors he had brought with him. With the arrangements of Eight Trigrams Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui, he placed them around the Ore Star.
He then sat in the Qian spot and performed different hand seals. As Space Principles undulated, he shouted, “Activate!”
The next moment, the eight Void Yang Mirrors started shaking and humming. Rays of lights shot out from the Array Boards and connected with each other.
In the blink of an eye, all eight Void Yang Mirrors were linked. From a bird’s-eye view, one could see that eight Array Boards had formed into an octagonal cage, and in the middle of the cage was the Ore Star that Yang Kai had selected.
Furthermore, the eight Array Boards that had been connected had also formed into a huge Space Array.
At the same time, Luan Bai Feng was waiting patiently in the void at the periphery of the Black Territory. The eight Void Yin Mirrors were controlled by eight Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, and were also placed according to the arrangements of the Eight Trigrams.
There came a moment when the eight Void Yin Mirrors started shaking and humming. As rays of light flashed through everyone’s eyes, a huge projection appeared inside the perimeter of the Void Yin Mirrors.
That was the projection of the Ore Star that Yang Kai had selected. It was the exact same size, but it was only an illusion.
Luan Bai Feng arched her brow and yelled, “Act according to the plan!”
The Fifth-Order Masters who controlled the Array Boards wouldn’t dare to be negligent as they surged their World Force into the Array Boards in the appropriate order. Every Void Yin Mirror had to be in sync with the corresponding Void Yang Mirror on Yang Kai’s side.
In the Black Territory’s Inner Region, with a dark gaze, Yang Kai seemed able to surmount space and see what was going on in Luan Bai Feng’s place.
He then used a different hand seal and shouted, “Lock!”
As Space Principles undulated, the sixteen Void Yin-Yang Mirrors flickered and turned ethereal at the same time, as though they would disappear at any moment.
Yang Kai extended his hand with the most serious expression he had ever sported and as he flipped his palm over, he yelled, “Turn!”
A violent force burst out as the eight Array Boards became blurred and then stabilised. They also stopped shaking and humming.
The Ore Star, which was originally trapped by the cage formed from the eight Array Boards, abruptly disappeared.
In the periphery of the Black Territory, Luan Bai Feng looked dazedly at the giant Ore Star that had suddenly appeared before her. Although she already knew this was to be the outcome, she was still astounded when she actually saw the sight. She muttered under her breath, “It works…”
Despite the fact that there was a distance of billions and billions of kilometres between them, Yang Kai had successfully moved the Ore Star to this place with the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors.
He had pulled off a feat that was rather astonishing.
Xin Peng, who was standing beside Luan Bai Feng, gulped as he appeared awestruck by the Ore Star’s appearance and instinctively asked, “How did he do it?”
Although he was an experienced Fifth-Order Master, the sight before his eyes was still unbelievable to him.
Prior to this day, if anyone told him that a huge Ore Star could be moved from one place to another in an instant, he would never have believed him. There was a limit to a Human’s strength. Even the legendary Ninth-Order Masters could not do something like this.
However, it happened right before his eyes.
Luan Bai Feng smiled as she was apparently in a jovial mood. She then explained, “That guy has spent years building these Void Yin-Yang Mirrors, which is a suitable name. The Yang Mirrors are on his side while Yin Mirrors are on our side. Coupled with his Space Secret Techniques, he flips the mirror over, sending what is on his side over to our side.”
Xin Peng appeared puzzled as he obviously didn’t understand her.
Luan Bai Feng went on to say with a smile, “Take your hand as an example. If you grab something in your hand, it now faces down. After you flip your hand over, the thing will now face up.”
A fawning Xin Peng remarked, “Warden and Sir are truly brilliant. I’ll never be a match for you two. If it’s just like you’ve said, does it mean that these eight Array Boards with us now are the Yang Mirrors that Sir had previously brought with him?”
Luan Bai Feng replied with a smile, “It seems you’re not so foolish after all.”
There were two sides to the mirror, which were Yin and Yang. The sixteen Array Boards were used for positioning. As they flipped, not only was the Ore Star moved to this place, but the Yin Mirrors and Yang Mirrors also exchanged locations. Yang Kai had previously taken the Yang Mirrors with him and left behind the Yin Mirrors. As such, the Yin Mirrors were now on his side.
Xin Peng fell silent for a moment. Even though he was unresigned when he left his name on the Loyalty List in the past, it now seemed to him that he was indeed no match for Yang Kai in any respect. It wasn’t so terrible after all to work under someone like him.
Furthermore, the concept of the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors was truly awe-inspiring. The thing Luan Bai Feng gave Yang Kai three years ago was just a draft of the Space Array. If they carried it out according to her original design, there would be some effects as well, but it wouldn’t be so convenient.
The Void Yin-Yang Mirrors were flexible as the cage that was used to localize the Ore Stars was fully adjustable. There was no doubt that it was much better than her original static Space Array.
The Fifth-Order Masters, who controlled the eight Array Boards, were still in a dazed state, so Luan Bai Feng quickly snapped at them, “Stop dreaming and get ready! The next Ore Star will arrive soon.”
It was then that the eight of them started getting ready as they removed their respective Array Boards and flew to another empty space before setting them up again.
In just ten days, another huge projection appeared inside the Void Yang Mirrors. With the prior experience, the eight of them started making a move without the need for Luan Bai Feng to give the order.
A moment later, as the Array Boards started glowing, another Ore Star that was just as large as the previous one was suddenly moved to this place.
On the other hand, several hundred ore slaves had already streamed towards the first Ore Star that had been moved to this place and started mining Black Stones.
Every ten days to half a month there would be an Ore Star, which was originally from the Black Territory’s Inner Region, that was moved to the periphery. In just one year, the originally empty periphery was now filled with more than thirty Ore Stars of different sizes.
This kind of amount was just a drop in the ocean compared to the reserves in the entire Black Territory.
However, no one would underestimate the resources these thirty-odd Ore Stars could produce. They were initially in the depths of the Black Prison, so it was extremely difficult to mine them as even Sixth-Order ore slaves were unable to reach that location safely.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai used a stunning move to transfer them to a safe area such as the periphery.
When Yang Kai previously brought back an Ore Star that was half the usual size, it allowed the ore slaves in the Black Territory to keep on mining for a few years. Now that there were more than thirty Ore Stars, it was enough for them to mine these Stars for 100 years.
If the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors hadn’t shown signs of breaking, Yang Kai would’ve brought even more Ore Stars over.
However, over the past year, the hastily made Void Yin-Yang Mirrors had to bear the pressure of moving many gigantic Ore Stars. Cracks of different sizes started appearing on the sixteen Array Boards, and if this went on, they might come apart at any moment.
These things were extremely costly as each of them was worth 3 billion Open Heaven Pills. Yang Kai did not have the heart to see them break.
Though he still wasn’t satisfied with his current haul, he could only leave the Black Territory’s Inner Region.
Upon his return, he saw the huge Ore Stars hovering in the periphery. When he realised that several hundred Open Heaven Realm ore slaves were already working on the first Ore Star he had brought back, he was pleased.
“The Ore Stars you’ve sent back are rich in resources. So far, we’ve found more than thirty Sixth-Order materials. There are even two Sixth-Order Yang Element materials and three Yin Element materials. Additionally, there are several thousand materials that are below the Sixth Order,” Luan Bai Feng reported while accompanying Yang Kai to have a look at the first Ore Star.
Yang Kai nodded, “All the effort was worth it.”
Luan Bai Feng replied with a smile, “Despite that, it’ll take another twenty years before we can cover the cost of refining the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors.”
“It’s fine as long as we can earn it back.”
As they moved forward, the ore slaves respectfully saluted Yang Kai and Luan Bai Feng.
Half a day later, Yang Kai stopped in his tracks and said, “I’ll leave this place to you. Just remember to send the extracted materials to Void Land every two to three years.”
“Got it,” Luan Bai Feng replied, then shot him a glance, “Where are you going?”
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai decided not to hide it from her, “I’ll ask a senior expert to make something for me, and then I’ll go to the Shattered Heaven. If anyone from Void Land asks about it, you can just tell them the truth.”
“The Shattered Heaven is not a kind place. Don’t get killed over there and drag me into it.” Luan Bai Feng frowned.
Yang Kai smiled and took a step forward as his figure rapidly faded.
There were countless Great Territories in the 3,000 Worlds. Every Great Territory was named after the most powerful great force in that place, other than some remote Great Territories which only had generic identifiers, there was no exception.
However, every great force would rise and fall, just like how a person would get sick and die of old age. A Great Territory could be named after a great force because it was the most powerful, but when this great force was destroyed and replaced, the Great Territory would be given a different name.
When Void Land replaced Seven Wonders Land in the past, Seven Wonders Territory became Void Territory.
Therefore, the name in the latest Universe Charts would be changed, while the owners of the older Universe Charts could get them updated or just manually change it.
With that said, there was actually one exception.
In Great Evolution Territory, the most powerful great force was supposedly Heavenly Martial Hall. This great force was much stronger than the original Seven Wonders Land because there was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master assuming command of it.
Supposedly, the Great Territory where Heavenly Martial Hall was located should be named Heavenly Martial Territory; however, since time immemorial, the name of this Great Territory had never been changed in the Universe Charts. It had always been Great Evolution Territory!
Those from Heavenly Martial Hall were certainly displeased with this. By naming the Great Territory after their own Sect, it would be a great way for them to popularise themselves. The 3,000 Worlds was vast, and even though Heavenly Martial Hall wasn’t weak, it still wasn’t comparable to the real behemoths. Although they had a golden opportunity to make a name for themselves, their wish had never been granted, which was why they were disgruntled.
Therefore, the cultivators of Heavenly Martial Hall repeatedly visited Four Seas Union and argued with them in the hope that they could change Great Evolution Territory to Heavenly Martial Territory when making the Universe Charts.
All the Universe Charts in the 3,000 Worlds were made by Four Seas Union, which was backed by one of the 36 Cave Heavens. Their shops could be found in all the major Star Cities, including Void Star City and the newly built High Heaven Star City.
After all, it was extremely inconvenient to move around the 3,000 Worlds without a Universe Chart; therefore, as long as a cultivator had the money, they would buy a Universe Chart. Four Seas Union had made a fortune through this business.
It wasn’t hard to enter Four Seas Union, it was a business entity after all. Those from Heavenly Martial Hall had visited the Four Seas Union countless times, but the name Great Evolution Territory always remained in the new Universe Charts. There had never been a change.
This made the people from Heavenly Martial Hall feel vexed; however, they were weaker than the other party, so there was nothing they could do.
There was one thing they didn’t understand, though. There was no great force in Great Evolution Territory that had anything to do with the title ‘Great Evolution’ now, so why was it so hard for them to change the name?
Several hundred years ago, Heavenly Martial Hall had almost changed its name to Great Evolution Sect in order to take advantage of the name Great Evolution Territory. However, they hadn’t forgotten the hard work their Ancestors had put in to build their Sect, so they ultimately decided against this name change.
Nevertheless, they creatively created a Heavenly Martial Hall Great Evolution Branch as a silent protest against the Four Seas Union.
Although the Great Evolution Branch had been founded, it was basically half-abandoned. Those from Heavenly Martial Hall had spent a large amount of manpower and resources on this project, but they had only managed to nurture several Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. The Elders, who initially had high hopes for the Great Evolution Branch, gradually lost interest.
As Yang Kai went through the route in his mind, he went from the Black Territory to the Great Evolution Territory and arrived at a particular spot in the void.
He had been to this place once before, but it was the Proprietress who brought him here. Even though he was on his own this time, he hadn’t lost his way.
After straightening his face, he cupped his fist and shouted, “Void Land Yang Kai greets Senior Ma Fan. Please forgive me for disturbing you.”
No one replied to him from the void while he waited patiently.
After he waited for one hour, two hours, and then the entire day, there was still no one who responded to him.
Yang Kai put on a helpless smile. Even though he had witnessed Senior Ma Fan’s bad temper when he tagged along with the Proprietress previously, and he had a feeling that he’d be turned down this time, he still felt frustrated when it really happened.
Since he had already expected it, he didn’t say anything and simply sat down with his legs crossed.
He believed that Senior Ma Fan would be moved by his sincerity. Regardless, he had to see this Artifact Refining Grandmaster.
In fact, he was jealous of the Heavenly Sword Union for possessing the Heavenly Sword Palace. Not only could it attack and defend, but it could also serve as a flight-type artifact. It was like a moving palace.
If he hadn’t made use of the Star Boundary’s World Force and temporarily advanced to Seventh-Order, and with over 1,000 Open Heaven Realm Masters who maintained a large-scale barrage of attacks on the Heavenly Sword Palace, they couldn’t have stopped this moving fortress from moving forward. Had Heavenly Sword Palace reached the Star Boundary, the situation would’ve been flipped around, and Zuo Quan Hui would have won.
Fortunately, the Heavenly Sword Palace exploded less than five million kilometres away from the Star Boundary following a long and bloody battle. It could be said that Zuo Quan Hui was just one step away from success.
At that time, Yang Kai swore that if there was a chance in the future, he would also build a similar palace artifact for Void Land, that way, when they were faced with something like the Heavenly Sword Palace again, they could defend themselves at the very least.
When he was having a negotiation with the Cave Heavens and Paradises previously, he looked for some of the High-Rank Masters in private and asked them if their Sects’ Artifact Refining Grandmasters could help Void Land build such a palace artifact.
Certainly, Void Land could provide the materials and offer an appropriate remuneration. Yang Kai even offered to exempt those who helped him from paying the Sixth-Order materials required to take disciples from the Star Boundary.
However, all of them had turned him down.
Hong Xiang Ling from Azure Void Cave Heaven, who wanted to get his Disciple married to Yang Kai, was kind enough to offer an explanation. He said that it would take too much time and energy to refine such a thing, and although the Cave Heavens and Paradises were capable of doing it, they would only do so for their own Sects. They couldn’t even meet their own demands for such artifacts, so they wouldn’t offer help to someone else. It was pointless for Yang Kai to ask regardless of what payment he promised.
Yang Kai then asked Xu Ling Gong about it, and the latter gave him a similar explanation.
In that case, he could only give up on seeking help from the Cave Heavens and Paradises. Instead, he had his eyes on Grandmaster Ma Fan.
Yang Kai still had some vivid memories of this Artifact Refining Grandmaster. In the past, in order to arrange the Nine Heavenly Layers Grand Array, they needed some items to be served as Array Cores. The Proprietress brought him to this place and pleaded with this Artifact Refining Grandmaster. As a result, the Heavenly Executioner’s Sword and the Heavenly Net Umbrella that had been placed in the Nine Heavenly Layers Grand Array were made by Grandmaster Ma Fan.
The Proprietress had said that Grandmaster Ma Fan came from one of the ancient Paradises; however, his Sect no longer existed. He was the only one who was still alive as he led a reclusive life in its expansive ruins.
At that time, Yang Kai was a mere Emperor Realm Junior who had just arrived at the 3,000 Worlds, so he knew little about the Outer Universe. He was shocked that one of the Paradises had fallen in the past. As he recalled it now, he came to realise many things that he hadn’t back then.
There was no doubt that Grandmaster Ma Fan’s mastery of Artifact Refining was unrivalled. With the help of the Nine Heavenly Layers Grand Array, Yang Kai activated the power of Heavenly Executioner’s Sword and defeated the Union Master of Heavenly Sword Union Kong Feng despite being an Emperor Realm Junior at that time, which went to show that the Heavenly Executioner’s Sword was truly incredible.
Since none of the Cave Heavens and Paradises were willing to help, Yang Kai could only hope that Grandmaster Ma Fan would refine a palace artifact for him.
However, Grandmaster Ma Fan wouldn’t respond to him. Since Yang Kai had made up his mind, he naturally wasn’t in a rush. As he was seated in the void, he fished out one of the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors that was slightly damaged.
This thing was as large as a house. It wasn’t that Yang Kai didn’t want to make it smaller and more convenient, but rather that he couldn’t. He and Luan Bai Feng knew little about Artifact Refining, while only several Fifth-Order Masters had some skill in it. They had already done their best to refine the current Void Yin-Yang Mirrors.
Fortunately, the most important thing was the Space Array, not the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors themselves; otherwise, they couldn’t have succeeded in moving the Ore Stars in Black Territory.
Now, there was a crack that was the width of a finger and several dozen centimetres long on this Array Board that was as large as a house. That was because it had been overused previously.
After examining it for a while, Yang Kai fished out some rare ores and activated his Golden Crow’s True Fire in an attempt to repair it.
However, he was an amateur in Artifact Refining, so how was he supposed to repair it? A few days later, instead of being fixed, the crack had expanded.
Yang Kai scratched his head as he fished out another damaged Array Board and acted recklessly again.
A few days later, the crack on the second Array Board had also been enlarged.
It was then Yang Kai fished out the third one.
The person who was hiding in the void was unable to take it anymore as he felt that Yang Kai was doing more harm than good to such amazing artifacts. Fluctuations of Space Principles were suddenly felt coming from the Void, then a portal swirled into existence in front of Yang Kai.
The next instant, a big, illusory hand extended from the swirl and directly grabbed the Array Boards Yang Kai had fished out back into the Void.
Yang Kai didn’t have the intention of interfering as he took a glance at the portal and let out a sigh of relief. He then got to his feet and stepped into it.
The world seemed to spin around him, and the next moment, he arrived at a different space. Raising his gaze, he could see many Stars of different sizes hovering in the void while circling a single Great Sun. This was like a whole Great Territory.
When he came to this place for the first time, he was a weak cultivator without much experience, so he was unable to see anything special about this place. Now that he had returned, Yang Kai finally understood something.
This was obviously a sealed space. Some Great Expert must have used a stunning Divine Ability to pull this place out from Great Evolution Territory and isolate it from the outside world.
It could be said that this place was the foundation of Great Evolution Territory, the ruins of Great Evolution Paradise. That was the reason the Great Evolution Territory had never changed its name.
Those from Heavenly Martial Hall thought that they were the most powerful in Great Evolution Territory, but they were not aware that there was such an Isolated Territory within Great Evolution Territory.
Only several Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters working together would be able to pull out a section of Great Evolution Territory and seal it off, and not without the use of many profound and powerful Grand Arrays.
It was imaginable that Great Evolution Paradise must be truly glorious when they were at the peak of their power. Yang Kai wondered why such a top great force in the 3,000 Worlds had fallen all of a sudden.
He had asked Xu Ling Gong about it before, as the latter must be aware of something, but he never provided any details. Xu Ling Gong just said that fate was truly unpredictable. The Ancestors of Great Evolution Paradise were respectable as they had the bravery to face the impossible head on.
Yang Kai mentioned Senior Ma Fan while having a chat with Xu Ling Gong. That was how he found out some of the information about Great Evolution Paradise.
He followed the aura and saw a grey-haired old man who was seated on the ground with his legs crossed. In front of the old man were the damaged Array Boards as he examined them.
“Senior!” Yang Kai saluted him.
When he previously tagged along the Proprietress to see this Artifact Refining Grandmaster, he had a speculation that the old man was a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. However, he was weak at that time, so he was unable to confirm it. Now that he had returned to this place as a Sixth-Order Master, he instantly realised that his speculation was right.
Grandmaster Ma Fan was a Seventh-Order Master, and one at the very peak of the Seventh-Order at that, only a step away from the Eighth-Order.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but admire him. Despite being a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, he had to endure a life of isolation to guard his fallen Sect’s foundation. It must be an unimaginable burden. The old man seemed to have a permanent hunchback because of that.
“You knew that I couldn’t bear to see such a good thing being wasted, so you took them out to lure me out, right?” Grandmaster Ma Fan shot Yang Kai a glare.
Yang Kai put on a meaningful grin, “I wouldn’t dare to pull such a trick on you, Grandmaster.”
“Hmph!” Grandmaster Ma Fan pursed his lips, “You’re just like that little girl, Lan You Ruo. Both of you are intelligent in an annoying way.”
A bashful Yang Kai replied, “Many thanks for your compliment, Senior.”
“When she brought you here previously, I knew that I’d meet you again in the future. How troublesome!”
With a straight face, Yang Kai replied, “Have you forgotten that I owe you a favour, Senior? Of course, we’d meet again.” Grandmaster Ma Fan was previously asked to refine the Heavenly Executioner’s Sword and Heavenly Net Umbrella. However, instead of getting any reward, he made Yang Kai owe him a favour.
Since there was nothing he had to pay upfront, Yang Kai directly agreed to it.
Grandmaster Ma Fan appeared dispassionate as he said with a frown, “What’s the point of getting a favour back from a Sixth-Order Master? At that time, I saw that you had a pretty exceptional aptitude, so I thought that you could directly ascend to the Seventh Order. It turns out that I’ve made a loss.”
Yang Kai gritted his teeth as he finally realised why this Artifact Refining Grandmaster made such a demand back then. It was because the old man believed that he could directly make it to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm.
He certainly wanted to directly ascend to the Seventh Order as well, but things didn’t go as planned. In the end, he was forced to ascend to the Fifth Order in the Shattered Heaven. Although he had consumed a Mid-Rank World Fruit to make up for some of the losses, his limit would be the Eighth Order if there were no additional opportunities.
There were quite a number of Eighth-Order Masters in those Cave Heavens and Paradises. Even Grandmaster Ma Fan could possibly make it to the Eighth-order in the future.
It was true that Yang Kai’s favour was now useless.
“These three pieces aren’t the whole picture. There are more, right?” Grandmaster Ma Fan asked.
“Yes, there are. You do have sharp eyes, Grandmaster.” Yang Kai hurriedly buttered him up as he fished out the remaining Array Boards.
Since this Artifact Refining Grandmaster was interested in these hastily made things, Yang Kai would naturally satisfy him.
The sight of sixteen items as large as houses placed together was pretty magnificent. With a hunchback, Grandmaster Ma Fan placed his hands behind his back and took a walk around these Array Boards.
A moment later, he arched his brow and remarked, “Even though their refinement leaves much to be desired, the concept is quite ingenious. Did you make them?”
Yang Kai honestly replied to him.
Grandmaster Ma Fan nodded, “By flipping these Void Yin-Yang Mirrors, you can move things which are sealed by them across the Void.” He suddenly appeared solemn, “What were you moving that required such expensive artifacts?”
Yang Kai replied with a grin, “Some Dead Stars and Ore Stars.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan appeared slightly surprised, but he soon composed himself and said after a sigh, “Young people like you do like to dream and take reckless actions.”
He then waved his hand, “Take them back.”
Yang Kai was slightly disappointed that the old man didn’t help to repair the Array Boards; however, he didn’t come all the way here to ask this Artifact Refining Grandmaster to repair the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors, so he didn’t pursue the matter. He then quickly put away all sixteen artifacts and said with a straight face, “I have a request, Senior.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan repeatedly shook his head, “Go away. I’m not going to listen to you.”
Yang Kai was torn between tears and laughter, “Please let me finish my words at the very least, Senior.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan grinned with a shrewd gaze, “There’s nothing else I have, so the reason you’ve come all the way here is to ask me to refine an artifact. Suffering a loss once is enough. I’m not a fool, so why would I do it again?”
Yang Kai replied, “If there’s anything you need, Senior, I can get it for you. To be frank with you, even though this Junior’s cultivation is low, I am now fairly important in the 3,000 Worlds. So, I might be able to fulfill your wish.”
“Oh?” Grandmaster Ma Fan arched his brow, “How important are you?”
A guilty Yang Kai put on a smile, “That will depend on what you need.”
After giving it a thought, Grandmaster Ma Fan suddenly lifted his hand and a drop of darkness appeared above his palm, expanding out like a blot of ink.
A puzzled Yang Kai looked intently at it.
Seeing that the young man knew nothing about it, Grandmaster Ma Fan appeared disappointed. He then retracted his hand as the darkness dissipated. Turning around, he waved his hand, “Leave now. There’s no need to return my favour. If you come again, I won’t open the door for you.”
Certainly, Yang Kai wouldn’t listen to him. Since he had finally entered this place, he had to get his wish fulfilled. Before coming to this place, he had considered asking this Artifact Refining Grandmaster to become a Supreme Elder in Void Land, but seeing his attitude now, he knew that he shouldn’t even think about it. Still he had to get him to make a palace artifact for him.
Yang Kai then raced after the old man and persuaded him; however, Grandmaster Ma Fan just ignored him. Although he had asked Yang Kai to leave, he didn’t kick him out directly, seemingly determined not to even acknowledge Yang Kai’s existence.
That was indeed the case for the next six months as Grandmaster Ma Fan never replied to him regardless of how sincere and persuasive Yang Kai was. The Artifact Refining Grandmaster pretended that he didn’t hear him and never even spared him a glance.
This made Yang Kai feel dejected. Thinking that he could go by the old man’s interests, he started fishing out the rare items from his Space Ring and Small Universe to show him.
The old man never spared them a glance, with the only exception being the strange Purple Qi. Despite being obviously interested, however, he still remained silent.
In fact, Yang Kai still had no idea what this Purple Qi was. He simply snatched it from Luan Bai Feng some time ago.
On the other hand, Luan Bai Feng obtained it from the New Great Territory. After snatching the Purple Qi, Yang Kai put it inside his Small Universe and ignored it. If he hadn’t decided to fish out some things to attract Grandmaster Ma Fan’s attention, he would’ve forgotten about it.
Since Grandmaster Ma Fan appeared interested in the Purple Qi, Yang Kai decided to wear the Purple Qi around his fingers and show it to the old man every day.
Nevertheless, Grandmaster Ma Fan still ignored him.
Yang Kai was defeated in the game of patience with him. Over the past six months, the old man showed admirable determination and resoluteness.
Seeing as how stubborn the old man was, Yang Kai couldn’t help but consider quitting; after all, it was pointless to pester the old man every single day.
One day, Yang Kai was seated in a palace in the ruins of Great Evolution Paradise when he arched his brow and looked in a particular direction. The next instant, he dashed out of the palace.
Looking up, he saw a ray of light rapidly approaching. Judging from the aura, the person was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Yang Kai was shocked by the arrival of a person in this sealed place; however, he soon realised that something was off. He could only enter this place after Grandmaster Ma Fan opened up the portal while others were unable to come in even if they wanted to.
Could it be that there were other residents in the ruins of Great Evolution Paradise besides the old man?
The ray of light dissipated as a beautiful woman landed on a spot near Yang Kai. She looked to be in her twenties, and while she was clad in a green dress with flowery patterns, her hair had been casually tied behind her back. She had a curvy figure and a demure temperament.
The woman was evidently surprised when she saw Yang Kai. After taking a doubtful glance at him with a pair of clear eyes, she elegantly saluted him, then moved past him and headed to the main hall.
A dazed Yang Kai stared fixedly at her. The woman seemed to have sensed this, so she turned her head and put on a smile.
A moment later, the woman nonchalantly entered the main hall where Grandmaster Ma Fan resided.
Yang Kai could finally confirm that the woman was a resident in this sealed place; she was probably a survivor or descendant of Great Evolution Paradise. Otherwise, she couldn’t have easily entered the hall.
It had to be noted that Yang Kai had been trying to step into the main hall all this time but to no avail. He was simply ignored by Grandmaster Ma Fan.
After waiting for an hour, he saw the woman in green leaving the hall.
Yang Kai waited for her to come closer before cupping his fist, “Void Land Yang Kai greets Senior Sister.”
The woman in a green dress flashed a smile at him, “Are you trying to ask Old Ancestor to make an artifact for you?”
[Old Ancestor!] Yang Kai knew that his speculation was right when he heard that, then he nodded, “Yes.”
The woman smiled with her lips covered, “Did he not agree to it?”
Yang Kai smiled meekly, “You’re indeed intelligent, Senior Sister. The Grandmaster has turned me down.”
A realisation dawned upon the woman as she asked, “Old Ancestor opened up the portal half a year ago. So, you’re the visitor from then. Have you been waiting for the past six months?”
Yang Kai sported a solemn expression, “I believe that the Grandmaster will be moved by my sincerity.”
“There’s no use doing that.” The woman shook her head, “If Old Ancestor isn’t willing to help you, it’s pointless for you to keep waiting. Since you’ve called me Senior Sister, I’ll give you some advice.”
“Please go ahead, Senior Sister.”
“Go back to where you’re from. You’re only wasting your time by staying here.” Upon finishing her words, she playfully winked at Yang Kai and left.
A speechless Yang Kai gave it a thought before racing after her. He soon moved forward alongside the woman.
She seemed to be surprised by how thick-skinned he was and asked, “Why are you following me? I know nothing about Artifact Refining. Old Ancestor has never taught me anything about it.”
Yang Kai grinned, “I’m not asking you to refine an artifact for me, Senior Sister. I just want to have a chat with you.”
“What do you want to talk to me about?” The way the woman frowned was quite charming.
“Anything we can think of,” Yang Kai replied in a perfunctory manner. Although it had been a short time since they came into contact as they had only chatted a little, Yang Kai could see that this Sixth-Order woman was pure-hearted. To put it nicely, she was as innocent as a child. But to put it bluntly, she was naive and gullible.
It was rare for a Sixth-Order Master to have such a temperament. In the outside world, any Sixth-Order Master would have experienced lies and betrayal countless times as they grew up. Even if they were born innocent, they would be influenced by their environment.
The reason the woman in green could keep her temperament was that Great Evolution Paradise was a sealed place.
“But there’s nothing I want to talk to you about,” the woman shook her head.
Yang Kai put on the most harmless smile he could manage and flattered her the best he could, “I found you to be amicable the moment I first saw you, Senior Sister. It’s as though we’ve known each other for a long time.”
The woman blushed as she snapped in a slightly annoyed tone, “How could you say something like that?”
A sincere Yang Kai replied, “I wasn’t teasing you. I was speaking the truth. Please don’t get mad at me.”
The woman seemed to believe him as she started appearing bashful.
Soon, they arrived at a Universe World and landed in front of some palaces.
Yang Kai could see that this Universe World was not a bad place. The World Principles were complete while the World Energy was ample. Its World Force was also strong. It could be considered a top-class Universe World.
Moreover, when he was up above the sky just now, he could see that many people were living in this Universe World.
Some Open Heaven Realm Masters of different Orders were already waiting there. Upon seeing the woman in green, they all called out, “Eldest Senior Sister.”
A man that appeared to be in his thirties asked with anxiety, “What did Old Ancestor say, Eldest Senior Sister?”
The woman replied with a smile, “Don’t worry. Old Ancestor said that the wine you’ve brewed this time is rich and flavourful. He found it delicious.”
Upon hearing that, they started cheering.
It was then Yang Kai realised that the woman in green had gone all the way to send wine to Grandmaster Ma Fan, and the wine was made by these Open Heaven Realm Masters.
However, he frowned at the Orders of these people. They were clearly the remnants of Great Evolution Paradise, but their Orders were so low. Apart from the woman in green who was in the Sixth Order, the rest of them were in the Third Order, Fourth Order, or Fifth Order.
Yang Kai could sense that several Sixth-Order Masters were cultivating in seclusion in some of the places in this Universe World, but there wasn’t a single Seventh-Order Master here.
Even though Great Evolution Paradise had fallen, it shouldn’t be so weak. It was apparent that there was a severe lack of powerful Masters here.
A young woman in the Fourth Order noticed Yang Kai and examined him curiously, “Who is this, Eldest Senior Sister?”
The woman in a green dress replied, “He’s a guest who’s trying to ask Old Ancestor to refine an artifact for him.”
The young woman’s eyes brightened when she heard that, “A guest? Does that mean that he came from the outside world?”
The other Open Heaven Realm Masters became excited as well while they looked fervently at Yang Kai. They studied him in a way as though he was some strange and unusual creature.
Yang Kai cupped his fist and greeted, “Void Land Yang Kai greets fellow Brothers and Sisters.”
They suppressed the curiosity in their hearts as they saluted him back and told him their names.
The cheeky young woman in the Fourth Order approached Yang Kai and looked up at him, “Senior Brother Yang, can you tell me more about the outside world since that’s where you come from?”
As the Eldest Senior Sister, the woman in green chided her by saying, “You can’t be so impolite, Junior Sister Cen!”
The young woman named Cen Cen pouted with her lips pressed together and hung her head low in a dispirited manner.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Junior Sister Cen, I’d be happy to tell you about the outside world if that’s what you’d like. It’s not some kind of secret anyway. However, haven’t you all visited the outside world before?”
Cen Cen’s shoulders drooped as she shook her head, “Old Ancestor said that we’re only allowed to leave once we make it to the Seventh Order. It seems that I’ll never be able to leave in my lifetime.”
She was only in the Fourth Order, so even if she directly ascended to that Order, her limit would be the Sixth Order. It seemed that there was no hope for her to make it to the Seventh Order in her lifetime.
Yang Kai was lost for words for a moment before asking, “Why is there such a rule?”
Surprisingly, none of them actually knew the reason. It was the rule their Old Ancestor had set, and no one dared to disobey him. Despite knowing there was an outside world, they hadn’t come into contact with outsiders prior to today.
After pestering Grandmaster Ma Fan for half a year, Yang Kai still couldn’t get him to refine a palace artifact for him. The reason he followed the woman in green to this place was that he wanted to indirectly achieve his goal. He thought that by becoming closer to these remnants of Great Evolution Paradise, he could then ask them to help persuade Grandmaster Ma Fan.
Since he had a favour to ask of them, Yang Kai naturally had to satisfy them first.
The group of people, regardless of their gender or age, hospitably welcomed Yang Kai into a large hall. They were then seated around Yang Kai, including the woman who was the Eldest Senior Sister. They all looked forward to hearing stories from him.
Yang Kai found it funny and sorrowful at the same time.
He didn’t mind telling them about the outside world. Over the years, he had gained quite a lot of experience by venturing to many places, so he began regaling them of sights and scenes they had never experienced before.
Most of the events were pretty boring actually, but when Yang Kai spoke about the times he fell into danger, they would exclaim and become resentful of his enemies as well.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but think that these people were too pure-hearted since they had been living in this sealed space for their entire lives. It was no wonder that Grandmaster Ma Fan wouldn’t allow them to leave. If they suddenly entered the outside world, they would’ve been easily deceived and taken advantage of.
He had been ignored by Grandmaster Ma Fan for half a year, but in this place, Yang Kai had become a popular figure. At the thought of this, he couldn’t help but think that fate was truly unpredictable.
Yang Kai wasn’t in a rush to ask them to help persuade Grandmaster Ma Fan either. He had already waited for half a year anyway, so he wouldn’t mind waiting for another six months. There would come a time when his wish was granted.
The Eldest Senior Sister, whose name was Nalan Lu Shui, helped him settle down in a three-storey bamboo house. The environment was clean and serene. When he opened the door, he could see a sea of flowers that were fighting for his attention with their vibrant colours.
However, Yang Kai could never get some proper rest while he was there. There would always be people who looked for him and asked him to talk about the outside world almost every day.
After one month, they gradually became familiar with one another, especially Cen Cen. It seemed she loved making new friends, and Yang Kai could quench her seemingly insatiable curiosity; therefore, in her heart now, while her Eldest Senior Sister was ranked first and the Old Ancestor came second, this visitor named Yang Kai was firmly in third place. All her other Fellow Brothers had to step aside.
Sometimes, Yang Kai would go out to take a stroll and talk to the people here, and soon he had a better grasp of the situation in this Universe World.
In fact, this was the only Universe World where there were living beings in the entire Great Evolution Paradise. Although there were other habitable Universe Worlds in this sealed space, there were no survivors residing in those places.
Supposedly, they were the only descendants of Great Evolution Paradise, but even though their Sect had fallen, they shouldn’t have been so weak. In reality, there wasn’t even a single Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master that was born in Great Evolution Paradise in the past 10,000 years. Other than that, the number of Open Heaven Realm Masters in this place was also surprisingly small. Apart from the fact that there wasn’t even a single Seventh-Order Master, there were just over thirty Open Heaven Realm Masters among these remnants of Great Evolution Paradise.
Moreover, none of these thirty or so cultivators had directly ascended to the Sixth Order. Although Eldest Senior Sister Nalan Lu Shui was in the Sixth Order, she made it to her current realm from the Fifth Oder through hard work.
Basically, all these remnants could only directly ascend to the Fifth Order, Fourth Order, or even lower.
It felt as though this place had been cursed by a mysterious power that limited the growth of these survivors.
In fact, Yang Kai had spent some time examining this Universe World, and he found that the number of residents in this place was quite small. Supposedly, given the heritage left behind in Great Evolution Paradise, there should have been many more Open Heaven Realm Masters, and their Orders shouldn’t have been this low.
Yang Kai had tried finding out the reason behind this situation but to no avail, so he could only give up.
What was more surprising to him was that other than Eldest Senior Sister Nalan Lu Shui and some older Open Heaven Realm Masters, the others like Cen Cen had no idea that they were the remnants of Great Evolution Paradise.
They were born and bred in this place, and none of them had left this sealed space before, nor had anyone told them about the history of Great Evolution Paradise.
The glory and honour of this great force that was once one of the 72 Paradises had been forgotten by their descendants, which was sorrowful indeed.
In just three months, Yang Kai had managed to figure out many things.
After that, he returned to the place where Grandmaster Ma Fan lived. The door of the main hall remained tightly shut as he was apparently not welcome to enter.
Standing outside the main hall, Yang Kai sported a faint smile and slowly said, “When I was still a Great Emperor in the past, I broke free from the restraint of my Universe World and arrived at the 3,000 Worlds. Not long after that, I came across an accident and fell into a Sealed World called the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary. That Sealed World was truly amazing, but it was also extremely dangerous. Many Divine Spirits lived there and fought against one another. In the middle of Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, there was a secret place that was called the Primordial Land by the Divine Spirits. Only cultivators below the Open Heaven realm could enter that place while the Divine Spirits were barred from entry. I had the good fortune to enter the Primordial Land and compete against many other talented youths for opportunities. Inside the Primordial Land, there was a tree called the World Tree that could bear World Fruits. I had an opportunity to go through some trials and eventually obtained quite a number of World Fruits. I was also lucky enough to have obtained a root from the World Tree itself.”
The person inside the main hall didn’t respond to him, so it was as though Yang Kai was talking to himself. However, Yang Kai knew that Grandmaster Ma Fan must be able to hear him, it was just that the old man didn’t bother to reply to him.
Yang Kai didn’t mind it as he went on to say, “A calamity fell upon the Universe World where I came from, which was the Star Boundary. Powerful cultivators fought against each other there, which caused great damage to the world. On top of that, much of its Auspicious Spirit Essence was consumed. A member of the Giant Spirit God Clan, which was attracted to my dying Universe World, eventually told me that the World Tree could save my home. Therefore, after I obtained the root of the World Tree from the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary, I returned to the Star Boundary when there was a chance. Then, I found a place and planted the root there. The Giant Spirit God clansman didn’t lie to me. Over the years, the root grew and transformed into a subtree of the World Tree. The Star Boundary gradually stabilised as there were no longer any signs of it collapsing. I thought that matters would end there. I was already lucky enough to have obtained a root from the World Tree, and my wish had been granted since my Universe World was saved. I wouldn’t dare to ask for more. However, I had never expected that saving my World was just the tip of the iceberg of the World Tree’s power. A few years ago, someone from my homeland came to my Void Land and told me some news that would leave me pleasantly surprised. Following the continuous nourishment from the World Tree, the heritage of the Star Boundary became increasingly ample, which allowed cultivators living there to more easily comprehend the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao. The aptitudes of my parents had always been average at best. If there hadn’t been such an opportunity, they would’ve ended up in the Third-Order Open Heaven realm; however, since they were in our homeland and grew together with the World Tree, not only did they manage to condense their Dao Seals far ahead of when I had expected them to, but they could also hope to make an initial breakthrough to the Fourth-Order or even the Fifth-Order.”
The aura in the main hall, which was usually impassive, shook a little at those words.
Yang Kai put on a smile and continued, “Senior, you’ve been living inside the ruins of Great Evolution Paradise all this time, so it’s not surprising for you to be unaware of what’s going on in the outside world. It’s expected that you don’t know that I fought an intense battle against an Inner Elder of Thousand Cranes Paradise, Zuo Quan Hui, in the recent past. In that battle, several hundred Open Heaven Realm Masters lost their lives, including several Sixth-Order ones. After they passed away, their Small Universes collapsed apart and their World Forces dissipated. However, all that World Force was absorbed by the World Tree subtree, which in turn allowed it to grow even larger and more rapidly. It is now 300 kilometres tall and its roots have spread throughout the entire Star Boundary. The nourishment it returns to the Star Boundary is astonishing. Now, all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises have gathered together in my homeland, the Star Boundary. An agreement has been reached among us that allows them to respectively take on five disciples every 100 years from the Star Boundary. I’ve also given them a landmass of 500,000 square kilometres each to build Dao Temples for themselves where they can raise talented disciples of their own. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, the Star Boundary is the most unique Universe World in existence. With the continuous nourishment of the World Tree, the Star Boundary is bound to see many more talents appearing. Even if one is not born in the Star Boundary, their future would still be bright if they were nurtured there from a young age. Several hundred years to 1,000 years later, there will be countless people who will be able to directly ascend to the Fifth and Sixth Order directly.”
The next instant, the door, which had remained closed for a long time, creaked open. Yang Kai put on a smile and adjusted his clothes before stepping through it.
Inside the main hall, Grandmaster Ma Fan was seated with his legs crossed as he appeared doubtful with a scowl. When he saw Yang Kai coming over, he shot him a distrustful look.
Yang Kai directly took a seat in front of him and put on a helpless smile, “It’s so difficult to see you, Grandmaster.”
The long grey eyebrows of Grandmaster Ma Fan flapped in the air, “If it’s just like what you’ve said, the tree that has grown in your homeland is just the subtree of the World Tree. Is it really so amazing?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “The Star Boundary and the World Tree are open for all to see. If you don’t believe me, you can go over and have a look. By then, you’ll know whether I’m boasting or not.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan shook his head, “I’ve certainly heard about the World Tree, but I wasn’t aware that it could provide continuous nourishment to the land it is planted in.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I only found out about it recently as well. I guess prior to that, no one knew that the World Tree had such an effect; after all, the Mother Tree lives in the Grand Ancient Ruins Boundary. No one has brought it out and planted it in a Universe World before. That’s why no one was aware of the benefits it could provide.”
“I’ll definitely have a look at the Star Boundary. If you dare to lie to me…”
“I wouldn’t dare to.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan pursed his lips, “Did Lan You Ruo tell you about Great Evolution Paradise?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “The Proprietress never told me anything. I found out about it while having a chat with a Senior from Yin-Yang Cave Heaven.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan sported a milder expression and nodded.
Yang Kai straightened his face and said, “I don’t know what happened to Great Evolution Paradise in the past that caused the great force, which was once one of the 72 Paradises, to fall into such a state. However, the portal leading to these ruins has been sealed off, and you’ve imposed a restriction on Senior Sister Lu Shui and the others that they can never leave this place before they make it to the Seventh Order. Obviously, you’re worried that your enemies will retaliate against them. They may be safe staying here, and if they leave, they might expose their whereabouts. I admire the fact that all of you from Great Evolution Paradise have been patiently growing stronger and preparing yourselves, but it’s said that even the cleverest woman cannot cook a meal without rice. You’ll need more capital in order to get your revenge. Given the situation in Great Evolution Paradise now, how long will it take before the glory of your Sect will be restored?”
Grandmaster Ma Fan shot him a look, “What are you trying to say, brat?”
Yang Kai put on a meaningful grin, “You can find some youths with exceptional aptitudes and send them to the Star Boundary just like the 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises have done. The disciples might turn out to be pretty powerful. Even though this move is risky, I can make some arrangements and ensure that your enemies will not find out about it.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan questioned, “We do have some enemies… but who do you think our enemies are?”
Yang Kai frowned, “Is it not like what I think?”
He thought that the enemies of Great Evolution Paradise must be from one of the Cave Heavens or Paradises; after all, given the power of Great Evolution Paradise back then, they couldn’t be easily oppressed by just any great force.
Previously, Grandmaster Ma Fan made Yang Kai owe him a favour because he could see that the young man had the potential to directly ascend to the Seventh Order and become a Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master eventually.
If Yang Kai really made it to the Ninth Order, he would be powerful enough to deal with those Cave Heavens and Paradises.
However, Grandmaster Ma Fan’s words suggested that Yang Kai’s assumptions were incorrect.
The old man didn’t bother to explain anything; however, the World Tree was apparently attractive enough to him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have opened the door and let Yang Kai enter.
After giving it a thought, Grandmaster Ma Fan said, “You wait here for a few days. I’ll go out and ask around. If this matter is just like you’ve said, everyone must be aware of it since all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises have gotten involved. If you’ve lied to me though, I’ll sweep you out of this place and never allow you to return.”
Yang Kai extended his hand to motion for him to go ahead.
Following that, Grandmaster Ma Fan disappeared the next moment.
After the old man was gone, Yang Kai let out a breath with an elated expression. Initially, he followed Nalan Lu Shui back to her place in the hope that she could help persuade Grandmaster Ma Fan to make him change his mind and refine a palace artifact of Void Land.
However, after getting to know more about this place, Yang Kai realised that things were a little different from what he had thought. Now, he no longer needed Nalan Lu Shui to help him. If the old man wanted to restore Great Evolution Paradise to its former glory, he would certainly be tempted by the allure of the Star Boundary.
After all, the focus of all the Cave Heavens and Paradises was on the Star Boundary now, so there was no way the ruined Great Evolution Paradise could ignore it.
Presently, Great Evolution Paradise was like a traveller in the desert while the Star Boundary was like an oasis where there was plenty of water.
Yang Kai stroked his chin as he was in a jovial mood. Now, it was Grandmaster Ma Fan who had to seek his help, not the other way around. Could he try to get more benefits out of this situation?
It was extremely difficult to find such an Artifact Refining Grandmaster, and it would take Void Land an enormous amount of time and energy to nurture one.
Yang Kai wasn’t worried that the old man wouldn’t get any information about the Star Boundary. After such a long time, the existence of the World Tree had become a well-known fact across the 3,000 Worlds. Besides the Cave Heavens and Paradises, there were also many cultivators from Second Class great forces wandering around in the Star Boundary. Before Yang Kai left, many powerful cultivators would visit High Heaven Palace and ask for a place to build Dao Temples of their own.
Certainly, those from High Heaven Palace would never agree to this. The table was only so big and there were only so many seats. All of the seats had been occupied by the Cave Heavens and Paradises as well as High Heaven Palace. Anyone who wanted to obtain a place had to get the permission of those from High Heaven Palace as well as the Cave Heavens and Paradises, so no one would dare to make a scene.
Although those from High Heaven Palace never gave these people any land of their own, they wouldn’t stop those powerful cultivators from obtaining disciples in the Star Boundary as long as they followed the rules. It was their own opportunity to get their desired disciples. Yang Kai was looking forward to the day when the cultivators from the Star Boundary became powerful enough in all the places in the 3,000 Worlds, which was why he never even intended to stop these people.
There were a Star City and Universe Temple in Great Evolution Territory, so it would be convenient for Grandmaster Ma Fan to get the information he needed from these two places as both places were filled with people from all walks of life, and all sorts of information spread around very quickly.
Therefore, the old man returned about ten days later.
Yang Kai was waiting for him in the main hall, but he didn’t get up to greet him when he saw him. The old man was obviously in a different mood. A glimmer of hope suddenly came into his sight just when he had almost given up. Despite his best efforts, he could barely contain his excitement.
The information he obtained from the Star City and Universe Temple proved that Yang Kai didn’t lie to him. There was really an amazing World Tree in the Star Boundary that had attracted the attention of everyone in the 3,000 Worlds. All 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises had set up Dao Temples while many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had gathered together in that place.
The Star Boundary was now touted to be the 3,000 Worlds’ Open Heaven Realm Cradle, which was a peerless honour.
Although Grandmaster Ma Fan hadn’t gone to the Star Boundary to see it for himself, he could confirm that Yang Kai wasn’t exaggerating.
Faced with such a temptation, both the old man and Great Evolution Paradise were unable to resist it; therefore, despite knowing that he had to pay a price by biting the bait, he would still do it.
The old man then took a seat in front of Yang Kai and spoke in a frank tone, “Although Great Evolution Paradise is now a husk of its former self, we used to be one of the 72 Paradises. Just like you’ve given to the other Cave Heavens and Paradises, we’ll also get five disciples from the Star Boundary every 100 years, and I want a landmass of 500,000 square kilometres to use as a Dao Temple.”
“Good.” Yang Kai nodded as he didn’t have the intention of haggling with him over this.
The old man was slightly surprised by his straightforwardness, then he continued, “I don’t know what benefits those Cave Heavens and Paradises have offered you, but we don’t have any rewards to give you now. However, you owed me a favour, and you must have come all the way here to ask for something. I won’t take advantage of you. Just see it as you’ve returned the favour, and I’ll also agree to your request this time.”
Yang Kai put on a grin, “You’re truly a straightforward person, Senior. I won’t stand on ceremony then. Do we have a deal?”
Grandmaster Ma Fan nodded, “However, you’ll have to wait here for a while longer. I’ll have to send the young ones to the Star Boundary and help them settle down before I return and refine the artifact for you.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I’m not in a rush for that artifact. You can handle the matters regarding Great Evolution Paradise first.”
He knew that the old man would never be at ease before having a look at the Star Boundary himself. Only when the old man visited the Star Boundary and witnessed its prosperity would the deal be approved.
After a pause, Yang Kai added, “Senior, would you be interested in becoming a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace? If you agree to it, I’ll offer more benefits to the disciples of Great Evolution Paradise living in the Star Boundary.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan fell silent upon hearing that.
Seeing that the old man didn’t immediately reject him, Yang Kai knew that there might be some hope; hence, he quickly followed up, “There’s no rush in making a decision, Senior. You can have a look at the Star Boundary first, and we’ll talk about it later. To be honest with you, Yu Chang Dao of Free and Unfettered Paradise is now a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of High Heaven Palace.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan stared intently at him and remarked, “It seems that the Star Boundary is truly attractive to a lot of people.”
If that wasn’t the case, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master wouldn’t have agreed to becoming a Guest Elder of a Universe World Sect.
Yang Kai put on a meaningful grin.
The old man got up and said, “I’ll make the arrangements for the young ones now. You can do whatever you want here.”
After taking a few steps forward, he turned his head and asked, “What do you want me to make for you this time?”
Yang Kai hurriedly replied, “A mobile palace artifact. I suffered a setback when I was dealing with Zuo Quan Hui previously, so I want to obtain one for my Sect.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan commented, “That will require a lot of materials. You’d better get prepared.”
Yang Kai smiled and nodded, “I know.”
The old man stopped talking and left the place.
It was pretty troublesome to send the young ones of Great Evolution Paradise to the Star Boundary. First of all, they had to pick out disciples with exceptional aptitudes. Nalan Lu Shui and the others were astounded when they heard about the news. Yang Kai went on to wait in the place where Grandmaster Ma Fan usually lived for one month before he saw the old man again.
After some asking, Yang Kai found out that Nalan Lu Shui was still in the process of selecting disciples, and it would take some time before the matter could be settled.
Yang Kai said, “Senior, it’ll take you half a year to go to the Star Boundary and come back here, so I won’t linger here. After you arrive at the Star Boundary, just look for the Head Manager of High Heaven Palace, Hua Qing Si, and she’ll make all the arrangements. Also, you can tell her all the materials that are required to refine the palace artifact. She’ll prepare everything.”
After saying that, Yang Kai passed the old man a jade slip that served as a Faith Token. Yang Kai had written down all the information Hua Qing Si would need.
Grandmaster Ma Fan took it and frowned, “Are you not coming with me?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “I’m not going back for now as I still have other matters to attend to. I’ll come get the palace artifact when I return to this place in the future.”
“Good.” The old man nodded as he didn’t want to force him. A moment later, he suddenly said, “Take out your Void Yin-Yang Mirrors.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai grinned from ear to ear as he said, “Many thanks, Senior.”
Grandmaster Ma Fan said, “I’ve never taken advantage of anyone before. Artifact Refining is my craft, and it won’t take me much effort. Since you’ve offered me such great help, I’ll repay you in kind. Regardless of whether I agree to becoming a Supreme High-Rank Guest Elder of your Sect, you can come to me whenever you need to refine artifacts in the future.”
Yang Kai was ecstatic, “Many thanks, Senior!”
Since he had gotten such a promise, it no longer mattered whether the old man would become a Guest Elder or not.
Sixteen Array Boards were then taken out swiftly. Grandmaster Ma Fan asked for many materials from Yang Kai before he started working on them. He certainly needed to repair the damaged parts, but he also planned to remodel them based on the existing foundation.
Just like refining pills, making artifacts required attention to detail. Usually, once an artifact had taken shape, it would require an Artifact Refiner more skillful than the original creator to further refine and improve it. Grandmaster Ma Fan was obviously capable of doing this. It would just take him some time to refine the hastily made Array Boards, which wasn’t difficult for him at all.
When Yang Kai retrieved the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors some time later, the sizes of all sixteen Array Boards had shrunk significantly. Additionally, the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors obviously had been upgraded after the refinement. The consumption of energy it would require to activate this set of artifacts had been lessened and their sturdiness had been improved.
Yang Kai was certainly pleased with it.
Grandmaster Ma Fan would only start refining the palace artifact after he returned from the Star Boundary, and it would take a lot of time. Since Yang Kai didn’t have the intention to wait here, he bid the old man farewell. He wouldn’t need to worry about the materials anyway. By then, Grandmaster Ma Fan would just have to give a list to Hua Qing Si, and everything would be prepared by her.
However, before Yang Kai’s departure, Grandmaster Ma Fan suddenly recalled something as he said, “Leave that Purple Qi here. I can mix it in with the palace artifact and increase its power.”
Hearing that, Yang Kai hurriedly fished out the Purple Qi from his Small Universe and asked curiously, “Does Senior know what this thing is?”
He had previously noticed that Grandmaster Ma Fan was a little interested in the Purple Qi, so the old man could clearly recognise it. The item was certainly terrific since it could catch the attention of an Artifact Refining Grandmaster.
“It’s a Purple Heaven Divine Thunder,” Grandmaster Ma Fan replied, “It’s also called the Purging Evil Divine Thunder which is capable of vanquishing all kinds of wicked and malicious intent.”
“Divine Thunder?” Yang Kai was astounded. The Purple Qi that had swirled around his fingers like a snake didn’t look like lightning at all.
Grandmaster Ma Fan didn’t explain anything as he gently flicked the Purple Qi.
The next instant, an explosive sound was heard as a series of booming thunderclaps rang out. The Purple Qi that originally draped around Yang Kai’s fingers in an obedient manner suddenly became violent, as though it was a beast that would swallow its prey alive.
Although Yang Kai was strong, his fingers still felt numb from the impact.
“It’s a very rare material. Only a pristine and pure Universe World can nurture a strand of Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. Unfortunately, with this thing around, such a Universe World is destined to decline.” Grandmaster Ma Fan took the Purple Qi from Yang Kai’s hand and activated his World Force to suppress it. The violent Purple Qi soon became obedient again.
“Why is that?” Yang Kai was puzzled.
Grandmaster Ma Fan explained, “That’s because the entire essence of a Universe World is absorbed into this thing. How could a Universe World survive such a process?”
Yang Kai seemed to understand something.
As the old man looked at the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder in his hand, he fell into his thoughts. He remembered that in the past, there was a woman clad in red clothes in Great Evolution Paradise who possessed a purple sword that was refined from Purple Heaven Divine Thunder. That woman said that she would destroy all evil in the world with her sword in a clear voice. His memory of it was so vivid that it was as though it just happened yesterday.
At that time, Grandmaster Ma Fan was a Common Disciple who had just joined the Sect.
Time passed by so quickly and in the blink of an eye, he was already an old man with a long grey beard.
“You may leave now. The palace artifact will be ready when you come back next time.” Grandmaster Ma Fan waved his hand.
Yang Kai bowed his head, “Many thanks, Grandmaster.”
An hour later, in a Restricted Area in Great Evolution Paradise, candle-lights flickered inside the ancestral hall. In front of more than 30,000 memorial tablets, Grandmaster Ma Fan said with a smile while his eyes were slightly red, “Sect Master, Elders, Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, I’ve persevered long enough to see this day. There’s hope for Great Evolution Paradise now. Just you wait, I’ll soon lead the descendants of Great Evolution Paradise out to obtain revenge for all of you!”
On that day, a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master arrived at Heavenly Martial Hall’s Great Evolution Branch and destroyed its signboard, though he didn’t harm anyone in the process. The Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were in charge of the Great Evolution Branch, trembled in fear as they had no idea whether they had offended this top cultivator in some way, nor did they know where he came from. They just knew that he was an old man with grey hair and beard.
After he left, the cultivators in the branch hurriedly informed those from the headquarters of Heavenly Martial Hall about it. The Hall Master personally came to look into the matter, but he couldn’t find any answers.
However, after that day, those from Heavenly Martial Hall tactfully stopped using the name Great Evolution for their branch.
A few days later, in the ruins of Great Evolution Paradise, Grandmaster Ma Fan looked down at the selected youths and nodded with satisfaction.
Nalan Lu Shui and the others were surprised to see that their Old Ancestor, who always had a hunchback, was standing tall on this day, as though the burden on his body had finally disappeared.
The Shattered Heaven was a lawless land where opportunities and crisis co-existed. It was rumoured that there were countless treasures in this place; therefore, even though it was extremely dangerous, it could still attract brave souls to step into it.
In a restaurant in the Shattered Heaven Star City, Yang Kai was seated by the window on the second floor. As he looked down at the sea of people, he tutted in amazement.
He previously came to this place to enter the Shadowless Cave Heaven and save the Proprietress. Since he was in a rush at the time, he wasn’t in the mood to look around.
It wasn’t until he revisited the Shattered Heaven Star City that he realised that despite the fact that the city was small and disorderly, there were a lot of valuable items on sale.
Certainly, it might have something to do with his cultivation as well. He was only an Emperor Realm cultivator when he previously came to this place, but now, he was already a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Since his horizons had been broadened, he naturally could see things in a different light.
“I heard that the Shattered Heaven was formed because ancient Great Experts fought against one another and destroyed several neighbouring Great Territories. I wonder what got those ancient Great Experts into such a scuffle,” Yang Kai muttered.
There was a grim-looking middle-aged man who was seated across from him who decided to ignore Yang Kai as he took a sip of his wine.
Yang Kai turned to look at him and put on a smile, “You’ve lived for so long already, so why do you still get mad so easily?”
Wu Kuang snapped, “You should try being trapped in a sack for twenty years!”
Yang Kai chuckled, “Well, there was a change of plans. I hadn’t expected that it’d take me such a long time to repair the Universe Temples.”
After Yang Kai left the Star Boundary, his visits to Black Territory and Great Evolution Paradise didn’t take him much time; however, he had been held up for twenty years repairing the broken Universe Temples.
During this period of time, Wu Kuang had been hiding inside the Six Fated Paths Bag while Yang Kai lugged it along with him.
After all, this guy was still a disciple of Myriad Demons Cave Heaven on paper. He had killed Yin Xin Zhao and Pei Wen Xuan before absorbing all of their cultivation. He could hide his whereabouts while he was in the New Great Territory as those from Myriad Demons Cave Heaven and Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven wouldn’t be able to find him there. Nevertheless, if he rashly showed up anywhere else, he would probably be discovered by Yu Huan from Myriad Demons Heaven. By then, it would be hard for him to explain himself.
Therefore, when he learned that Yang Kai was coming to the Shattered Heaven, he told the latter to bring him along.
The first thing that sprang into Yang Kai’s mind was the Six Fated Paths Bag. His own Small Universe couldn’t accommodate Wu Kuang, who was also in the Sixth-Order, as it would render him too weak if he did so. As such, he could only use the Six Fated Paths Bag.
In the past, Yang Kai had used this thing to keep Yue He, who was also in the Sixth-Order, inside it; however, this artifact also had a limit. It could only accommodate a few Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Yang Kai had never been able to figure out what the Six Fated Paths Bag was made of that allowed it to keep Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters inside it.
There was no way Wu Kuang could return to Myriad Demons Cave Heaven. Meanwhile, no Sect in the 3,000 Worlds would welcome him. As such, the Shattered Heaven was the best place for him. Murder and robbery were rampant in this cursed place. It was no wonder that a Devil Lord like Wu Kuang would take a liking to it.
Yang Kai had never expected that before his departure, he would be brought to a Universe Temple by Xu Ling Gong to repair it, and he went on to do exactly that for the next twenty years.
As a result, Wu Kuang was trapped inside the Six Fated Paths Bag for twenty years. Anyone would be upset if such an incident happened to them. However, Wu Kuang would never dare to make a rash move despite feeling vexed. If he really tore the bag apart and left, he might be caught. Not only would his future be hanging in the balance, but Yang Kai would also be dragged into the mess.
Wu Kuang then chugged down the wine and slammed the cup on the table before rising from the chair, “Farewell!”
Following that, he turned around and shuffled out of the restaurant.
Yang Kai picked up his own cup and gently called out, “Don’t get killed somewhere.”
Wu Kuang waved his hand without turning his head as though he never heard him. Once he stepped out of this restaurant, he would be like a tiger that returned to the mountain or a Dragon that dove into the ocean. The world would be his to savour.
On a street that was crammed with people, a handsome young man in all white clothes strolled around. Wherever he went, the passers-by would be slightly pushed away from him by an invisible force.
Sensing something, Yang Kai took a glance at this person, and it just so happened that the young man also stopped in his tracks and looked up.
As they exchanged glances, both of them frowned.
Even though Yang Kai was certain that it was the first time he came across this white robed youth, he immediately felt repulsed by him for no apparent reason. It was almost an instinctual reaction, as though it was how it was naturally supposed to be, which was unprecedented for him. Yang Kai wasn’t an arrogant or overbearing individual, and since it was the first time they met, why would he feel such distaste for this young man when they had only exchanged glances? They hadn’t even spoken to each other yet.
Judging from the white robed youth’s expression, Yang Kai knew that the other party shared the same sentiment.
Fortunately, neither of them seemed to want to cause trouble. The white robed youth was apparently in a rush, so he soon retracted his gaze and strode out of the Star City alongside the crowd.
A moment later, Yang Kai paid the bill and calmly left the restaurant.
Outside the Star City, a petite young woman, who had been following the white robed youth, asked, “What did you see, Young Master? You seem displeased.”
The young woman appeared innocent as she held a branch with some peach blossoms on it. As jovial as a monkey, she kept jumping around the young man.
The white robed youth replied dispassionately, “Nothing. I just saw someone I dislike.”
The young woman batted her eyes, “Since you don’t like him, I’ll kill him for you.”
While never stopping in his tracks, the white robed youth shook his head, “There’s no need for that. There are countless people I hate in the world. It’s not like he matters at all.”
In a matter-of-factly manner, the young woman said, “I’ll kill anyone you hate, Young Master.”
The white robed youth didn’t respond to her.
As they spoke, they had already flown out 10 million kilometres.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai had also left the Star City. After identifying the direction, he turned into a ray of light and shot forward.
The reason he visited the Shattered Heaven was to increase his strength. An Open Heaven Realm Master had to increase their heritage in order to strengthen their cultivation, which was a painfully long process. Be it refining Open Heaven Pills or various materials of different Orders, it required a lot of time and effort.
For a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to ascend to the Seventh-Order, 1,000 years of cultivation was the absolute minimum requirement. For a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master to make it to the Eighth-Order, it would take him several thousand years to over 10,000 years to even make an attempt. As for an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master trying to reach the Ninth-Order, several tens of thousands of years were required.
Yang Kai had no idea whether there were any Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Cave Heavens and Paradises, but he had seen several Masters in the Eighth-Order before. Be it the Ancestor who was in charge of the Small Source Worlds in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven or the Ancestors he had seen in the Universe Temple, they were all Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
As for Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, Yang Kai speculated that such people did exist in the Cave Heavens and Paradises, but there wouldn’t be a lot of them. Perhaps there was only one Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in each of those Sects. Yang Kai even speculated that some of the Cave Heavens and Paradises might not have a single Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master overseeing them.
He was now a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, and due to the various opportunities he had come across, the heritage of his Small Universe was more ample than average. However, he was still some distance away from the Seventh-Order.
In order to increase his cultivation quickly, Yang Kai either had to enter another Small Source World or look for a Temporal River like the one Xu Ling Gong had mentioned before.
Nevertheless, he was unable to use either of these shortcuts. The Cave Heavens and Paradises all had Small Source Worlds, but they were only open for their own disciples. Even Yin-Yang Cave Heaven would never allow Yang Kai to use their Small Source World again, let alone other great forces.
The only way to speed things up that Yang Kai could think of was the Astral Wind Divine Ability that he had come across after leaving the Shadowless Cave Heaven with the Proprietress back then.
It was a Divine Ability that was left behind by a Great Expert in ancient times. Although many years had passed, it still remained intact as it blocked the exit of the Shadowless Cave Heaven. The Astral Wind would gust into Shadowless Cave Heaven from time to time and sweep away the heritages of Open Heaven Realm Master’s Small Universes. It was similar to the eerie aura in Black Territory.
In the Astral Wind Divine Ability, Wind Spirits had been nurtured.
Previously, Yang Kai drew some Wind Spirits in his Small Universe and killed them. After they passed away, they left behind a lot of very pure World Force, which helped strengthen his heritage.
However, Yang Kai was eager to return to Void Land at that time, so he didn’t stay for long. Instead, he memorised the route and thought that he would come back in the future.
The reason he revisited the Shattered Heaven this time was to go after the Wind Spirits in the Astral Wind Divine Ability.
As long as he could attract all the Wind Spirits into his Small Universe and kill them, he would make a huge leap forward on his way to the Seventh-Order.
Yang Kai still remembered that after they left the Shadowless Cave Heaven previously, they went on to wander around the Shattered Heaven for half a year before they ran across a fight between two Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. After asking them for directions, Yang Kai’s group kept moving forward for half a month before they arrived at Shattered Heaven Star City.
Since he didn’t have much time to memorise the route back then, Yang Kai wasn’t sure if he could find the Astral Wind Divine Ability this time. However, the Astral Wind Divine Ability covered a vast area, so as long as he knew the general location, he would eventually find it.
Wherever he went, Yang Kai could see cultivators who were in a hurry. Although the Shattered Heaven was dangerous, it was also a battlefield of Great Experts from ancient times where many treasures and hidden Universe Cave Heavens and Universe Paradises were left behind. Therefore, it could still attract many cultivators to fight for opportunities.
Sometimes, Yang Kai would see cultivators getting into bloody fights. He would usually ignore and circumvent these people.
As he went further, Yang Kai encountered fewer and fewer people.
After looking around for half a year, his wish was finally granted as he saw the gigantic Astral Wind Divine Ability hovering in the void.
Although it wasn’t the first time he saw it, Yang Kai was still awestruck by its magnificence.
It was a storm that covered an area of several tens of millions of kilometres as it swirled around, affecting the void around it, making it seem like space was being torn apart.
If a Universe World such as the Star Boundary was hit by such a Divine Ability, it would be ground to pieces instantly. The cultivation of the ancient Great Expert who unleashed this Divine Ability must be inscrutable.
Yang Kai longed for that kind of strength.
Such a Divine Ability could only have been produced by a Master in the Eighth-Order at the very least. However, considering the fact that the Divine Ability had been worn down over time, the person who used it in the past must have been a Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
There was no doubt that a Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master came from one of the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
What was the reason that caused those ancient Great Experts to fight here and even shatter the neighbouring Great Territories?
It was said that all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises had been united since time immemorial, so why did they fight against one another in this place?
Compared to the 3,000 Worlds, which had existed for countless eons, both Void Land and Yang Kai were still young and inexperienced.
There were many secrets he hadn’t figured out and many sights he hadn’t seen in this vast universe.
Xu Ling Gong had said the secret behind the Universe Temples could threaten the safety of the 3,000 Worlds, but Yang Kai hadn’t figured out the reason behind it.
A Universe Temple was like a transit station for cultivators. As long as one had left behind their Imprint, they could use the Universe Transference Law and instantly return to a Universe Temple within the same Great Territory. Although it was truly abstruse, Yang Kai didn’t understand why it had something to do with the safety of the 3,000 Worlds.
In any case, he didn’t really mind it as he reckoned that he would figure out all these puzzles one day.
Presently, he was staring at the huge Astral Wind Divine Ability, but just when he was preparing to enter, he saw a figure actually emerge from it.
The person was clad in tattered clothes and covered in blood while he almost crashed into Yang Kai, who instantly stopped in his tracks.
The man who just dashed out of the Astral Wind was startled as he hadn’t expected to see another Human in this place.
With that said, he was pretty agile as he quickly moved aside and brushed past Yang Kai. Upon stopping on a spot that was 1,000 metres away, he turned around to look at Yang Kai in shock.
Yang Kai was staring at him as well. Although this person was battered and his aura was weak, he was clearly a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Moreover, the wounds on this person’s figure radiated a golden glow while the flesh in the wounds squirmed and healed itself at a visible rate.
With his brow raised, Yang Kai couldn’t help but recall a Secret Technique from one of the Cave Heavens, Immovable Bright King Body.
The Star Boundary had become a household name since there was a World Tree in that place. Back then, while Yang Kai was still in the Star Boundary, he came into contact with High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from all 108 Cave Heavens and Paradises. Xu Ling Gong also helped him understand more about these top great forces at the time.
Bright King Cave Heaven was one of the 36 Cave Heavens, and their disciples were all Body Tempering Masters whose figures were extremely sturdy and far surpassed cultivators in the same Order. That was because they had a Secret Art called the Immovable Bright King Body that was best suited for Body Tempering.
From the Sect Master to the Common Disciples, everyone from Bright King Cave Heaven was a Master in Body Tempering while the people who had the right to cultivate the Immovable Bright King Body were the best of them all.
They were not used to using any artifacts as their bodies were the strongest weapons and armor. In the 3,000 Worlds, Bright King Cave Heaven had collected the highest number of Body Tempering Secret Arts and Secret Techniques. Stout Immovable Bright King Body, Unbreakable Diamond Body, and Flawless Golden Body were extremely rare Special Constitutions in the outside world, but they were very common among Bright King Cave Heaven disciples.
Xu Ling Gong once mentioned that it was extremely hard to harm a cultivator from Bright King Cave Heaven. Both men and women from the Sect were sturdy, and they had no regard for any great forces that were below their calibre.
When two cultivators in the same realm fought, the one from Bright King Cave Heaven would usually win if the other was not overwhelmingly stronger. Given their intrepid physiques, they could simply wear their opponents down until they won the battle.
Yang Kai never expected to come across a cultivator from Bright King Cave Heaven in this place. It seemed that just like Xu Ling Gong had said, these guys who cultivated Immovable Bright King Body were mad men who didn’t treasure their lives. They would always make use of anything they could to temper their bodies, no matter how dangerous.
It was apparent that this person had dashed into the Astral Wind Divine Ability some time ago in order to strengthen his physique.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but admire this man, whose body was as sturdy as his own Half-Dragon Form. It had to be noted that the Astral Wind Divine Ability was probably left behind by a Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Even the average High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master would have a hard time while inside of it. Although this Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master appeared battered, in truth he had only suffered some flesh wounds.
The reason Yang Kai had a robust body was because he had a Dragon Clan bloodline. On the other hand, this person tempered his body through pure hard work and perseverance.
That unknown man arched his brow and asked, “Are you here to temper your body as well, Junior Brother?”
“Indeed.” Yang Kai smiled and nodded.
The person’s eyes lit up when he heard that as he gave Yang Kai a thumbs-up without hesitation, “You’re brave and insightful.” He then pointed his thumb at his own nose and boasted by saying, “Just like me.”
Yang Kai chuckled upon hearing that. Since it was confirmed that this person was from Bright King Cave Heaven, he could let his guard down. Cultivators from the Cave Heavens and Paradises could be arrogant, but they wouldn’t usually create trouble and get into fights with others for no reason.
“Xu Wang.” The young man told Yang Kai his name and looked fervently at him, “What’s your name, Junior Brother?”
Although both of them were in the Sixth-Order, this person directly regarded himself as the Senior Brother, so it was apparent that he had a frank personality.
“Yang Kai.”
“So it is Junior Brother Yang.” Xu Wang nodded firmly. While he was speaking, all the wounds on his body had healed. Although he still appeared exhausted, he would recover after getting some rest. He then passionately said, “Junior Brother, since you’ve found this Astral Wind Divine Ability and want to enter to temper your body, I have some advice for you as a Senior Brother.”
“Please go ahead, Senior Brother Xu.” Yang Kai extended his hand.
Xu Wang said, “The inside of this Divine Ability is indeed a good place for Body Tempering; however, it’s also extremely dangerous, so you have to be careful. You have to be especially cautious of the Wind Spirits and must not let them come near you. It’s hard to get rid of them, and they can absorb your World Force to strengthen themselves. If you fight them, they’ll grow even stronger, but if you don’t fight them, they’ll never leave you alone. They can also sneak into your Small Universe, so be especially cautious.”
Yang Kai was already aware of this. In the past, he had brought quite a number of Open Heaven Realm Masters out of the Shadowless Cave Heaven. When they were passing through the Astral Wind Divine Ability, some of the Fourth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were invaded by the Wind Spirits. In just over ten breaths, their heritages were swallowed up, which caused their Small Universes to collapse and led to their demise.
It was obvious that Xu Wang was a forthright individual since he didn’t hide this truth from Yang Kai despite the fact that it was the first time they met.
A moved Yang Kai asked, “Was your Small Universe intruded by a Wind Spirit, Senior Brother?”
This person wouldn’t have realised it if he hadn’t experienced it.
As expected, Xu Wang appeared somewhat fearful as he recalled, “En. Fortunately, I was somehow able to force it out; otherwise, I would’ve lost my life.”
He was more than just lucky since he was able to force a Wind Spirit out of his Small Universe. This person named Xu Wang apparently had his own unique methods.
Yang Kai didn’t delve deeper into the topic and just nodded with gratitude, “Many thanks for the warning, Senior Brother Xu. I’ll remember to run away from the Wind Spirits if I see them.”
Xu Wang grinned and revealed his white teeth, “A real man is able to yield when it’s necessary to do so. I’m quite fond of you, Junior Brother.” All of a sudden, he balled up his fist and hit it with his other palm. While appearing to be combative, he said, “Since I’ve given you such valuable information, I’d like to ask you to do me a favour. You might find it a little odd, though.”
A bad feeling swept over Yang Kai as his brow twitched slightly, “Since it’s odd, you probably shouldn’t bring it up.”
Xu Wang guffawed, “Sorry, your request is denied. Since both are Body Tempering cultivators, and we’re in the same Order, we shouldn’t miss such a chance. Please fight with me, Junior Brother. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you, and I won’t mind it if you’re able to break me.”
Without caring about whether Yang Kai would agree or not, Xu Wang directly charged forward and pushed out his fist.
Since Yang Kai was already expecting this, he immediately raised his fist to meet the attack. He instantly felt a violent force coming at him as though he was punching an entire universe.
Borrowing that force, Yang Kai didn’t resist and allowed himself to be sent flying backward, crashing into the Astral Wind Divine Ability.
Xu Wang, who had only let out one punch, became dumbfounded for a moment before he pursed his lips, “That Junior Brother is a slippery one.”
He wanted to chase after Yang Kai; however, he had just consumed a lot of his strength. If he entered the Divine Ability again in such a state, he would be inviting trouble to himself. After giving it a thought, he put on a grin, “It’s not like you can hide inside forever. I’ll just wait for you to come out!”
Following that, he sat down with his legs crossed and gulped down some Open Heaven Pills before recuperating in silence.
Three days later, Xu Wang appeared amazed. He initially thought that Yang Kai could only last one or two days in the Astral Wind, but the latter was still nowhere to be seen.
It had to be noted that when he came here for the first time, he could only last for five days.
After five days, Yang Kai was still nowhere to be found. There was an approving look on Xu Wang’s face as Yang Kai was also able to last for so long despite the fact that it was his first time here. It went to show that Yang Kai was just as sturdy as Xu Wang was, and they were probably equal matches.
Ten days later, Xu Wang sported a solemn expression.
Half a month later, Xu Wang was unable to sit back anymore as he dashed into the Astral Wind to look for Yang Kai.
Another half a month later, he flew out of the Astral Wind while covered in blood. He turned to look at the gigantic Astral Wind and sighed, “Why did he die at such a young age? Now there’s one fewer person who can fight with me. This feels terrible.”
It had been a whole month since Yang Kai entered the Astral Wind, but he still hadn’t returned. Xu Wang tried to look for him, but it was to no avail. It was now obvious that Yang Kai had lost his life.
Xu Wang reckoned that Yang Kai had passed away after his Small Universe was invaded by a Wind Spirit. The reason Xu Wang was able to force a Wind Spirit out of his Small Universe was that he had come across a certain opportunity in the past that gave him more control over his Small Universe. However, other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters might not be able to copy his success.
With that said, what really made Xu Wang feel vexed was that Yang Kai hadn’t had a proper fight with him before his death.
Despite that, they were mere acquaintances. Although he felt sorry for Yang Kai, they were not really friends to begin with, so after feeling regretful for a moment, Xu Wang stopped thinking about it and rested for a bit before returning to the Astral Wind. As he let the Astral Wind cut his flesh, he attempted to comprehend the abstrusity of the Immovable Bright King Body.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai, who was thought to be dead, was seated somewhere in the depths of the Astral Wind with his legs crossed. There was an ancient tree hovering behind him as its low hanging branches formed a shield that warded off the Astral Wind around him. The wind that could cause people like Xu Wang to be covered in blood was unable to penetrate the Towering Evergreen at all. It could only form some ripples on the surface of the green light barrier.
A Wind Spirit with four limbs but without any facial features howled and shot towards Yang Kai, as though it was a shark that caught a whiff of blood in the water.
Just when it was about to crash into the Towering Evergreen, a thought flashed through Yang Kai’s mind as he slightly opened up the protective layer of his Divine Manifestation.
Since there were no more obstacles, the Wind Spirit directly dove into Yang Kai’s Small Universe.
There were already some Wind Spirits of different sizes and strengths inside Yang Kai’s Small Universe; however, all of them were being burned by Golden Crow’s True Fire.
When Yang Kai previously escaped this place, he made use of his Golden Crow’s True Fire to deal with the Wind Spirits which had appeared. With such an experience, he was now able to repeat this process with ease.
While the Wind Spirits appeared to be growling, they were voiceless. They struggled in silence as they were being destroyed by the Golden Crow’s True Fire.
After each Wind Spirit was incinerated, a dark fog would be released along with a large amount of pure World Force. Yang Kai could easily absorb this World Force to strengthen his Small Universe.
The dark fog was obviously something bad; therefore, Yang Kai would seal it and then force it out of his body. As a result, he appeared to be shrouded in a layer of Black Qi, which was quite eerie.
A lot of Wind Spirits had been nurtured in the Astral Wind Divine Ability over the millennia. Moreover, they were sensitive to their surroundings. The moment Yang Kai barged in, even the Wind Spirits in the distance noticed him and charged towards him.
The Wind Spirits were burned and killed while the heritage of Yang Kai’s Small Universe increased.
One month later, fewer Wind Spirits jumped into the trap, and eventually, no more showed up.
Yang Kai got to his feet and headed towards the depths of the Astral Wind Divine Ability before repeating the same process.
Meanwhile, Xu Wang, who had been practicing Body Tempering in the Astral Wind Divine Ability, felt somewhat confused recently. In the past, every time he entered the Astral Wind, he would be bothered by the Wind Spirits from time to time. He didn’t have the intention to deal with those eerie Wind Spirits, so he could only flee; therefore, his training involved enduring the Astral Wind Divine Ability while escaping from the Wind Spirits.
However, he could clearly feel that the Wind Spirits had decreased in number recently, and eventually, he couldn’t even see a single one.
This was puzzling to him. He had been cultivating in this place for more than ten years, but the situation had never changed. It wasn’t until the arrival of the young man named Yang Kai that things had become different.
Could the disappearance of the Wind Spirits have something to do with him?
Nonetheless, Xu Wang had personally experienced the power of those Wind Spirits. Although he was also a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he still had to run away from them, so how could Yang Kai possibly be spared the calamity?
While feeling curious, Xu Wang shuffled towards the depths of the Astral Wind, which he had never attempted to enter in the past ten years. Wherever he went though, other than the destructive Astral Wind, he couldn’t see a single Wind Spirit.
He was unable to go too far into the Astral Wind since he wouldn’t be able to bear the tearing forces. When his limit was reached, he had no choice but to leave. Unfortunately, he was unable to figure out whether Yang Kai was still alive, or whether the disappearance of the Wind Spirits had anything to do with him.
One day, while Xu Wang was meditating outside of the Astral Wind, he suddenly felt that something was off. When he opened his eyes, he saw a red crow with bloodshot eyes 1,000 metres away. While hovering in the void, the crow stared at him with a tilted head.
Seeing that Xu Wang had opened his eyes, the crow suddenly flapped its wings and squawked.
A disturbing cry was instantly heard in Xu Wang’s mind. Following the lead of the voice, his thoughts fluctuated while a gust of energy shot towards his head.
“Blood Crow!” Xu Wang widened his eyes and hurriedly leapt to his feet.
Blood Crow was a symbol as well as a title of one of the greatest calamities in the Shattered Heaven over recent decades. Blood Crow Divine Monarch, who had gathered together a group of Open Heaven Realm Masters, had taken up residence in the Shattered Heaven and over the past few years, had committed a lot of outrageous crimes and killed countless people. Other than the cultivators from the ordinary Sects who explored the Shattered Heaven to seek out treasures, even some of the top cultivators from the Cave Heavens and Paradises had suffered losses because of Blood Crow Divine Monarch. Some of them were even killed. Many of them were Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Others might not know the background of Blood Crow Divine Monarch, but Xu Wang was fully aware of that since he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from Bright King Heaven.
Some years ago, the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, which was located in Blood Monster Territory, collapsed. Blood Monster Cave Heaven was a Universe Cave Heaven left behind by an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master known as Blood Monster Divine Monarch after his death. At that time, he had trapped another Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master called Black Crow Divine Monarch in his Small Universe.
When Blood Monster Cave Heaven opened up previously, Black Crow Divine Monarch seized the chance and was reborn in another person’s body. He already had the heritage of a Seventh-Order Master, so although he was only a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master after seizing another body, he was a cunning and sly old fox. While he was suppressed in the Universe Cave Heaven, Black Crow Divine Monarch comprehended the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture left behind by Blood Monster Divine Monarch, which significantly increased his strength.
Inside the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, Black Crow Divine Monarch had killed many of the disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises who had entered the Universe Cave Heaven for life experience, which infuriated those great forces.
After the Blood Monster Cave Heaven fell apart, those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises cordoned off the Territory Gates leading out of Blood Monster Territory in an attempt to capture Black Crow Divine Monarch so that they could avenge the death of their disciples; however, it wasn’t certain what trick that guy had used, but he had managed to escape.
Following that, Black Crow Divine Monarch arrived at the Shattered Heaven. In the entire 3,000 Worlds, only a lawless land such as the Shattered Heaven was relatively safe for him.
Xu Wang had heard from his Elders that Ti Zheng, who was responsible for the external affairs of Myriad Demons Heaven, was killed by Black Crow Divine Monarch. It was said that he was ambushed when he was in critical condition and drained of all his Blood Essence. Otherwise, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master wouldn’t have passed away so easily.
Over the years, the Cave Heavens and Paradises had deployed countless disciples and resources to the Shattered Heaven in an attempt to capture Black Crow Divine Monarch. Those from Myriad Demons Heaven were especially enthusiastic about this task. However, their efforts turned out to be futile. As years turned to decades, Black Crow Divine Monarch recruited even more subordinates. Since he had fully comprehended the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture, his power had increased significantly, and he had also changed his title from Black Crow to Blood Crow.
It was said that wherever the Blood Crow went, all living creatures would die.
Therefore, the moment Xu Wang saw a blood crow, he knew that he was in trouble.
While getting up, he threw a punch out at the squawking Blood Crow and instantly turned it into a blood mist. Before Xu Wang could flee though, a blood cloud rushed over and surrounded him, which ensured that he wouldn’t be able to escape. At the same time, an eerie laugh was heard and a voice called out, “You have very ample vitality, brat. This Monarch is in luck!”
Xu Wang roared as he charged forward with clenched fists. While he was inside the blood cloud, he was unable to identify his direction, and though his World Force surged and shattered pieces of the blood cloud, it was soon restored and continued engulfing him.
Despite being in a perilous situation, Xu Wang remained unfazed. As he used his Divine Sense to look for Blood Crow and repeatedly pushed out his fists in an imposing manner.
Since he was always able to get out of the Astral Wind Divine Ability, there was no way he would lose his life here.
Like a cat that had captured a rat, Blood Crow Divine Monarch taunted him by saying, “Try harder, brat. Why are you so weak? Keep your blood burning!”
Xu Wang naturally ignored him.
The intense battle lasted for three days. Xu Wang’s vitality never withered as he remained at the peak of his power. His body radiated a golden glow as his Immovable Bright King Body was fully activated.
The average Open Heaven Realm Master, even if they were in the Sixth-Order, would have been penetrated by the blood cloud and had their blood sucked out long ago. Once one’s vitality withered, their strength would plunge to a point where they would be easily captured by their opponent.
Since Xu Wang was able to ward off the Astral Wind, he naturally could do the same for this blood cloud. The Immovable Bright King Body was a Body Tempering Secret Art that was superior to even the Flawless Golden Body. Although Blood Crow Divine Monarch’s blood cloud was abstruse, it was unable to harm Xu Wang in the short time.
However, to the Blood Crow Divine Monarch, Xu Wang was just a cornered beast who would eventually have to admit defeat.
Since he held the absolute advantage, he would be able to enjoy his meal as long as he could continue trapping Xu Wang. It was actually a source of amusement watching his food struggling before death.
Half a month later, Xu Wang suddenly stopped attacking. As he gazed at the dense blood cloud, he praised the other party by saying, “You indeed live up to your reputation, Blood Crow Divine Monarch.”
The eerie laugh was heard again, “Stop flattering this Monarch. I won’t let you go no matter what. If you’re tactful enough, surrender now and I will kill you without causing too much pain. If you remain obstinate, I’ll make sure that you suffer greatly before you die.” He cackled.
Xu Wang grinned and revealed his white teeth, “You want to eat me? Aren’t you worried your stomach might burst?”
Blood Crow sneered, “This Monarch has a strong stomach. There’s nothing in the world that I can’t eat.”
“Give it a try, then.” Upon finishing his words, Xu Wang directly sat down with his legs crossed and stopped making any futile attempts to escape. As he emptied his mind and remained unmoving, a golden figure manifested behind him and protected him.
Seeing that, Blood Crow frowned.
If Xu Wang had continued blindly exerting himself, he would’ve only hastened his own death. Although a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was strong, the heritage of their Small Universe was limited. It wasn’t like Xu Wang could go on squandering his strength forever.
However, now that Xu Wang had sat down and focused all his efforts on protecting himself, he could stall for a much longer time, which made Blood Crow feel vexed. He had rarely come across anyone whose vitality was as ample as this guy in his previous life, let alone this life. If he could refine Xu Wang’s Blood Essence, his cultivation would increase greatly. It was more effective than consuming several ordinary Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Blood Crow then snorted, “Let’s see how much longer you can persevere.”
Following that, he fully activated the blood mist in an attempt to penetrate Xu Wang. Layers of ripples started appearing on the golden figure, which was the manifestation of the Immovable Bright King.
In the meantime, several Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters suddenly showed up in the blood mist and bombarded the seated Xu Wang with their Secret Techniques and Divine Abilities.
These Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were all lackeys of Blood Crow Divine Monarch. Some of them were brought out of the Blood Monster Cave Heaven by him in the past while some of them were subdued in the Shattered Heaven. Without any exception, they were all taught pieces of the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture and planted with a Blood Principle Restriction. That was the reason they wouldn’t dare to disobey Blood Crow.
There was once a newly subdued Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who remained arrogant and defiant, but with a single thought, Blood Crow Divine Monarch turned that Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, who was planted with a Blood Principle Restriction, into a puddle of Blood Essence and ate him.
After that, no one dared to disobey Blood Crow again.
Although the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture they cultivated was not the complete version, they were already able to refine Blood Essence as well, which allowed their cultivation to increase rapidly. Nevertheless, their foundations were unstable, and their temperaments had been affected, becoming more brutal and savage.
The place where the Astral Wind Divine Ability was located was in the depths of the Shattered Heaven where rarely anyone would visit. Xu Wang chanced upon this wonderful place for Body Tempering in the past by accident, but now that he was trapped by Blood Crow’s Divine Ability, he couldn’t even hope to be rescued.
His situation exacerbated since he was faced with the attacks of the several Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who served Blood Crow.
In just a few days, the golden glow of his Immovable Bright King Body had dimmed significantly. The golden figure behind him faltered as well, as though it would collapse at any moment.
Since he was in such a perilous situation, he would be doomed without the protection of the Immovable Bright King Body.
In fact, Xu Wang wasn’t afraid of death. It had come to a point where he was at peace with destiny, he was just frustrated with himself for being so weak that he wasn’t even able to escape from Blood Crow.
He was a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven who had cultivated the Immovable Bright King Body. As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he was naturally powerful. Of the cultivators in the same Order, only those from the other Cave Heavens and Paradises were potentially a match for him. The rest of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the 3,000 Worlds would never be able to defeat him.
However, Blood Crow was different. This guy was reborn after occupying someone else’s body, so he had the heritage of the Seventh-Order, and he possessed some profound and mysterious Divine Abilities. So, he was much more powerful than the average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Additionally, he had a number of Sixth-Order Blood Slaves to serve as his lackeys. That was the reason Xu Wang felt so dispirited.
“You won’t last much longer, boy. What’s the point of struggling so hard? You have to know that the sooner you give up, the quicker you’ll be relieved of your suffering.” Blood Crow’s voice reverberated around the blood cloud as he attempted to harass him.
Xu Wang naturally wouldn’t fall for his trick as he ignored Blood Crow entirely. While he was warding off the blood mist, he also had to deal with the Sixth-Order Blood Slaves.
“You’re so obstinate. In that case, I’ll let you have a taste of the pain of death!” As soon as Blood Crow finished speaking, the blood cloud around Xu Wang surged violently. A tiny crack appeared on the already dim Immovable Bright King Body. The blood mist passed through the crack and swirled around Xu Wang like a snake.
Xu Wang bellowed and pushed his strength to block all his pores and acupoints. He knew that once he was penetrated by the blood mist, he would be doomed. By then, regardless of how sturdy his body was, he would be controlled by Blood Crow Divine Monarch’s Blood Principles.
Being distracted though, Xu Wang found it even harder to deal with the Sixth-Order Blood Slaves.
Just when his life was hanging by a thread, a figure suddenly shot out of the huge Astral Wind Divine Ability. Seeing the sight in front of him, he remarked with surprise, “It’s quite lively here.”
When this newcomer detected a familiar aura, he arched his brow and looked at the blood cloud while muttering, “Black Crow?”
Just when Blood Crow was ready to destroy the stout Immovable Bright King Body and absorb Xu Wang’s Blood Essence, he became startled for a moment. Upon detecting Yang Kai with his Divine Sense, he exclaimed, “Why are you here, you brat?”
While Yang Kai was surprised to have come across Blood Crow in this place, the other party was equally shocked.
The two of them were old acquaintances.
When they were in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven back then, Blood Crow initially wanted to seize Yang Kai’s body since the latter had incredibly rich vitality, but he ultimately failed in his attempt. Since Qu Hua Shang was a woman, she wasn’t a valid target either. On the other hand, Pei Wen Xuan, who was from Myriad Demons Cave Heaven, had a way to ward him off. In the end, Blood Crow could only occupy the body of Zhou Yi, who was from Great Thousand Blood Land, and was successfully reborn.
After that, he headed straight to the Blood Monster Divine Palace in an attempt to refine and take control of it. If he had succeeded, he would become the owner of the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. By then, all the cultivators in that place would be controlled by him. With the resources in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven as his support, Blood Crow would have ample time and capital to restore himself to his peak.
However, his plans were foiled by Yang Kai, who had destroyed the Blood Monster Divine Palace and caused the Blood Monster Cave Heaven to break apart. Blood Crow Divine Monarch was thus exposed ahead of time and became the target of scorn.
It could be said that it was because of Yang Kai that Blood Crow had to go into hiding in the Shattered Heaven. If this brat hadn’t foiled his plan, he would’ve stayed in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven and lived a carefree life instead of having to be cautious all the time now.
When Yang Kai previously arrived in the Shattered Heaven to save the Proprietress, the two of them had met and secretly worked together. In that battle, Blood Crow Divine Monarch led his Blood Slaves and killed many Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
Although they had joined forces before, it still hadn’t resolved the grudges between them.
There had never been a day when Blood Crow didn’t want to skin Yang Kai alive and drink his blood. However, since Yang Kai’s last visit to the Shattered Heaven decades ago, there had not been any news about him. Although Blood Crow was fuming with rage, there was nothing he could do.
Nevertheless, he hadn’t expected to come across Yang Kai on this day.
While he was shocked, he was also ecstatic. Back then, Yang Kai had the protection of Zhu Jiu Yin, a powerful Divine Spirit, so there was no way for Blood Crow to deal with him. After weighing the pros and cons, he even decided to work with him. However, things were different now. Not only had Blood Crow ascended to the Sixth-Order, but his Blood Slaves had also become tremendously powerful. Even Xu Wang, who was from Bright King Cave Heaven, was trapped in his Divine Ability. As long as Yang Kai wasn’t protected by a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he wouldn’t be spared from calamity this time.
It was apparent that he was on his own, and there was no Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master or Divine Spirit around to protect him.
“Hahaha!” Blood Crow couldn’t help but guffaw in a smug manner, “One really wears out iron shoes looking for their feet! Brat, it’s a double happiness for me today! It seems that I’ll have an ample meal after so long. The Heavens have been kind to this Monarch!”
Certainly, Yang Kai’s vitality was more vigorous than that of Xu Wang. That was the reason Blood Crow had his eyes on Yang Kai back then and even wanted to seize his body.
Xu Wang alone was enough to allow him to take a huge leap forward in his Sixth-Order cultivation, so if he could also consume Yang Kai, he would reach the threshold of the Seventh-Order.
No one else could make it to the Seventh-Order from the Sixth-Order in such a rapid manner; however, Blood Crow was different. He already had the heritage of a Seventh-Order Master to begin with, and he had fully comprehended the abstrusity of the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture. Even though there would be some drawbacks if he ascended to the Seventh-Order so soon, there wouldn’t be a problem if he was willing to spend some time resolving those issues and stabilising his cultivation afterwards.
“Capture him!” Blood Crow yelled.
Immediately, two Sixth-Order Blood Slaves ditched Xu Wang and dashed out of the blood cloud before charging towards Yang Kai.
The Blood Slaves were leaking blood mists while there was an unusual shade of red on their skin. Their eyes were so bloodshot that they looked like lanterns, which was quite horrifying to see.
Yang Kai gazed at the Blood Slave on his left in silence and sighed.
This man was Elder Tan Luo Xing from Abundance City who held the same status as Pang Duo and Gong Yang Xi in the past. However, he had made a mistake and became a traitor to Abundance City.
Before the Blood Monster Cave Heaven fell apart, he fled from Abundance City. Somehow, Blood Crow Divine Monarch found him and brought him out of that place.
Back then, Tan Luo Xing lusted after the City Lord of Abundance City, Mo Mei. Although he was a conniving person, he hadn’t made any huge mistakes up until the point he met Yang Kai. But now, he was engulfed in a savage aura, and there wasn’t a hint of reason behind his gaze. It was obvious that his temperament had changed for the worse.
With that said, he could still recognise Yang Kai. That was why the fury and murderous intent behind his eyes were more intense than those of his companion.
Pang Duo, Gong Yang Xi, and the others were still in the Fifth-Order, and given their pace of cultivation, it would take them several hundred to 1,000 years before they could make it to the Sixth-Order.
On the other hand, Tan Luo Xing was already in the Sixth-Order. However, judging from his chaotic and unstable World Force, Yang Kai figured Tan Luo Xing hadn’t reached his current Order through conventional means. There were naturally drawbacks to increasing one’s cultivation too quickly. It seemed that it was the end of Tan Luo Xing’s Martial Dao in his lifetime, and even his lifespan had been affected as a result.
Faced with two Sixth-Order Blood Slaves, Yang Kai remained unmoving as though he was dumbstruck.
As World Forces undulated, two blood-coloured figures crashed into Yang Kai. After a slight pause, however, the figure on the right was sent flying away as quickly as he came. While tumbling out, he sprayed out a mouthful of blood and the blood mist around him almost completely dissipated.
On the other hand, Tan Luo Xing’s neck was clenched by Yang Kai as he was held firmly in place. He was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but at this moment, he was completely powerless to resist Yang Kai, as though he was a child who had never cultivated before.
Inside the blood cloud, Blood Crow’s laughter abruptly stopped as he looked at this sight in horror.
The Blood Slaves he had brought with him were all in the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm, and although they were not comparable to the disciples of the Cave Heavens and Paradises like Xu Wang, they were definitely much stronger than any newly promoted Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master should be.
Nevertheless, one of them was sent flying away while the other was captured.
Blood Crow hadn’t even managed to see how Yang Kai made a move. He just felt a surge of World Force and then the scene before him played out.
Certainly, it was also because he hadn’t been paying attention to the situation Yang Kai was in. He reckoned that even if Yang Kai was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it definitely hadn’t been long since he broke through. Given Yang Kai’s relatively weak heritage, it would be like a walk in the park for his Blood Slaves to capture him. That was why Blood Crow didn’t pay attention to him. All he had to do was defeat Xu Wang and enjoy his meal.
However, he was stunned by this unexpected outcome.
Even if he were in Yang Kai’s situation, he couldn’t have achieved this. He might be able to send a Blood Slave flying away by using his full strength, but it was inconceivable that Yang Kai was simultaneously able to capture and incapacitate his other Blood Slave.
These Sixth-Order Blood Slaves were not weak chickens in a pen that one could snatch up at will. Blood Crow could even see that Tan Luo Xing had been trying to resist, but whenever he attempted to draw on the might of his Small Universe, he would be interrupted by Yang Kai’s Secret Technique. That was why he was unable to use his strength at all and appeared so comical.
A person who couldn’t draw on the power of their Small Universe couldn’t be considered an Open Heaven Realm Master. He was just a slightly stronger cultivator.
Yang Kai appeared dispassionate while hoisting up Tan Luo Xing.
He hadn’t expected that when he used Cow Punch on an enemy for the first time, the person would be someone from Abundance City. If Tan Luo Xing hadn’t been blinded by jealousy and fled from Abundance City back then, he would’ve been working under Yang Kai now, just like Mo Mei and the others.
Nevertheless, life was like that. Once a person committed a mistake, it would be hard for them to return to the right path.
Since he had made the wrong decision, there was no turning back. Perhaps losing his life in this place would be the best outcome for him.
As Space Principles undulated, Yang Kai activated Cow Punch while a violent force gusted into Tan Luo Xing’s Small Universe.
Three layers of visible ripples spread from Tan Luo Xing. Following that, his Small Universe collapsed as his figure turned into a blood mist. He was killed just like that.
Back when Yang Kai had just made it to the Sixth-Order, he was already able to defeat the Head Mountain Lord of Profound Yang Mountain, Mao Zhe, who was at the peak of the Sixth-Order. Since then, Yang Kai’s cultivation had increased significantly through years of accumulation.
Be it the power of the Small Source World, or the Star Boundary’s World Force, or the Wind Spirits he had killed in the Astral Wind Divine Ability recently, they had all contributed to the tremendous increase in his heritage.
There was a huge gap between the average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master and himself. If Tan Luo Xing was still clear-headed, he might have been able to trade a few moves before being defeated; however, he was just a Blood Slave whose mind had been warped, blinded by hatred and murderous intent. He would be useful if he was going to oppress a weaker person; however, when faced with a cultivator like Yang Kai, he was practically useless.
The Blood Slave, who was sent flying away by Yang Kai earlier, returned at that moment. The blood mist had gathered around him again, and it seemed as though it was boiling. Before he even reached his opponent, the blood mist swirled into a huge hand and attempted to grab Yang Kai.
Yang Kai extended his hand and summoned his Azure Dragon Spear. Then, he pushed his spear forward as his weapon turned into innumerable shadows.
While the blood hand fell apart, the spear shadows converged and penetrated the chest of the Blood Slave who had just returned like he was a common fish. Presently, the Blood Slave was pierced through by the tip of the spear Yang Kai wielded.
However, the Blood Slave didn’t immediately pass away as he growled like a caged beast and shot out a blood arrow from his mouth. Despite its petite size, the blood arrow had condensed all the power of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Even if there was a Universe World in front of it, this arrow could still penetrate it.
Yang Kai tilted his head and dodged, but he still felt a sting of pain on his face as the arrow brushed past him.
He then swung his spear and surged his World Force before exploding the upper body of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master while his lower body, which was void of any vitality, drifted off.
In just three breaths, the two Sixth-Order Blood Slaves sent by Blood Crow Divine Monarch were killed, like they were chickens to the slaughter.
The sight horrified Blood Crow.
When he met Yang Kai previously, the latter was just an Emperor Realm Junior. If Yang Kai hadn’t had the protection of some powerful cultivators at the time, he wouldn’t even have the right to have a discussion with him. But when they met again on this day, Yang Kai had already become so formidable.
Furthermore, what made Blood Crow surprised and doubtful was that Yang Kai was now in the Sixth-Order, not in the Fifth-Order as he remembered.
Only a couple of decades had passed at most, so there was no way his heritage could be so ample regardless of how fast he accumulated strength. How did he achieve this kind of cultivation without several hundred years to 1,000 years of accumulation?
While Blood Crow was shocked, the blood cloud that had been engulfing Xu Wang weltered. Countless Blood Crows with crimson eyes suddenly appeared and swarmed Yang Kai.
Yang Kai snorted and used Near Distant Horizon.
As though space had been extended infinitely, the Blood Crows became sluggish regardless of how hard they tried to move forward. It was as if they were standing still, unable to advance.
Then, the Void shook as the Blood Crows were ground into blood mist.
With the spear in his hand, Yang Kai shot past the blood mist and thrust his weapon into the blood cloud.
Following that, he surged his World Force, but he didn’t manage to harm his enemy.
Blood Crow’s eerie laugh was heard again, “Is that all you’ve got, boy?”
Although Yang Kai was indeed powerful, Blood Crow was no pushover. He had his Seventh-Order heritage, and he had fully comprehended the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture. No one could harm him unless a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master showed up.
Moreover, he had actually escaped from the pursuit of the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Myriad Demons Heaven over the years.
“You’ll know if that’s all I’ve got soon enough.” An unfazed Yang Kai twisted his wrist as the dark Golden Crow’s True Fire spilled over the Azure Dragon Spear and started burning the blood cloud.
The blood cloud weltered as it was ignited and World Forces repeatedly clashed, causing the surrounding space to warp and contort.
“That’s it?” Blood Crow sneered. While fending off the Golden Crow’s True Fire, he still had the energy to split some Blood Crows out of the blood cloud to launch a counterattack on Yang Kai.
The Space Principles around Yang Kai undulated and formed into an impenetrable defensive layer. The Blood Crows would instantly turn into blood mist after crashing into it; however, as time passed, the blood mist around Yang Kai thickened as it was starting to show signs that he was being engulfed.
Once that happened, he would fall into the same situation as Xu Wang. After he was trapped inside it, he would never be able to get out unless he could break free from the blood mist.
After a cup of tea’s time, Yang Kai’s figure could only be faintly seen.
Blood Crow cackled, “Got you!”
As he spoke, the Blood Essence left behind by Tan Luo Xing and the other Blood Slave killed by Yang Kai seemed to have come alive as it split into two streams of blood and engulfed Yang Kai.
An unperturbed Yang Kai grinned, “What a coincidence. I was about to say the same!”
Swinging his fist, Yang Kai unleashed his Cow Punch as he followed the traces of Blood Crow’s aura back to the latter’s Small Universe.
There was a reason that the Secret Technique named Cow Punch was regarded as roguish by Senior Sister Jin. That was because if the opponent didn’t use their World Force, they couldn’t use their Open Heaven Realm strength. However, if they did activate their World Force, they would give Yang Kai a chance to trace it back to their Small Universe. It would be extremely difficult for anyone to deal with Yang Kai when faced with such a strange technique.
Yang Kai wasn’t sure if there were other Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques in the world that could directly target an Open Heaven Realm Master’s Small Universe, though he believed that given the profound heritage and inheritance of the Cave Heavens and Paradises, they should have similar Secret Techniques.
Nevertheless, those must be Core Secret Techniques of those great forces, and their effects couldn’t possibly be as great as his Cow Punch.
After all, his Secret Technique used Space Principles to directly bypass all forms of defence.
There was a prerequisite for the Secret Technique to work though. Yang Kai needed to successfully follow the traces of his opponent’s World Force, which would allow him to find openings in their Small Universe.
That was the essence of his Cow Punch Secret Technique. As long as Yang Kai had a chance to find the opening in his opponent’s Small Universe, the other party would certainly suffer a setback.
Earlier, Tan Luo Xing’s Small Universe was continuously shaken by his Cow Punch Secret Technique. That was why he was easily controlled by Yang Kai despite being a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Since he was unable to activate his World Force to resist, he was subsequently killed by Yang Kai.
Tan Luo Xing’s temperament had become contorted as his eyes were filled with hatred and murderous intent, so his normally focused and guarded aura was wildly swung about, making it easy to find. That was how Yang Kai could instantly subdue him.
However, it would take him some effort to pull the same trick on Blood Crow; after all, it wasn’t easy to find the openings of the latter’s Small Universe. Yang Kai directly jabbed his spear into the blood cloud, but he was unable to harm him; hence, he decided to start a contest of World Force. It seemed like a move made when he had no other choice, but he had actually done it deliberately.
A cup of tea’s time was more than enough for Yang Kai to trace back Blood Crow’s World Force.
Therefore, as the blood mist formed from the Blood Essence of the two Blood Slaves engulfed Yang Kai, his Cow Punch Secret Technique activated at the same time.
The blood cloud started immediately showing signs of coming apart. Blood Crow’s Small Universe descended into chaos, as though it had suffered a heavy blow, causing him to feel dazed and disoriented.
Before Blood Crow could compose himself, he felt an immense force surging within the blood cloud.
While he was astonished and tried to resist, it was too late for him to suppress it.
Xu Wang, who had been trapped for days, turned into a ray of light and shot out of the blood cloud. While his clothes were tattered, his hair flapped freely in the air. He was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from Bright King Cave Heaven after all, so his senses were incredibly sharp and didn’t miss this chance to escape. Although he wasn’t sure why the blood cloud that had restricted him had suddenly become loose, he realised that it was his opportunity to extricate himself.
Since he was finally set free, the energy that he had saved for days finally exploded.
Looking up, he saw Yang Kai with his spear in his hand as well as the Blood Slaves who had been harassing him this past month. There was also a figure that was condensing from the blood cloud.
[Blood Crow Divine Monarch!] Xu Wang was truly vexed. It had been many days since he was first trapped, and he was almost reduced to a puddle of blood, but it wasn’t until this moment that he finally saw the infamous person who had been reborn by occupying another’s body.
Blood Crow had the appearance of a grim-looking young man. From what Xu Wang had gathered, the young man was supposedly a disciple from Great Thousand Blood Land named Zhou Yi; however, after his body was occupied by Blood Crow, his Soul must have been devoured as well.
At this moment, Blood Crow appeared to be reeling from shock as he gazed at Yang Kai in disbelief. His pale face also suggested that he had suffered a small loss.
Upon seeing that, Xu Wang realised that it was Yang Kai who saved him.
Although he appeared composed, he was astounded in his heart.
It turned out Yang Kai wasn’t killed in the Astral Wind Divine Ability. It had to be noted that it had been half a year since they last met, so how did he survive in the Astral Wind for so long
It was apparent to Xu Wang now that the disappearance of the Wind Spirits must have had something to do with Yang Kai. There was no other explanation.
What made him feel even more surprised was that Yang Kai’s aura had become noticeably stronger compared to half a year ago. He was now even more powerful than the old ghosts in his Sect who had been stuck in the Sixth-Order for countless years.
Xu Wang had the urge to ask Yang Kai where all the Wind Spirits had gone, but it was obviously not the right time to do that, so he just nodded gently to him as a gesture of gratitude.
“What did you do?” Blood Crow sported a gloomy expression as he gazed doubtfully at Yang Kai. If his Small Universe hadn’t been shaken at that moment, causing it to descend into turmoil, Xu Wang wouldn’t have escaped, and Yang Kai would’ve been trapped as well. By then, he would be invincible. Although it would take him a longer time, he would be able to devour these two whose vitality was unbelievably vigorous.
However, he had never expected that Yang Kai had a way to target his opponent’s Small Universe directly.
“Would you like a second look at it?” Yang Kai looked smilingly at Blood Crow.
Blood Crow snorted without responding to him as he began racking his brain. He was certainly wary of Yang Kai’s new Secret Technique, but since he was now aware of it, he could take precautions.
He then recalled the death of his Blood Slave, Tan Luo Xing. At that time, he only felt that Yang Kai had used a mysterious technique to subdue Tan Luo Xing and kill him. Now, it was obvious to him that Yang Kai had used the same move on him just now.
He was an Old Monster who had been reborn after occupying someone else’s body, but he still suffered a setback because of Yang Kai’s Secret Technique, not to mention the Blood Slaves who had their thoughts blinded by hatred and murderous intent.
However, judging from Yang Kai’s previous action, Blood Crow believed that the eerie technique couldn’t be used as the other party pleased. Otherwise, Yang Kai could’ve instantly made him suffer a setback instead of waiting.
After pondering on it for a moment, he guessed that a technique that could directly target a person’s Small Universe was extremely brilliant, which required a lot of preparation. The characteristics of the technique were similar to some of the Secret Techniques he had heard of in the past.
At the thought of this, he grinned, “Since you’ve come all the way here to invite trouble to yourself, we’ll settle the grudges between us today, boy!”
Yang Kai pointed his spear at him, “I share the same sentiment!”
The reason he had come all the way to the Shattered Heaven was to go after the Wind Spirits. Since he had achieved his goal, he now had to get some training. The fact that Blood Crow managed to revive and escape from the Blood Monster Cave Heaven had something to do with him. Since he was partly responsible for it, Yang Kai naturally wanted to settle this issue.
As soon as he finished speaking, he took the initiative to thrust out his spear to attack his opponent.
Although both of them were in the Sixth-Order, Yang Kai wouldn’t dismiss this kind of Old Monster who was reborn by occupying someone else’s body and think that he could easily defeat him. If he really believed so, he would be the one suffering a setback in the end.
No one knew what this old fart, who was originally a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, had up his sleeves. Yang Kai had personally experienced Blood Crow’s methods back in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, so there was no way he would underestimate his opponent.
Faced with the ferocious attack, Blood Crow seemed to have been enraged as he clenched his fists and grasped a pair of twin butterfly daggers. As he surged his World Force, his twin daggers started radiating a glow that spanned across several kilometres of the void as though a butterfly was fluttering its wings.
Then, Blood Crow crossed the twin daggers in front of him and clashed with the tip of Azure Dragon Spear before pressing down the weapon as well as Yang Kai’s imposing aura. Following that, he pushed his twin daggers forward in an attempt to behead Yang Kai in one motion.
Instantly, Yang Kai tilted backwards as the daggers brushed past his forehead. He then wielded his spear and knocked back the twin daggers before following up with the stab of his weapon towards Blood Crow’s chest.
While moving backwards like a ghost, Blood Crow brought his right dagger down as though a mountain was descending upon Yang Kai.
An unfazed Yang Kai swung his spear and pushed it towards Blood Crow’s throat.
As their World Forces clashed, visible shockwaves blasted out. A few strands of Yang Kai’s hair were cut while there was a bit of redness on Blood Crow’s throat.
Only two or three breaths of time had passed since they began trading moves, but they had both respectively knocked on the gates of death at least once, which went to show how dangerous this confrontation was.
There wasn’t a moment for them to take a breath as they clashed with one another again, as though they had tacitly agreed to it.
A battle between Open Heaven Realm Masters was all about the competition between the heritages of their Small Universes and how much World Force they could bring forth. The more ample one’s heritage was, the stronger the World Force they could use, allowing them to gain the upper hand. The Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques were just like flowers decorating the bouquet.
As such, it was rare to see cultivators like Yang Kai and Blood Crow who engaged in fierce close combat with their artifacts as it was an extremely perilous form of battle. If they were not careful, both of them would be killed.
Blood Crow had never expected Yang Kai to be so ruthless, and Yang Kai was surprised to learn that Blood Crow had such impressive combat prowess. Every move he made with the twin butterfly daggers was shocking, pushing Yang Kai’s Supreme Limitless Spear Technique to the extreme as he attacked and defended simultaneously.
For a time, the battle fell into a deadlock.
Xu Wang felt his blood boiling as he watched the battle before him. As a cultivator from Bright King Cave Heaven, he was most fond of exchanging fists with his enemies. The cultivators from Bright King Cave Heaven were not good at using Divine Abilities or Secret Techniques as their bodies were their most powerful artifacts. Every move they made was able to split Heaven and Earth apart.
There was no doubt that a battle of the kind in front of him best was suited to his tastes. At that moment, his fighting spirit had been ignited. Nevertheless, before he could go over to help, the remaining two Blood Slaves came at him. It was apparent that they wouldn’t allow him to assist Yang Kai on the battlefield.
A helpless Xu Wang could only fight the enemy before him.
If he was still at the peak of his strength, he wouldn’t have any regard for these Blood Slaves whose foundation was unstable as they had made it to the Sixth-Order through some Evil Art; however, he had suffered for over a month under Blood Crow’s oppression. After such consumption, Xu Wang was only able to exert about 70% of his peak power. Faced with the two Blood Slaves, he realised that he wasn’t able to defeat them easily in his current state. Fortunately, there was no risk of him losing the fight either.
On the other hand, Blood Crow grew more astonished as the battle dragged on.
When he saw that Yang Kai was able to easily destroy the two Blood Slaves earlier, he already realised the heritage of this brat’s Small Universe was more ample than he thought. However, since he had his Seventh-Order foundation, and he had repeatedly escaped from the pursuits of some Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, he didn’t have any regard for Yang Kai, who was also in the Sixth-Order.
It wasn’t until they traded moves that he realised Yang Kai was a true anomaly.
Blood Crow had never seen a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master whose heritage was as ample as Yang Kai’s. Every time their World Forces clashed, it was Blood Crow who would be the one at a disadvantage. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was just once or twice, but the repeated clashes were causing his Small Universe to shake and destabilize.
What made it feel even more inconceivable to him was that Yang Kai’s spear technique was truly exquisite. The spear in his hands seemed to have come alive. Despite being an expert in melee combat himself, he still couldn’t get the upper hand.
His heritage wasn’t as ample as that of Yang Kai, and his combat skills couldn’t gain him an advantage. Meanwhile, his Blood Slaves had to hold Xu Wang up. Hence, he was unable to defeat Yang Kai.
At the thought of this, Blood Crow started considering fleeing.
The reason he had survived for so many years and even found a chance to become reborn after years of suppression was that he could adapt to the circumstances.
He wouldn’t easily offend opponents that he could not defeat. Young people who were bold but inexperienced would always end up in a horrible state because of their pride and stubbornness.
Although Blood Crow wasn’t willing to admit it, he knew that Yang Kai was already invincible within the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm. No one could defeat him unless they were a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
Before Blood Crow could make up his mind though, Yang Kai found a chance to trace back his aura and used his Cow Punch again.
At that instant, Blood Crow felt his Small Universe shaking violently. The mountains crumbled and everything appeared pale inside of him.
[It’s that damned technique again!] Blood Crow clenched his teeth while trying to suppress the weltering vitality in his chest and the turmoil in his Small Universe.
Just then, he saw a Great Sun leaping into the air as the cawing of a Golden Crow echoed across the void.
The darkness of space was illuminated by the brilliant light of the new Sun and a horrified expression filled Blood Crow’s face.
An expressionless Yang Kai lifted his spear to the Great Sun before thrusting it out at Blood Crow, timing it so that the latter still hadn’t been able to stabilize his Small Universe.
Initially, Yang Kai didn’t use his Divine Manifestation to attack the blood cloud because Xu Wang was still trapped inside it. If he really made a move, he would’ve harmed him as well. Afterwards, he still didn’t use it because there wasn’t a suitable opportunity. Although Golden Crow Casts the Sun was powerful, it would be pointless if Yang Kai missed his target.
Since Cow Punch was immediately followed by Golden Crow Casts the Sun, Blood Crow had no choice but to face this attack head on, regardless of how much strength he could actually exert.
As expected, faced with the Divine Manifestation which was on par with the full powered strike of a Seventh-Order Master, Blood Crow could only counterattack by slashing out with his glowing twin daggers.
However, his attempt was futile.
As the Great Sun exploded, Yang Kai could faintly hear someone scream as Blood Crow turned into blood mist.
As the light dimmed, Yang Kai didn’t show any happiness following his successful attack and instead narrowed his eyes as he turned to look at Xu Wang.
One of the Blood Slaves that was attacking Xu Wang was suddenly replaced by Blood Crow.
“I knew it!” Yang Kai grumbled.
He had definitely killed someone using his Golden Crow Casts the Sun just now, but just before his strike landed, he could feel that Blood Crow had exchanged places with one of his Blood Slaves.
In other words, Yang Kai had killed a Blood Slave, not Blood Crow.
Blood Crow, who had just used a Secret Technique to swap places with one of his slaves, appeared pale, like he had overexerted himself. Still, he swiftly slashed his twin daggers towards Xu Wang.
Upon seeing that, Xu Wang became slightly flustered.
Although it had been difficult for him to deal with the Blood Slaves, he wasn’t in a disadvantageous position at the very least. Nevertheless, since one of the Blood Slaves was replaced by Blood Crow, the pressure he had to face intensified greatly.
The twin daggers soon broke through Xu Wang’s World Force defences and were about to cut into him.
At the most critical moment, Xu Wang bent his body in an impossible angle and performed a hand seal by pressing his thumb against his middle finger as he roared, “Immovable Bright King!”
A golden light exploded out, but was soon destroyed by Blood Crow.
The twin daggers stabbed almost a palm’s length into Xu Wang’s flesh, causing him to bleed.
Fortunately, as a cultivator from Bright King Cave Heaven, his body was extremely robust, so a palm’s length was the best Blood Crow could achieve in his current state.
Seeing that his attempt had failed, Blood Crow landed a kick on Xu Wang’s shoulder and sent him flying away. In the meantime, he turned into a blood light and directly shot towards the depths of the void.
Meanwhile, the only surviving Blood Slave turned around and pounced on Yang Kai. It was apparent that Blood Crow knew that Yang Kai would try to stop him, so he ordered the Blood Slave to get into his opponent’s way.
Yang Kai was indeed rushing over. The moment he realised that something was off, he knew that Xu Wang was in trouble. Nevertheless, Blood Crow’s methods were truly profound and unpredictable, so he was late to rescue Xu Wang. Seeing that Xu Wang was wounded by the twin daggers and sent flying away, which left him badly injured, Yang Kai was quite vexed.
As he stared fixedly at the blood light that was fleeing, he thrust his spear forward ruthlessly.
The Blood Slave that was coming at Yang Kai didn’t even try to dodge though; instead, his figure started radiating a red glow as his blood appeared to be boiling.
Yang Kai frowned, but it was too late by the time he realised that something was wrong.
The Blood Slave directly detonated and turned into a blood cloud before engulfing Yang Kai in it. At that instant, all he could see was red.
In order to create a chance for himself to flee, Blood Crow had readily abandoned a Sixth-Order Blood Slave. It went to show that he was truly determined.
With that said, he knew that a Blood Slave was unable to hold Yang Kai up for a long time; after all, he also wasn’t a match for Yang Kai, so how was a Blood Slave, who had lost his mind and was blinded by rage, supposed to persevere for a long time?
Earlier, two Blood Slaves were killed by Yang Kai in three breaths.
Therefore, Blood Crow decided to detonate the Blood Slave and trap Yang Kai for a while so that he would stand a greater chance of fleeing.
Although the blood cloud was eerie and corrosive, it couldn’t stop the burning power of the Golden Crow’s True Fire; as such, after a dozen breaths of time, Yang Kai, who was covered in a black flame, left the blood cloud unscathed. The initially thick blood cloud had also become very thin due to the fire.
As he looked around, Yang Kai realised that Blood Crow was nowhere to be seen.
Yang Kai gazed in a particular direction and sneered. [Do you really think you can flee from me?]
Since Yang Kai was an expert in Space Principles, he was unmatched when it came to both fleeing and pursuing enemies. Although Blood Crow was nowhere to be seen, he would not be able to get rid of Yang Kai if the latter insisted on chasing after him.
Yang Kai didn’t immediately pursue though. Instead, he moved and appeared in front of Xu Wang the next instant.
The wounds on this guy’s chest were still bleeding, and he looked slightly pale. Moreover, his injuries were infected with some kind of strange power that squirmed like a snake and consumed Xu Wang’s Blood Essence to strengthen itself.
Although Xu Wang was trying his best to suppress it, it would take him some time to get rid of the eerie Blood Principles technique.
“Just leave me here and pursue the enemy, Junior Brother,” Xu Wang looked up and said.
Yang Kai nodded gently, “Please be cautious, Senior Brother Xu.”
Xu Wang flashed a smile at him, “I won’t die since I have a strong body. Go now. I’ll follow after you soon.”
Without speaking further, Yang Kai followed the trail and pursued Blood Crow.
Blood Crow had fully comprehended the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture, and his understanding of the Dao of Blood was deep. He was able to flee rapidly by using Blood Principles, but this kind of speed paled when it was compared to Space Principles.
Although he had a several dozen breaths of time head start, and he had been changing directions to throw Yang Kai off, he was still unable to shake off the latter.
One day later, in the depths of the Shattered Heaven, the two once more engaged in an intense battle.
Blood Crow was previously defeated, so he knew that he wasn’t a match for Yang Kai. In this battle, he was no longer as imposing as before. After persisting for about half and incense, he was already at a disadvantage, which put him in a perilous situation.
Just when Yang Kai was about to kill him ruthlessly, Blood Crow suddenly clenched his teeth and split into three. Not only were these figures identical, but there was also no difference between their auras. All of them were even holding twin butterfly daggers in their hands.
The three Blood Crows formed into a triangular formation and launched an attack on Yang Kai in an imposing manner.
Yang Kai warded them off with his spear but was still pushed back 100 kilometres. When he raised his head again, he saw that the three Blood Crows had turned into separate rays of lights and fled in three different directions.
The three Blood Crows then each split into three again. Presently, there were nine Blood Crows.
Although Yang Kai was knowledgeable and experienced, he still couldn’t help but frown at this sight. He released his Divine Sense to scan these nine clones, but he was unable to identify which one was the real Blood Crow.
The fact that Blood Crow was able to split into nine in the first place was amazing. The Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture was truly abstruse.
Without wasting any time, Yang Kai lifted his spear and chased after the nearest Blood Crow. Since he was unable to find the real one, he simply decided to kill all nine of them.
This dragged on into a lengthy pursuit.
One month later, eight Blood Crows were killed by Yang Kai using his Azure Dragon Spear, and the only remaining one was running for his life.
Yang Kai didn’t think he would be so unlucky to the point where he had killed eight fake Blood Crows out of nine, so he could only speculate that all nine Blood Crows were fake, but at the same time, all of them were also real.
In other words, as long as any one of the nine Black Crows was still alive, he would not die.
Five days later, Yang Kai finally caught up to the last Blood Crow. During the fierce battle that followed, Blood Crow was powerless to counterattack. At the most critical moment, he detonated himself and turned into countless blood-coloured crows that fled in all directions. Although Yang Kai attempted to kill them all, some of them successfully escaped.
Despite being at an advantage, Yang Kai still couldn’t help but lament that Blood Crow had innumerable ways of fleeing, which was an eye-opening experience. He had never seen a person that was so hard to kill.
On a shattered Spirit Province in the serene void, Blood Crow sported a gloomy expression as he gulped down a large amount of Open Heaven Pills to replenish his energy.
Although he had escaped from death twice, he had never been more embarrassed.
He was once hunted down by the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Myriad Demons Cave Heaven, but they were unable to push him to his limits.
On the other hand, Yang Kai, who was only in the Sixth-Order, let him have a taste of the worst time of his life.
Although the Dao of Blood was amazing, the Dao of Space was even more abstruse. Faced with such a Master, Blood Crow felt helpless while trying to flee.
At that moment, he felt fortunate that the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters from Myriad Demons Cave Heaven who pursued him were not experts in the Dao of Space; otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived.
After a long time of running and using several highly consuming Secret Techniques, Blood Crow was finally able to catch his breath. Presently, his aura was so weak he could only exert 50% of his peak strength.
Just then, he saw a few rays of lights approaching him. He was now frightened by the slightest sound after being pursued by Yang Kai, so when he saw these lights, he became horrified and almost instinctively fled.
However, he soon realised that none of them was Yang Kai; instead, they were some cultivators who had come together to explore the Shattered Heaven.
Although there were not a lot of people in the depths of the Shattered Heaven, there were still some. Most of them were cultivators from Second Class great forces who came searching for opportunities.
That was because this place was where many ancient Great Experts, who were all High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, passed away in an epic battle. Besides the Legacy Artifacts these Masters had left behind, there were also a lot of Universe Paradises and Universe Cave Heavens hidden in the Void.
Those were the Small Universes of the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters that had remained after their deaths; unfortunately, the entrances to such places were usually very well hidden.
Shadowless Cave Heaven, which Yang Kai had ventured into before, was one such Universe Cave Heaven.
In the 3,000 Worlds, the Second Class great forces were neither the best nor the worst. That was why the Universe Paradises and Universe Cave Heavens in the Shattered Heaven were deathly attractive to them.
If they could find one of the entrances, they would have an exclusive right to the resources inside, which were the former belongings of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master.
Since time immemorial, many Sects had found rich rewards in the Shattered Heaven that helped increase their collective strength.
Therefore, in the 3,000 Worlds, many Second Class great forces would send their top cultivators to the Shattered Heaven to search around in the hope that they could gain something.
When the Blood Monster Cave Heaven opened up, it caught the attention of everyone in the 3,000 Worlds. Even many Cave Heavens and Paradises had sent their disciples into that place to get some training, so nothing need be said about the hidden treasures in the Shattered Heaven.
Presently, the people approaching Blood Crow were cultivators from a Second Class great force. There were three men and one woman, all of whom were in the Fifth-Order.
Since Blood Crow had been pursued by Yang Kai, he had been cautiously hiding his aura. Furthermore, he was still a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; therefore, when this group of four was approaching, they were not aware of his existence.
It wasn’t until they landed on the ground that they saw Blood Crow, whose face was as pale as a white sheet. The shattered Spirit Province was only a dozen square kilometres in size, so it was impossible for them to not notice him.
The four of them were stunned as the elderly man at the front gazed vigilantly at Blood Crow. The Shattered Heaven was a lawless land where one’s background was useless and only the fittest could survive. Many disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would be killed in this place every year, and the great forces behind them were unable to avenge their deaths since they often couldn’t even find the murderers.
In a place like this, someone who dared to move around on his own was definitely not weak.
Blood Crow appeared to be anxious and weakened though, which allowed the four of them to set their minds at ease.
A middle-aged man darted his eyes around, then shuffled towards Blood Crow with a smile as he asked amicably, “Are you hurt?”
Blood Crow, who was seated on the ground, tensed up and nodded faintly.
The smile on the middle-aged man’s face became brighter, “Don’t panic. My name is Si De Ye, and I’m a doctor who is best at healing wounds. If you don’t mind it, I can perform a check-up on you.”
Despite what he said, he didn’t ask for Blood Crow’s permission as he grabbed the other person’s wrist.
A seemingly powerless Blood Crow was easily grasped by Si De Ye, who froze the next instant as a blood mist came right at him and snuck into his body through his seven orifices.
Blood Crow, who hadn’t moved until now, curled his lips into a smile. He then let out a sigh of pleasure.
The other three people were fully aware of what Si De Ye was up to when they saw what he was doing, but they didn’t intend to stop him. Newcomers to the Shattered Heaven wouldn’t proactively provoke others; however, if they stayed long enough, they’d find out that human nature could be very crooked in places like this. Here, it was common to kill others and steal their belongings.
Since Si De Ye was facing away from the three of them, they were not aware that his face had been covered in blood mist.
A moment later, when the only woman among them saw that Si De Ye didn’t speak or move at all, she finally realised that something was off. As she frowned, she called out, “Senior Brother Si?”
Si De Ye naturally didn’t respond to her.
The old man sported a cold expression and his murderous intent surged as he bellowed, “Something is wrong!”
As soon as he finished speaking, he heard an eerie laugh that sounded more like the cawing of a crow. Si De Ye’s burly figure was suddenly covered in a layer of blood mist. The next instant, he turned into a puddle of blood while his clothes were corroded and melted away.
The sitting man, whose face was pale earlier, slowly got to his feet while his clothes flapped around him despite there being no wind. His Sixth-Order aura was also exposed at this point.
He opened his mouth and sucked all the blood into his stomach, which restored some of the colour to his pale face. He then licked his lips and let out a long breath, “I’ve finally restored some energy!”
The old man’s expression changed drastically as he exclaimed, “Blood Crow Divine Monarch!”
It was a title that sent chills down the spines of everyone present.
Cultivators who wandered around the Shattered Heaven definitely knew who Blood Crow Divine Monarch was. Over the recent years, many cultivators had lost their lives because of this man. It was rumoured that this person was an expert in Blood Principles and his targets would all be melted down into blood which he then fed upon to enhance his strength.
They had never expected that they would come across this Devil Lord when they merely wanted to get some rest on this shattered Spirit Province.
It also never crossed their minds that the infamous Devil Lord would pretend to be weak so that one of them would make a move and then become his food.
It was rumoured that Blood Crow Divine Monarch was always accompanied by several Blood Slaves who were all in the Sixth-Order. Any one of them could easily defeat their group; however, Blood Crow Divine Monarch didn’t seem to have any Blood Slaves with him today.
Nevertheless, Blood Slaves were nowhere to be seen while Blood Crow Divine Monarch himself appeared to be badly injured. It was apparent that he had battled against someone powerful recently; otherwise, given his strength, he would’ve directly killed them instead of pretending to be anxious.
The old man immediately made a decision, “He’s injured, attack together!”
He had considered the possibility of fleeing, but faced with such an infamous person, they would be doomed if they did that; instead, if the three of them could work together, they would stand a chance to survive.
They naturally were not a match for Blood Crow Divine Monarch if the latter was still at his peak; however, an injured Blood Crow might not want to get into a prolonged fight with them.
It had to be said that the old man was pretty resolute, and he was just as bold as when he was young. Right after he yelled, he took the initiative to launch an attack on Blood Crow.
The woman lagged behind slightly, but she soon charged forward and cast a stunning Divine Ability.
On the other hand, the last man appeared horrified. As though he hadn’t heard the old man, he instantly turned around and fled.
Blood Crow didn’t move as he allowed their Divine Abilities to strike him. The lower part of his body turned into blood mist as he laughed in a wicked manner, “If the four of you had made a move together earlier, this Monarch might have been put in a difficult position, but now… how dare two Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm trash act arrogant in front of this Monarch!”
Following that, the blood cloud beneath him swelled up and covered the old man and the woman.
The woman exclaimed in horror while the old man was equally flustered. Despite their best efforts, they were still not spared the calamity as they were instantly shrouded in the blood cloud.
A moment later, the blood cloud streamed back into Blood Crow’s body while the old man and the woman were nowhere to be found. Even their clothes had been melted down, only leaving behind two worn-out Space Rings.
The colour on Blood Crow’s face had been restored as he licked his lips and muttered under his breath, “It’s not enough! It’s not enough!”
His gaze seemed able to penetrate the void as he looked in the direction where the last man had fled. Following that, he turned into a blood light and flew after him.
A shot while later, the man was intercepted by Blood Crow. His face was as pale as a white sheet as he fell on his knees and kowtowed, “Please don’t kill me, Divine Monarch! Please don’t kill me!”
Blood Crow chuckled, “But this Monarch is hungry. Where should I get my food if I don’t kill you?”
The man was terrified at first, then he recalled something and exclaimed, “I know where you can obtain a full meal, Divine Monarch! There are many people in that place. You can go there!”
Blood Crow arched his brow, “Oh?”
The person immediately spilled everything he knew, then looked cautiously at Blood Crow, “I’m willing to submit to Divine Monarch and obey your orders.”
Blood Crow nodded gently, “How thoughtful of you.”
While still keeping his guard up, the man put on a fawning smile.
“In that case, why don’t you become one with me? This Monarch can grant you an eternal life!” Blood Crow released a blood mist that looked like two rivers and engulfed the man instantly.
Following a shriek, silence fell again.
Blood Crow retrieved his blood mist as his aura stabilised. The Sixth-Order Blood Slaves he had spent decades nurturing were all been killed, so if Yang Kai hadn’t been chasing him, he wouldn’t mind taking on a new Blood Slave and nurturing him. It would take a few years for that person to ascend to the Sixth-Order and become a useful aide.
However, since he couldn’t get rid of Yang Kai, and he also desperately needed to restore his strength, he wouldn’t waste any time on a mere Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now.
He then turned to look in a particular direction. According to the man, before his death, many Open Heaven Realm Masters had gathered together in that place for some reason, as though they had discovered something.
The group of four were initially surveying that area as well. Unfortunately, they came across that large group of people and had no choice but to flee since they were too weak to remain.
It never crossed their minds that they would encounter Blood Crow Divine Monarch and be killed.
Blood Crow wasn’t interested in what those people had discovered, but he drooled over those Open Heaven Realm Masters as they were no different from delicacies in his eyes.
Of course, he wouldn’t mind obtaining whatever treasure they had discovered while he was at it.
He then turned into a blood light and shot forward in that direction before disappearing into the distance.
One hour later, Yang Kai arrived and landed on the shattered Spirit Province. After looking around, he furrowed his brow.
He could detect some traces of a Blood Principles Secret Technique in this place. It was apparent that Blood Crow had stayed here for a short while, and apparently some unlucky people must have bumped into him and gotten killed.
During his pursuit, Yang Kai almost lost track of Blood Crow. Nevertheless, since he had found the vestiges of a Blood Principles Secret Technique in this place, he reckoned that he was heading in the right direction.
The next moment, he sped off into the void.
Hours later, Yang Kai was stunned by the sight that fell upon his eyes.
That was because in the middle of the void, over 200 Open Heaven Realm Masters, some as individuals or in small groups, had gathered together. They were scattered in a radius of several dozen kilometres, and it wasn’t certain what they were doing.
However, Yang Kai could detect a faint aura of Blood Principles in this region.
[Blood Crow is here.]
Others might not be able to notice it, but Yang Kai had been pursuing that man and had fought against him several times; as such, he was quite sensitive to the aura of Blood Principles.
Even though Blood Crow was trying to suppress it, Yang Kai could still detect it.
Yang Kai swept a glance over the crowd and sneered. Was Blood Crow trying to hide among the crowd so that he couldn’t find him?
It had to be said that Blood Crow’s move was bold, but also effective.
That was because after scanning the 200 plus Open Heaven Realm Masters, Yang Kai still couldn’t find Blood Crow. On the other hand, his arrival had caught the attention of many people as he felt some faint Divine Senses scanning him.
After Blood Crow Divine Monarch was reborn, not only did he still possess the techniques and experiences he had in the past life, but he had also comprehended the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture that originally belonged to Blood Monster Divine Monarch. It was said that when one mastered the Blood Light Scripture, one could be reborn from a single drop of blood, thus allowing one to become immortal and indestructible. Yang Kai had seen the myriad of ways Blood Crow could flee, so he figured the latter’s concealment skills were also excellent.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai caught a glimpse of a certain white robed youth and frowned.
The young man on the other hand didn’t conceal his contempt and disdain.
The two gazed at each other as though there was an irresolvable blood feud between them.
Yang Kai soon remembered this person. Previously, after he dropped Wu Kuang off in Shattered Heaven Star City, he leaned against the windowsill, looked down, and saw this white robed man.
At that time, Yang Kai was instinctively repulsed by this young man. He initially thought that he was affected by the mood he was in at that time; however, he still felt the same way the second time they met.
The young man was followed by a young woman that looked like a maidservant. Standing behind the young man, she bared her fangs at Yang Kai, as though she was a fierce tigress.
Yang Kai retracted his gaze while feeling puzzled. He didn’t understand why he would feel hostile towards a stranger.
After pulling himself together, he approached the nearest Open Heaven Realm Master and asked with a smile, “Fellow Brother, what’s everyone doing here?”
Since more than 200 Open Heaven Realm Masters had gathered together in this place, something important must be about to happen. However, Yang Kai had observed the place for a while but couldn’t see anything, which was why he was perplexed.
This man didn’t show his aura, so it wasn’t certain what his Order was, but he was tall and burly. At this moment, he was staring intently at somewhere in the void. As he was interrupted by Yang Kai, he shot him a displeased glance, “You’ll find out soon. Why did you even ask?”
Yang Kai scratched his nose.
The burly man had not circulated his strength, so Yang Kai couldn’t find out the other party’s Order. On the other hand, his Sixth-Order aura was conspicuous as he had just flown over.
Since the burly man was still unperturbed when facing a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like him, it was apparent that he was also in the Sixth-Order; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so haughty.
What’s more, this burly man wasn’t the only Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in this place.
Yang Kai grew curious as he wondered what good thing was in this place that had attracted so many Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Since he couldn’t find Blood Crow for the time being, and it wasn’t like he could interrogate all 200 of the people here, Yang Kai decided to sit down with his legs crossed and act accordingly.
A few days passed, but still nothing happened. On the other hand, there were now more than 300 Open Heaven Realm Masters in this place. There was no doubt that they had received some news. Many of them appeared excited as though they were looking forward to something.
Yang Kai tutted in amazement. He had heard that there were many Open Heaven Realm Masters who would venture into the Shattered Heaven to look for treasures; nevertheless, while he was heading to the Astral Wind Divine Ability some time ago, he didn’t come across anyone, so he thought that it was just an exaggerated rumour.
It wasn’t until he saw it with his eyes now that he realised the truth. It was just that the Shattered Heaven was too vast, so it was hard for one to come across anyone without some common purpose.
A few days later, a ray of light was seen approaching from the distance. Sensing a familiar aura, Yang Kai instantly turned his head.
The person paused for a moment when he arrived, but when he saw Yang Kai, he directly landed beside him.
Yang Kai nodded in response.
The person was none other than Xu Wang from Bright King Cave Heaven. Previously, after Blood Crow escaped, Xu Wang had to recover from an extended struggle and his new wounds, so he told Yang Kai to leave him there, and that he would look for him at a later time.
However, during the pursuit, Yang Kai had changed directions many times and crossed billions of kilometres. It was commendable that Xu Wang could actually find him.
Xu Wang let out a breath and looked around in amazement, “What are so many people doing here?”
With a helpless smile, Yang Kai shook his head, “I have no idea.”
A stunned Xu Wang asked, “What are you doing here if you have no idea?”
“Blood Crow is somewhere around here.”
“What?” Xu Wang arched his brow. As he recalled what Blood Crow had done to him, he became furious and scanned his surroundings in an aggressive manner.
“You won’t find him. He used some kind of special technique to conceal himself. I can only detect a faint aura.”
“What should we do then?” Xu Wang knitted his brows. Despite knowing that Blood Crow was here, they still couldn’t find his whereabouts, which was why he was vexed.
“Just wait,” Yang Kai replied impassively, “He’ll expose himself eventually.”
Just when Xu Wang was about to speak, a fluctuation of Space Principles was suddenly felt coming from the Void. Following that, a bean-sized black dot appeared in the originally empty space.
At that instant, the several hundred Open Heaven Realm Masters, who had been waiting in this place all this time, became energised as they looked fervently at the black dot.
Right in front of everyone’s eyes, the black dot in the void soon expanded to the size of a baby’s fist. Furthermore, the aura of another Universe World wafted from the black dot.
Yang Kai arched his brow as he finally understood why so many people had gathered together in this place.
Xu Wang exclaimed, “It’s a Universe Cave Heaven!”
The black dot that suddenly appeared in the void was actually a portal that led to a Universe Cave Heaven.
The Small Universes of High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were corporeal. If their Small Universe didn’t collapse when they passed away, there was a chance for them to merge with the Void. The Small Universes left behind by Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters after their deaths were called Universe Paradises, while the ones left behind by Eighth-Order and Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were called Universe Cave Heavens.
There were countless Great Territories in the 3,000 Worlds. There might be some existing Universe Paradises and Universe Cave Heavens in any Great Territory, but it was always hard to find the entrances to these hidden Worlds.
Of all the Great Territories, there was no doubt that the Shattered Heaven had the highest number of Universe Paradises and Universe Cave Heavens; after all, this was the place where many Great Experts fought against one another in ancient times. Countless High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had passed away here.
Many of the Sects in the 3,000 Worlds, especially the Second Class great forces, had their own teams deployed into the Shattered Heaven all year round in the hope that they could find those hidden portals.
Before coming to the Shattered Heaven, Yang Kai thought about the possibility of him discovering such a portal, but that remained a casual thought, as he didn’t have any high hopes of it.
The Shattered Heaven had existed for countless years already, so the portals that were easy to find had all been discovered. Those that were not yet discovered must be extremely well hidden. Moreover, the Shattered Heaven was vast. Even though he was a Master of Space Principles, he might not be able to find anything even if he searched.
However, Yang Kai had never expected that while chasing after Blood Crow, he would come across a portal that led to a Universe Cave Heaven.
This was the legacy that was left behind by an Open Heaven Realm Master that was at least in the Eighth-Order, possibly containing that Master’s entire inheritance. Even other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters would be tempted, not to mention those in the Mid-Rank.
While Yang Kai was in a dazed state, the black dot had expanded to the size of a palm. All of a sudden, right in front of everyone’s eyes, the portal that led to the Universe Cave Heaven contracted and disappeared as though it had never existed before.
Yang Kai and Xu Wang were stunned upon seeing that.
The burly man, who was asked a question by Yang Kai some time ago, was initially looking forward to entering the portal. All his energy was about to surge as he was ready to dash into it; however, all his hopes were crushed since the portal had abruptly disappeared. He then let out a sigh and cursed.
According to his mutterings, it seemed this wasn’t the first time such an incident happened. There were many times in the past when the portal didn’t successfully open.
It was then that Yang Kai realised why this place had attracted so many people to come together.
It was apparent that for some reason, the portal of this Universe Cave Heaven started showing signs of opening recently, but there were many times when it didn’t fully open. After word got out, many Open Heaven Realm Masters started gathering in this place in the hope that they could go in and snatch up the treasures when the portal fully opened.
“Could you forcefully open it if you make a move, Junior Brother?” Xu Wang secretly asked.
After a moment of silence, Yang Kai nodded, “It would take some effort.”
It was then Xu Wang arched his brow, “You’re truly incredible, Junior Brother!”
Suddenly realising something, Yang Kai turned to look at him, “You know me, Senior Brother Xu?”
The question was somewhat strange; after all, they had just parted ways outside of the Astral Wind Divine Ability after only exchanging names. Nevertheless, from the questions Xu Wang was asking, he seemed to know about him.
With a smile, Xu Wang replied, “I found your name familiar when I first heard it, and after witnessing you take action, I finally recalled that there was a person who had embarrassed the Cave Heavens and Paradises in the Dao Theory Assembly in Yin-Yang Cave Heaven back then. Even a Core Disciple of Thousand Cranes Paradise was killed. Furthermore, the Star Boundary and High Heaven Territory has become household names since the appearance of a World Tree over there. Even though this Xu doesn’t care about worldly affairs, it’s not like I’m deaf. There are trillions upon trillions of people in the 3,000 Worlds, and countless people share the same names; however, you’re a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, and even Blood Crow, who has been reborn by occupying someone else’s body, was not a match for you. If I can’t figure out who you are, I’d be embarrassing my own Sect, Bright King Cave Heaven.”
Yang Kai nodded gently.
There was a shocked expression on Xu Wang’s face as he asked, “Are you really that Void Land’s Yang Kai?”
Yang Kai broke into laughter, “Haven’t you already figured it out?”
Xu Wang landed a slap on his own forehead and grinned, “It was just a speculation, but I hadn’t expected it to be true.” He then looked fervently at him, “I heard that you killed Zuo Quan Hui. Is that true?”
Yang Kai replied, “It’s true, but there’s a lot more to that story. I didn’t achieve that on my own.”
Xu Wang nodded, “Regardless of how you did it, it’s astonishing enough already that you were able to kill a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master while only being in the Sixth-Order. En, you’re stronger than I am. I should probably call you Senior Brother instead.”
As he spoke, there was a bashful expression on his face. When he first met Yang Kai, he immediately claimed to be the Senior Brother. At that time, he just thought that other than the disciples from the Cave Heavens and Paradises, no one else in the Sixth-Order could be a match for him. Since he was now aware that this person was the famous Yang Kai, he didn’t have the nerve to claim that he was a Senior Brother to him.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Well, you’re definitely older than I am, Senior Brother Xu.”
Xu Wang rolled his eyes, “Why don’t you just say that my aptitude is worse than yours?” He was an open-minded person though, and since Yang Kai didn’t mind calling him Senior Brother, he wouldn’t be concerned either.
After straightening his face, Xu Wang looked at the spot where the portal appeared and asked, “I wonder who the senior expert was that left behind this Universe Cave Heaven. Do you want to open it, Junior Brother?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “There are too many people watching over the portal now. If we make any rash moves, we’ll just draw public outrage. We’d be better off just waiting and seeing. Moreover, I don’t know where Blood Crow is. It will be troublesome if he launches a sneak attack on us while we’re distracted.”
Xu Wang nodded in agreement.
Thus, they continued waiting in silence.
A few days later, the portal appeared once again. Previously, it had expanded to the size of a palm and disappeared. This time, it had expanded to the size of a washbasin.
Yang Kai had no idea how many times this portal had appeared before, but it seemed that it was getting bigger every time it opened. The reason the people around here never made a move was that the portal was not large enough for a Human to pass through. If they forcefully tried to enter through it, it might lead to some unexpected consequences.
From the looks of it, the portal would be large enough for them to enter after two more openings. By then, there would be a fierce struggle between the evenly matched opponents for control of the entrance.
It was apparent that Blood Crow had been hiding in this place without exposing his aura because he wanted to sneak into this Universe Cave Heaven and get rid of Yang Kai.
Certainly, Yang Kai wouldn’t let him achieve his goal. He had learned how hard it was to kill Blood Crow. If he couldn’t destroy him this time, it would be extremely difficult to do so after the latter recovered.
Although there were some grudges between them, Blood Crow was the one who had suffered most of the setbacks. If Yang Kai hadn’t ruined his original plan, he would’ve refined the Blood Monster Divine Palace and occupied it. If he were successful, all the resources in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven would’ve belonged to him. Blood Crow could’ve slowly restored his strength instead of wandering around in the Shattered Heaven.
From Yang Kai’s perspective, it wasn’t necessary for him to destroy the other party.
However, he also had his eyes on the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture.
He had comprehended parts of the Blood Light Scripture in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven before, so he knew that the Secret Art was truly abstruse. Unfortunately, those tablets there were not complete, so he was unable to have a full picture of the Secret Art.
The Blood Light Scripture was a Secret Art related to the Dao of Blood. If he could fully comprehend it, it would be immensely beneficial to his Dragon Clan bloodline. Besides him, the Dragon Clan members from Void Land would benefit as well. Even the other Divine Spirits might be able to have a clearer picture of their futures by learning this Secret Art.
Bi Xi and Zhu Jiu Yin once told him that the way Divine Spirits cultivated was different from that of Human cultivators. For the Divine Spirits, it was all about improving their bloodline. The stronger their bloodline, the more powerful they would be.
The Blood Light Scripture might be useful to the Divine Spirits in Void Land. Even if it wasn’t the key to unlocking the shackles of their bloodlines, they would still get something out of it.
Therefore, if Yang Kai could capture Blood Crow, he would not hesitate to make a move against him. Nevertheless, this guy was even more adept than Yang Kai at fleeing and saving himself. That was the reason Yang Kai hadn’t managed to achieve his goal.
A few days later, the portal opened up again, and it was two times larger than before.
It seemed that just like Yang Kai had speculated, the portal would be large enough for the cultivators to pass through when it opened one more time.
Certainly, the other Open Heaven Realm Masters who had gathered together in this place had figured this out as well; therefore, these hundreds of people, who were initially calm and quiet, now became tense and morose. They secretly circulated their strength so that when the portal opened again, they could immediately charge into it and gaze upon the magnificence of the Universe Cave Heaven.
As time passed, the tension in the air intensified as they all looked around with vigilance.
Suddenly, there came a moment when six people moved forward and stood right in front of the portal.
Seeing that, Xu Wang snorted, “Ridiculous!”
These people apparently wanted to stay close to the portal and be the first to enter. Although they appeared to be fairly powerful, the Open Heaven Realm Masters at the scene naturally wouldn’t allow them to achieve their goal. If they ignited public outrage, they would be knocked out of the competition in advance.
However, as soon as Xu Wang finished speaking, a few more groups of people came forward from all directions. The numbers of people varied from two to eight.
Soon, over thirty people had gathered together in front of the portal.
These people then surrounded the portal as though they had already agreed upon it. The next instant, they activated their auras together.
The onlookers, who initially looked teasingly at them, had their expressions changed, while Xu Wang turned solemn as well.
That was because seven out of the more than thirty people were in the Sixth-Order. The rest of them were weaker, but they were all in the Fifth-Order.
It was apparent that they didn’t come from the same great force. They belonged to about five to six different Sects, but since they knew each other, they had secretly come to an agreement to help each other out. As soon as they made a move, they were in an advantageous position, and the rest had to be wary of these people.
Although thirty or so people was not a lot, the seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters among them were intimidating enough; therefore, while the onlookers were displeased to see that this group of people had joined forces to get ahead, they wouldn’t dare to reprimand them.
The burly man, who was standing not far away from Yang Kai, spat with a dark expression. He then took a glance at Yang Kai and Xu Wang before asking, “Why don’t we join forces?”
Yang Kai smiled without replying to him while Xu Wang didn’t bother to respond.
The burly man thought that they were timid, so he said with disdain, “People like you can never obtain anything in life. Just wait and see if there are any scraps left for you!”
He then stopped paying attention to them as he looked around in an attempt to seek reliable allies.
Just then, Yang Kai looked up and said in a small voice, “It’s about to start.”
A faint fluctuation of Space Principles was felt coming from the Void. While others might not notice it, the fluctuation was as conspicuous as a light in the darkness for Yang Kai.
As expected, right after he finished speaking, a black dot appeared at the spot where the portal had opened up several times before.
At that instant, hundreds of gazes turned to look at the black dot. The burly man didn’t have enough time to get any allies as he stared fixedly at the black dot as well.
In the blink of an eye, the black dot expanded to the size of a fist. Judging from the previous circumstances, the portal would be large enough for Humans to pass through this time.
The over thirty Open Heaven Realm Masters around the portal who had temporarily joined forces appeared excited and nervous.
Right then, a middle-aged man who was on his own shuffled forward from a particular direction. He looked just like the average cultivator when he took the first step, but his speed doubled when he took his second step, and it doubled again when he took a third step.
More than ten steps later, he turned into a ray of light and attempted to crash into the portal like a meteor.
The over thirty Open Heaven Realm Masters instantly felt threatened upon seeing that. All seven Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters turned to look at him as one of them bellowed, “Please be patient, Friend!”
They didn’t intend to stop others from entering the Universe Cave Heaven; they just wanted to be the first to enter; however, the portal hadn’t fully opened when someone came forward to make a scene. The person who called out just now naturally wanted to stop him.
As he spoke, he pushed out a palm that didn’t carry any murderous intent. It was obvious that he just wanted to make the middle-aged man back down for now.
The middle-aged man was unperturbed and didn’t even try to dodge the attack from the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Instead, while moving forward, he simply swung his sleeve.
Instantly, his World Force surged like a tsunami as Seventh-Order pressure swept out across the void.
The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who made a move had his expression change drastically as he felt an immense force coming right at him. He lost his footing immediately and was sent flying away like a kite with a broken string in the next moment.
Besides him, the more than thirty people around the portal were all sent flying away as well. The weaker Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters spat blood as their faces turned pale.
The turn of events stunned everyone, as no one had expected that a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had hidden among them.
After the Seventh-Order middle-aged man made a move, all the people around the portal were blown away. The portal happened to be fully open when the man arrived, and without stopping, he dashed inside and disappeared.
Following that, a few figures flew forward from different directions. There was an old woman whose hair was all grey, a young boy with delicate skin, and a woman with a curvy figure.
All of them exuded Seventh-Order auras. These people had all come here independently.
The hundreds of Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were supposed to be scrambling into the portal, were shaking like quails in the winter without nests as none of them dared to move a muscle.
A small number of figures streamed into the Universe Cave Heaven and disappeared.
As soon as the last person entered it, the portal contracted and vanished.
The rest of the crowd was vexed upon seeing that the portal had disappeared; after all, they had been waiting here for days, but they didn’t even have a chance to enter. However, since so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had entered the Universe Cave Heaven, these people wouldn’t dare to pass through even if it was still open. To do so would be no different from trying to snatch food from Tigers.
Yang Kai was dumbfounded as he muttered, “There are so many High-Rank Masters here…”
He had never expected that so many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had hidden among these hundreds of Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Xu Wang snorted, “They’re just timid and useless people. They don’t deserve the title of High-Rank!”
A shocked Yang Kai gazed at him, “Are they not from the Cave Heavens or Paradises?”
If those people were from the Cave Heavens and Paradises, they would be considered Xu Wang’s Seniors, and he wouldn’t have made such a disdainful remark.
Xu Wang scoffed, “There is no scum like them in the Cave Heavens and Paradises.”
Yang Kai frowned in puzzlement.
As though knowing what was on the other man’s mind, Xu Wang sighed, “The Shattered Heaven is more complicated than you think, Junior Brother. The waters are muddy here. There are even Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shattered Heaven, not to mention Seventh-Order ones.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai was astounded, “How can that be?” If that was true, he wondered why he hadn’t heard of them before. He was fully aware of how dangerous the Shattered Heaven was, but it never crossed his mind that there were Seventh-Order and even Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in this place. He wouldn’t have believed it if it wasn’t Xu Wang who said it.
Xu Wang went on to say, “They have been living here for a long time, and they usually don’t expose their cultivation. That’s why most people are not aware of their existence. In any case, it’s true that there are many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shattered Heaven.”
Yang Kai’s expression changed, and then he asked slowly, “There’s something I’ve always been curious about. Would you please enlighten me, Senior Brother Xu?”
Xu Wang turned to look at him, “Please ask, Junior Brother.”
“Great forces in the 3,000 Worlds are categorised into different classes. A great force with only Low-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters is Third Class, while a great force with Mid-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters is Second Class. Only the Cave Heavens and Paradises can be considered First Class great forces. Logically, Third Class great forces would become Second Class one day, and Second Class great forces would become First Class one day. After all, even if there are no cultivators who have directly ascended to the Sixth Order in those Second Class great forces, quite a number must have directly broken through to the Fifth Order. As time passes, those Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters would naturally ascend to the Seventh-Order. However, why is there not even a single Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master in any Second Class great forces I know of? I haven’t been able to figure this out.”
“I know what you’re trying to ask, Junior Brother,” Xu Wang replied with a smile, “There are rumours that in order to maintain their dominant positions in the 3,000 Worlds, the Cave Heavens and Paradises never allow the Second Class great forces to have any High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters. Once that happens, the Cave Heavens and Paradises will either suppress or make the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who come from those Second Class great forces join the Cave Heavens and Paradises.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “I don’t believe such a rumour. Given the depth of the heritages of the Cave Heavens and Paradises, it wouldn’t matter if there were some Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Second Class great forces. They wouldn’t do such a thing just to destroy their reputations.”
“Is that how you look at it, Junior Brother?” Xu Wang gazed at him.
Yang Kai knitted his brows, “Is it not true?”
Xu Wang said with a smile, “What if I tell you that the rumour is real?”
Yang Kai scowled as he suddenly thought of the Proprietress, who was trying to achieve a breakthrough to the Seventh Order back in Void Land. If the rumours were true, after she made it to the Seventh Order, she would be suppressed or forced to join one of the Cave Heavens and Paradises.
“If that’s true, it’d appear that those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises are rather narrow-minded.”
Xu Wang asked with a smile, “Are you disappointed in those so-called Cave Heavens and Paradises?”
Yang Kai replied dispassionately, “I never had any hopes for them, so why would I be disappointed?”
Xu Wang let out a sigh, “Junior Brother, the rumours you’ve heard about are true, but there’s a reason behind it, which I’m not at liberty to tell you. Given your aptitude, you’ll find out when the time is right. However, I can tell you that the reason the Cave Heavens and Paradises do such a thing isn’t to strengthen their rule over the 3,000 Worlds, nor are they worried that the Second Class great forces would someday grow powerful enough to threaten them. There’s a reason that most people are not aware of. The Cave Heavens and Paradises always act with a clear conscience.”
Yang Kai arched his brow without giving any remark.
Xu Ling Gong once told him that the 3,000 Worlds were not what it seemed, and now Xu Wang was saying something similar. At that instant, Yang Kai felt that his eyes had been shaded by a fog of mystery, which barred him from seeing through the nature of this expansive universe.
“Besides, do you think there are really no High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in those Second Class great forces?” Xu Wang put on a smile, “There are quite a number of them actually. Just like what you’ve said, some of them directly ascended to the Fifth Order, and as time passed, they reached the Seventh Order; however, they wouldn’t dare to show up easily. That’s because once they do, they will instantly catch the attention of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. By then, they’ll lose their freedom. Many of those at the peak of the Sixth Order from the Second Class great forces suppress their cultivation and don’t dare to achieve an ascension because of that rumour. They’re worried that a calamity would befall them once they make it to the Seventh Order.”
Yang Kai suddenly recalled a person he had come across in the past, Li Luo Shui, who was the Old Ancestor of Golden Rainbow Province. When Yang Kai brought his people to storm Golden Rainbow Province, the woman’s appearance gave him a real shock. If it wasn’t because her realm was unstable since she had just broken through to the Seventh Order, Yang Kai wouldn’t have been able to defeat her.
Now, it seemed that just like Xu Wang had said, Li Luo Shui was one of those cultivators at the peak of the Sixth Order who hadn’t dared to achieve an ascension. Otherwise, it was unlikely that right after he arrived at Golden Rainbow Province, Li Luo Shui was able to make it to the Seventh Order.
Previously, he was still worried that the woman would come to retaliate against him; however, he hadn’t heard any news about her over the years. Now, it seemed that the woman was either subdued by one of the Cave Heavens and Paradises, or that she wouldn’t dare to show up easily for fear of just that.
“Rumour has it that after the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Second Class great forces join the Cave Heavens and Paradises, they’ll soon vanish. It’s said that they’re either imprisoned or secretly killed,” Xu Wang put on a smile. “Over the years, I’d indeed seen some High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Second Class great forces. They were brought to Bright King Cave Heaven by the Elders in the Sect.”
Yang Kai asked curiously, “How are they now?”
Xu Wang shook his head, “I’d only met every one of them once. After that, I haven’t heard about them anymore, and it’s not certain whether they’re dead or alive.”
Yang Kai felt a chill running down his spine. The insinuation in Xu Wang’s words made him realise that he didn’t understand the Cave Heavens and Paradises at all.
“It’s hard for the Cave Heavens and Paradises to monitor the affairs in the Shattered Heaven; therefore, many people who have ascended to the High-Rank will come here to live. Some of them have even come all the way here to achieve a breakthrough in order to avoid catching the attention of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. So, there are not only Seventh-Order but also Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shattered Heaven. You have to be careful while you’re here, Junior Brother.”
“I’ll take note,” Yang Kai nodded lightly. However, his heart wasn’t as calm as his expression. If what Xu Wang had said was true, the waters in the Shattered Heaven were truly muddy.
The several Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who had hidden among the crowd obviously knew a thing or two about the Universe Cave Heaven; otherwise, they wouldn’t have waited here and raced through the portal right after it opened up.
Unfortunately, after they entered, the portal instantly disappeared. There was no hope for the others to go in and get some leftovers. Yang Kai was capable of following the traces and forcefully opening the portal, but he wouldn’t do such a thing as it wasn’t worth the effort.
“The Shattered Heaven is indeed an amazing place.” Yang Kai suddenly sighed, then turned to look in a particular direction and smiled, “Don’t you agree, Blood Crow?”
Xu Wang’s expression turned solemn as he followed Yang Kai’s gaze.
There were three people, two men and one woman, in that direction who were apparently from the same Sect. Noticing the stares of Yang Kai and Xu Wang, they turned to look at them.
The two men frowned while appearing both vigilant and perplexed. The woman also asked in puzzlement, “Are you talking to us, Senior Brother?”
Yang Kai flashed a grin at her, “If the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters hadn’t appeared and disturbed you, causing your aura to leak, I wouldn’t have discovered your whereabouts. Since I’ve found you, there’s no point for you to keep pretending. You’re a senior expert, so you should behave like one. Juniors like us will be disappointed if you keep acting dumb.”
The woman said with displeasure, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Senior Brother.”
The two men beside her glowered at Yang Kai, thinking that he had offended the beautiful woman.
Yang Kai sneered, “What’s wrong? Are you sick of being a man, so you’ve decided to live as a woman now?”
One of the men bellowed, “Please mind your language, Friend! The three of us have no grudges against you, nor do we even know you. Have we ever offended you before?”
“Are you mistaken?” Xu Wang asked in a small voice. He didn’t find any traces of Blood Crow coming from that woman, nor could he detect any unusual aura around her. The way the woman reacted was also natural and reasonable; hence, he was puzzled at Yang Kai’s accusation.
The conflict had caught the attention of many people at the scene. The portal that led to the Universe Cave Heaven had disappeared while several High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had entered it. Many had thus already decided to leave.
After all, High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were immensely formidable. They wouldn’t dare to snatch anything from them.
Since there were no benefits to be gained, they wouldn’t mind watching a good show. At that moment, many of them turned to look at the source of the conflict.
Right in front of everyone’s eyes, Yang Kai suddenly extended his hand and summoned his spear. As a light flashed through the weapon, he thrust out his weapon. Faced with the attack, the alluring woman with an hourglass figure didn’t even have time to react before her head exploded. Blood started spurting out of the headless corpse like a fountain.
Everyone was stunned by this scene.
The burly man, who was standing somewhere near Yang Kai, was especially terrified. When Yang Kai asked him a question some time ago, he brushed him off because he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with profound cultivation. Even though he was aware that Yang Kai was also in the Sixth Order upon the latter’s arrival, it didn’t bother him one bit.
However, Yang Kai’s incredible attack and the heaviness of his World Force made the burly man realise the immense difference between them.
At that moment, he was covered in cold sweat as he instantly retreated dozens of kilometres, so that he wouldn’t be dragged into this mess.
In the blink of an eye, the alluring woman was killed just like that.
The men beside her were startled for a moment before their eyes reddened. One of them bellowed, “How could you murder Junior Sister Guo? I’ll kill you!”
Upon finishing his words, he summoned a long sword and pushed his World Force before charging towards Yang Kai. Although the other person remained silent, he also summoned his artifact as his murderous intent surged.
Both of them were only in the Fifth Order. Despite knowing that they were no match for Yang Kai, they couldn’t keep a cool head since their Junior Sister was killed for seemingly no reason.
Xu Wang hurriedly raised his hand and explained, “Please calm down. She wasn’t your Junior Sister. That person was…”
Before he could explain anything, he felt a spear brushing past his ear. He instinctively tilted his head, and when he looked up again, he realised that the two Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had perished together with their Junior Sister, their heads exploding in the very same way as they passed away.
Xu Wang turned his head and yelled, “Yang Kai!”
If Yang Kai hadn’t saved him from being killed by Blood Crow, he would’ve launched an attack on him just now. He initially had a good impression of Yang Kai, which was why he had told him many secrets that were not very important; however, he had never expected that Yang Kai was such a ruthless person who had no qualms about killing people.
Until now, he still hadn’t detected the aura of Blood Crow from any of these three people.
Without gazing at him, Yang Kai looked up with a solemn expression, and then his lips curved into a sneer, “You’ve indeed lived up to your name as a senior expert. What an ingenious move!”
Xu Wang realised that something was off as well. As he looked around, he saw that about twenty people, who were supposedly onlookers, had just stepped forward. They consisted of men and women as well as young and old people.
Their companions gazed at them in shock as they had no idea why these people had stepped forward when they were supposed to just watch the show.
In a particular direction, a woman, who was in a group of four people, looked at the leaving figure in puzzlement and called out, “Senior Brother Lu?”
The person called Senior Brother Lu didn’t even turn his head as he spread his palms and activated his World Force. He then bellowed, “Anyone can destroy such a Devil Lord who has no qualms about killing others. Aren’t cultivators like us supposed to stand up to injustice?”
There was a glow behind the woman’s eyes as the already perfect Senior Brother Lu in her heart appeared even more heroic now. She then stepped forward and stood beside him, “I’ll assist you, Senior Brother!”
Upon seeing that, the remaining three disciples from the same Sect had no choice but to come forward as well.
The same thing happened to other groups of people. Initially, there were only some twenty people who had stepped forward, but in the blink of an eye, the number increased to over seventy since the companions of the initial people had come forward.
Although Xu Wang was from Bright King Cave Heaven, he was still dumbstruck by the sight. He wasn’t a fool. He was furious because he thought that Yang Kai had killed some innocent people just now; however, it was awkward that more than twenty people had suddenly come forward together right after that.
All of them were Open Heaven Realm Masters who had seen enough of the world to know not to take a stand so easily. They were not headstrong youths and they could decide whether they wanted to fight or kill based on not just emotions, but logic and reason. For such people, it was no different from self-deception to claim to be standing up against injustice.
Xu Wang would rather believe that there was a problem with the more than twenty people who first stepped forward than naively think that they were really trying to bring the murderer to justice.
However, there was supposedly no problem with their companions from the same Sects who had come forward to help them out.
“What should we do?” Xu Wang asked in a small voice.
“Just kill them all,” Yang Kai replied.
Xu Wang rolled his eyes, “How are you still in the mood to joke around?”
Yang Kai shrugged, “Even if I can’t defeat them, I can still flee. None of them can stop me.”
Xu Wang hurriedly said, “Don’t forget to bring me with you when you flee! Although the disciples from Bright King Cave Heaven are tough and resilient, it’s not like it’s fun to be beaten up by so many people.”
“It’ll depend on my mood,” Yang Kai replied dispassionately.
A speechless Xu Wang stared at him.
“We are disciples of Bright King Cave Heaven!” Yang Kai suddenly raised his spear and shouted. At the same time, he secretly kicked Xu Wang.
After Xu Wang got his hint, a thought flashed through his mind as the golden Immovable Bright King Body appeared behind him. He wasn’t in the mood to reprimand Yang Kai for pretending to be a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven. At this point, it was the best choice to make use of Bright King Cave Heaven’s name.
As expected, after Xu Wang activated the Immovable Bright King Body, the group of seventy or so people became wary. They certainly knew that Bright King Cave Heaven was one of the 36 Cave Heavens.
“We were pursuing Blood Crow Divine Monarch and have chased him all the way to this place. Blood Crow has many deceitful tricks up his sleeves. The three people I killed just now were controlled by his Blood Principles. Even your companions have ended up the same. They’re no longer the friends or family you once knew.” Yang Kai looked provokingly at the more than twenty people who first stepped forward.
The whole crowd broke into a commotion.
Blood Crow Divine Monarch was infamous in the Shattered Heaven. He was an expert in the Dao of Blood who loved to absorb the Blood Essence of cultivators. Those who were targeted by him would end up in a horrible state.
The emotions in their hearts were undulated when they heard Yang Kai’s words. Some of the agile ones immediately moved away from their companions who looked perfectly normal. Nevertheless, most of them were still doubtful; after all, they hadn’t separated from their companions recently. They would’ve noticed it if Blood Crow was really around.
“Senior Brother Lu!” The woman called out in a shaking voice as she gazed at the man’s profile, “Is what he has said true?”
Senior Brother Lu didn’t seem to hear her as he looked impassively towards the front. The woman suddenly covered her mouth as her tears slid down her face like the pearls after the string snapped.
“Why are you crying, Junior Sister?” Senior Brother Lu suddenly turned his head and looked smilingly at his Junior Sister.
The woman shook her head as a glow of resentment radiated from her teary eyes, “You’re not Senior Brother Lu!”
“Silly girl.” Senior Brother Lu put on a smile, “Who could I be if I’m not your Senior Brother Lu?” He then touched the woman’s delicate face, his hand felt as cold as a snake, causing the woman’s heart to freeze over in an instant.
A sword suddenly appeared in her hand as a cold glint radiated from her weapon. She directly thrust her sword into Senior Brother Lu’s chest.
Senior Brother Lu looked down at the weapon in his chest, but he didn’t react in a way that was expected of an injured person. Although his heart had been shredded by the woman’s World Force, he still appeared calm and collected, “People in love can also be the cruellest.”
He then clenched the woman’s neck. His blood squirmed out of the wound in his chest as though it was a living creature, which then turned into blood mist. Regardless of how hard the woman tried, she could not escape his grip. The blood mist soon engulfed her as she disappeared from everyone’s sight.
When the blood mist dissipated, she was nowhere to be seen.
The remaining three disciples from the same Sect were stunned.
Senior Brother Lu turned his head and bellowed, “You’ve been chasing after me for a long time, Yang Kai, but do you really think this Monarch is afraid of you? I have a lot of blood sacrifices now. Let’s see how you can fight with me!”
The strangest part was that as Senior Brother Lu spoke, the more than twenty people who first stepped forward also said the same thing in the same tone.
Over twenty people performed hand seals and shouted, “Raging Blood Sea!”
Following that, all of them exploded and turned into blood mist as they spread out across the void. The same thing happened to the three people previously killed by Yang Kai.
The blood sea took shape and covered a large area as it madly expanded. The Open Heaven Realm Masters, who had stepped forward alongside their fellow disciples, were unable to dodge it and were directly swept into the blood sea. Other than shrieks, the noise of artifacts and Secret Techniques being unleashed was also heard. The place soon descended into chaos.
In just a moment though, the noises died down, and only the weltering blood sea remained.
The onlookers in the distance hurriedly flew backwards upon seeing the turn of events. Those who were agile instantly escaped while the sluggish ones were pulled towards the blood sea by Blood Dragons which had manifested from it.
Inside the blood sea, Yang Kai and Xu Wang pressed their backs against one another as blood weltered around them. They were like two reefs in the sea that protected the only pure land left.
“Junior Brother, if I’m killed here, please bring my corpse back to Bright King Cave Heaven!” Xu Wang shouted.
Yang Kai broke into laughter, “Do you think your corpse will remain if you die here?”
It was then Xu Wang thought of the eerie methods of Blood Crow Divine Monarch. With a dejected expression, he continued, “It’s horrible to die without a complete corpse.”
“En, so you’d better not die,” Yang Kai smiled.
As they spoke, the blood sea in front of them contorted and formed into a curvy figure, the same one Yang Kai had killed with his spear earlier.
The woman’s eyes were filled with hatred as she clenched her own neck. Like the most ferocious ghost, she stared fixedly at Yang Kai while her blood streamed down from her eyes, which looked horrifying, as she screeched, “Your spear hurt!”
“Cheap tricks!” Yang Kai snorted and pushed out his spear before exploding the woman’s head, just like how she was killed some time ago.
However, this time, her head soon grew back into shape as though she was immortal and indestructible. She continued staring resentfully at Yang Kai as she snarled, “So what if I let you kill me 100 or 1,000 times? Can you destroy this Monarch?”
“Just stand there and let me jab my spear into you 1,000 times and we’ll find out!” Yang Kai extended his spear again. On the tip of the spear, a black ball the size of a fist exploded and turned into a black hole before absorbing everything around it.
Several figures consecutively appeared. Most of them were the cultivators that were killed by Blood Crow just now. Yang Kai had never even met these people, but it was apparent that they were killed and refined by Blood Crow.
The powers of these people ranged from the Third Order to the Sixth Order as they emerged from the blood sea. Blood Crow alone could create an army. Yang Kai continued wielding his spear while Xu Wang’s fists turned into countless phantoms as they battled against the tide.
Nevertheless, their efforts were futile. Regardless of how many times these people were killed, they could be swiftly resurrected.
As the intense battle dragged on, Yang Kai furrowed his brows. He initially intended to use his Cow Punch Secret Technique to end this; however, Blood Crow had suffered a setback before, and had apparently learned his lesson. Yang Kai was unable to find any traces of the other party’s aura.
“Junior Brother, it’s not like we can do this forever. Blood Crow obviously wants to deplete our strength. Once he succeeds, we’ll be at a big disadvantage.” Xu Wang suddenly spoke to him secretly.
Yang Kai remained calm despite knowing that what Xu Wang had said was true. Anyone who wasn’t blind could figure out Blood Crow’s intentions here. Outside the Astral Wind Divine Ability back then, Blood Crow used the same trick to deal with Xu Wang. If Yang Kai hadn’t suddenly appeared from the Astral Wind and caught Blood Crow off guard, Xu Wang would’ve been killed.
This time, Blood Crow was using the same trick while both Xu Wang and Yang Kai were unable to get out of the trap. Since the blood sea had taken shape, and the space around them had been sealed off, it was also impossible for Yang Kai to use Instantaneous Movement to escape.
“What’s your plan, Senior Brother Xu?” Yang Kai secretly asked.
“I want you to join forces with me to fight our way out of here, Junior Brother.”
Yang Kai frowned upon hearing that. To him, it wasn’t hard to fight their way out of this place. No one was a match for him unless he was faced with a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master. Although Blood Crow’s moves were indeed strange and mysterious, he was still just a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Despite the fact that he was an Old Monster who had been reborn, and that he had the foundation of a Seventh-Order Master, his strength was still limited to his current realm.
While Blood Crow wanted to deplete their strength, Yang Kai was actually trying to do the same. That was why he engaged in a protracted fight with him in the blood sea.
To him, it was pointless to simply defeat Blood Crow. Only by destroying Blood Crow completely would it be useful. Otherwise, given the guy’s capabilities to flee and save himself, he would recover sooner or later as long as he survived.
Upon realising that Yang Kai didn’t respond to him, Xu Wang spoke to him via Divine Sense again, “Please trust me, Junior Brother!”
Yang Kai’s expression changed, and then he nodded, “Please do your best, Senior Brother. I’ll have your back.”
Xu Wang guffawed, “I definitely will.”
He then roared and fully activated his Immovable Bright King Body. A gigantic golden figure expanded and turned into a 1,000 metres tall colossus. It even showed some signs of materialising.
Yang Kai gazed at the golden figure in amazement.
Given Xu Wang’s heritage, he had definitely reached the threshold of acquiring a Divine Manifestation. If nothing unexpected happened, after he ascended to the Seventh Order, it would only take him some time before he could comprehend his own Divine Manifestation.
It had to be noted that Zuo Quan Hui, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, didn’t have his own Divine Manifestation, which went to show how difficult this was to achieve. Ti Zheng from Myriad Demons Cave Heaven had showcased his Divine Manifestation once, but he subsequently died for some unknown reason.
The competition between Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters wasn’t just about the heritages of their Small Universes. The possession of Divine Manifestations was also a big factor.
The Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who could use Divine Manifestations were definitely stronger than those in the same Order who couldn’t.
Xu Wang raised his hand and revealed a long sword, which was not beautiful or delicately made. However, with the sword in his hand, he had become even more imposing.
The cultivators of Bright King Cave Heaven focused on Body Tempering, making their bodies their strongest artifacts. Despite that, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t use artifacts, but when they did, it meant that they were going all out.
Following Xu Wang’s movements, the 1,000 metres tall golden figure shadowed him and unsheathed a huge sword from its waist.
When Xu Wang brought down his sword, the golden figure did the same as he had fully activated his World Force.
A huge gash was then formed in the blood sea upon impact.
Without stopping, Xu Wang charged forward as countless figures came right at him. Nevertheless, he was unfazed while staring fixedly at the front.
Yang Kai wielded his spear and exploded all the figures before they could come near them.
The speed these figures could resurrect was slower than the speed Yang Kai could kill.
In the blink of an eye, they had moved across a 1,000 kilometres distance and reached the end of the gash. Xu Wang brought down his sword and formed another gash.
After three times doing this, he finally formed an opening in the blood sea that had surrounded them. The Heaven Sealing and Earth Locking trap started showing signs of weakening.
Yang Kai grabbed Xu Wang’s shoulders as he was ready to manipulate Space Principles to take them out.
Upon realising Yang Kai’s intention though, Xu Wang grasped and clenched the other man’s arms.
Yang Kai was puzzled, and while he was in a dazed state, the crack in the blood sea had healed, which meant that they had lost the best chance to flee.
Xu Wang had turned pale after making three moves. It was obvious that such a Divine Ability was quite energy-consuming for him. Even the huge golden figure behind him had dimmed noticeably.
He proactively dispelled his Immovable Bright King Body, as though he was ready to entrust his safety to Yang Kai. He then directly sat down with his legs crossed and grinned, “Our goal has been achieved.”
While Yang Kai looked at him doubtfully, Xu Wang fished out something and tossed it into the blood sea.
Yang Kai could clearly see that it was a lid, but he was unable to figure out anything special about it.
However, after Xu Wang threw out the lid, Yang Kai could detect a flustered aura coming from the blood sea. The Blood Slaves, who originally kept appearing, suddenly quieted down.
A ferocious aura suddenly descended on this place from a few million kilometres away. Even surrounded by the blood sea, Yang Kai could feel as though his skin had been jabbed with countless needles. The trap around him seemed ready to tie him down.
On the other hand, Xu Wang grinned, “After I parted ways with you previously, I contacted my Martial Uncle who was stationed in the Shattered Heaven. Back then, two disciples from Bright King Cave Heaven were killed in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven by Blood Crow Divine Monarch; therefore, my Martial Uncle was sent here to hunt Blood Crow down. Still, Blood Crow is truly cunning. Although Martial Uncle personally made a move, he still couldn’t find Blood Crow’s whereabouts, so he has been unable to accomplish his mission thus far.”
“Blood Crow is a cautious person. If he had detected Martial Uncle’s aura, he wouldn’t have easily shown up; therefore, Martial Uncle could only follow my aura from a distance and make a judgement of the best time to make a move. Since my aura has been blocked while we are surrounded by the blood sea, Martial Uncle must have some speculations already.”
Upon hearing his explanation, Yang Kai said, “So, you wanted to break through the blood sea to send out your aura, which would help your Senior identify your location.”
Xu Wang smiled and nodded, “Exactly. In order to achieve the goal, Martial Uncle even split his natal artifact into two and let me keep part of it. While he plays it by ear from a distance, I’ll be assisting him here. Regardless of how powerful Blood Crow is, he won’t be able to flee now.”
Yang Kai gazed at the dissipating blood sea and commented, “He’s doomed, then.”
Inside the blood sea, the lid that was tossed away by Xu Wang expanded rapidly. As they spoke, the lid had expanded by a radius of several hundred kilometres and directly covered the blood sea. Regardless of how the blood sea raged, it was unable to get out of the lid.
Upon realising that something was off, Blood Crow instantly decided to flee as he led the blood sea in a different direction. However, the lid relentlessly followed him and changed its size according to the movements of the blood sea.
A gigantic dark shadow descended from above next. It wasn’t certain what it was, but it soon became one with the lid and trapped the blood sea inside it.
Yang Kai could faintly see a tall figure hovering above the dark shadow. While he performed different hand seals, his World Force surged and revealed a Seventh-Order pressure.
Blood Crow certainly wouldn’t sit still and wait for death as his immense power undulated. There was no doubt that a cornered beast would fight back.
However, there was a massive gap between their Orders, and the other party managed to get the upper hand by trapping Blood Crow inside his artifact right from the start. Regardless of how hard Blood Crow tried, he could not escape.
An incense stick later, the dark shadow contracted. It wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai realised it was something that looked like a fish basket.
There were gaps around the fish basket through which one could see the weltering blood inside it. What was amazing was that the blood couldn’t seep out through the gaps, as though it had been restricted by a mysterious power.
A person grabbed the fish basket and casually placed it over his shoulder.
The sight caused Yang Kai to be drenched in cold sweat.
Xu Wang took a step forward and cupped his fist, “Fisherman Martial Uncle!”
“Void Land’s Yang Kai greets Senior,” Yang Kai also cupped his fist.
It wasn’t until this moment that he had time to examine this person, who didn’t have the demeanour of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master at all. Yang Kai could be considered a worldly person. When he previously met up with those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises while he was in the Star Boundary, he had chatted with some 80 to 100 High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, so he was not unfamiliar with such people.
While Yu Chang Dao had a sage-like temperament, even Xu Ling Gong, who loved spouting nonsense, was an imposing presence.
However, Yang Kai had never seen a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master who appeared as strange as the person before his eyes.
Xu Wang called him Fisherman Martial Uncle, and true to his title, he looked just like a fisherman. While wearing a bamboo hat and a straw coat, he was barefoot with rolled-up leggings. Presently, there was a fish basket over his shoulder. If he also held a bamboo stick, he would look like a common fisherman in the winter.
Nevertheless, the fish he had caught this time was Blood Crow.
The fisherman raised his hand and lifted the bamboo hat that had slightly blocked his sight. After taking a glance at Yang Kai, he said with a smile, “It’s said that every generation will see a fair share of talented people. This Old Master has heard a lot about you over the years.”
Yang Kai replied humbly, “Many thanks for your compliment, Senior.”
The fisherman slowly continued, “There’s no need to be overly humble. You’ve done a great service with the Star Boundary. All Cave Heavens and Paradises owe you a favour.”
He then took a glance at Xu Wang and asked in a solemn voice, “I detected the auras of several High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in this place some time ago. What happened?”
Xu Wang then told him what had happened when the portal that led to the Universe Cave Heaven opened. The fisherman was surprised as he looked at the depths of the void where the portal was located, but soon said after a sigh, “Unfortunately, this Old Master has to return to Bright King Cave Heaven; otherwise, I could’ve stayed and watched a good show.”
Xu Wang darted his gaze around before saying, “Please go back with peace of mind, Martial Uncle. I’ll stay here.” He was curious about the Universe Cave Heaven.
The fisherman shook his head, “You have to go back with me.”
Xu Wang then sported a dejected expression.
With a smile, the fisherman went on to say, “You’ve made a contribution by assisting me to capture Blood Crow. Did you forget what reward you’ll get? There’ll be an opportunity in one year. If you don’t come back with me, you’ll have to wait at least a dozen years for the next opportunity.”
Upon hearing that, Xu Wang changed his mind in an instant, “I’ll obey your orders, Martial Uncle.”
As they spoke, the fish basket over the fisherman’s shoulder started shaking violently. It was apparent that Blood Crow was trying to struggle out of it. The fisherman then landed a forceful slap on it, after which no more noises were heard.
Xu Wang said, “Junior Brother Yang has made a significant contribution in helping to capture Blood Crow. If he hadn’t helped me escape previously, I would’ve been killed. After that, he came all the way here to hunt Blood Crow down. It was also thanks to Junior Brother Yang that I was able to send out a signal just now. Doesn’t our Sect have any reward for him?”
The fisherman put on a smile and gazed at Yang Kai, “If you were a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven, you could have a chance to enter our Small Source World just like Xu Wang. Unfortunately, you are not from our Sect, so we can’t give such a reward to an outsider.”
An opportunity to enter a Small Source World was extremely precious. That was because every time a person received training in a Small Source World, it was akin to gaining some of the heritage of that world. Yang Kai had experienced the Divine Armament World of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven before, so he was fully aware of this.
If he were not a son-in-law of Yin-Yang Cave Heaven, and if Xu Ling Gong hadn’t done his best to make it happen, Yang Kai wouldn’t have gotten the chance to enter the Divine Armament World either.
The Cave Heavens and Paradises all had their own Small Source Worlds, but they would only allow the best disciples of their Sects to enter for life experience.
Since Xu Wang had made a significant contribution, he could enter the Small Source World of Bright King Cave Heaven, but Yang Kai couldn’t get this reward.
“If you have any requests, just speak them. I’ll agree to them if I have the right to do so. If it’s not up to me to make a decision, I’ll inform the higher-ups in the Sect about it and see what they say.”
Yang Kai directly took a glance at the fish basket that confined Blood Crow and asked, “Senior, may I know what will happen to Blood Crow?”
The fisherman shook his head, “I have no idea.”
Although he was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he wasn’t in any place to make a decision on how to deal with Blood Crow, who was an Old Monster that had been reborn by occupying someone else’s body.
Yang Kai nodded gently, “If there’s a chance, I want a copy of the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture.”
“I can’t agree to that right away. If possible, I’ll tell Xu Wang to send the copy to Void Land. If it’s not achievable, you don’t have to keep waiting.” Although the fisherman didn’t reject him directly, Yang Kai could feel that the chance was slim; after all, the Grand Evolution Immortal Blood Light Scripture was truly abstruse, and by giving a copy to someone they might accidentally create another Blood Crow. Therefore, they probably wouldn’t let that happen.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai still expressed his gratitude by saying, “Many thanks, Senior.”
The fisherman nodded while Xu Wang cupped his fist, “Farewell, Junior Brother. I hope that the next time we meet, both of us will already be in the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm.”
“I hope so too, Senior Brother,” Yang Kai replied with a smile.
The fisherman and Xu Wang then left the place together.
Yang Kai remained on the same spot and watched them leave, after which he turned to look at the portal that led to the Universe Cave Heaven.
Earlier, the appearance of Blood Crow caused this place to plunge into chaos. About seventy to eighty out of the hundreds of Open Heaven Realm Masters were instantly killed, which were a lot of casualties. Furthermore, after several High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters showed up, most surviving cultivators stayed away from this place, and they wouldn’t even dare to observe what was going on. Even the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were nowhere to be seen now.
After all, several Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters had shown up. No one would dare snatch food from the tiger’s mouth.
The place was originally bustling with noise, but now Yang Kai was the only one left, which he was glad to see.
Although the portal that led to the Universe Cave Heaven had closed, it had opened up several times before and left behind some traces. Others might not have a way to enter it, but Yang Kai could forcefully open the portal since he was a Master of the Dao of Space. It would just take him some time to do so.
He thus activated his Divine Sense. While restoring his strength, Yang Kai tried to capture the remaining traces in the Void, and an incense stick later, he managed to grasp a lead.
Yang Kai pushed his Space Principles, stabbing them into the portal like a sharp knife as he slowly increased his output to force it open.
After some time, a black hole the size of a fist appeared in front of Yang Kai. The aura of a Universe World wafted through the black hole.
As the black hole expanded, the aura of the Universe World became increasingly conspicuous. Soon, it had become the size of a washbasin.
Suddenly, Yang Kai’s expression changed drastically. A horrifying force burst out of the portal he had forcefully opened. The unsuspecting Yang Kai was hit in the chest by this force and sent flying away as though he had been struck by lightning.
While the vitality in his chest weltered, his vision darkened as though he had been struck by a Divine Ability from someone in the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm. Even his Small Universe was in turmoil.
Before he could stabilise himself, he felt an even more dangerous aura coming out of the portal.
A terrified Yang Kai turned to look at the opening, which should have disappeared as soon as he stopped holding it open; however, it instead had started expanding uncontrollably, as though it was going to swallow the entire Void.
[What’s going on?] Yang Kai was astounded.
He just wanted to open the portal to take a peek inside the Universe Cave Heaven, so his movements shouldn’t have caused such an incident to happen.
While he was in a daze, he could faintly see a few figures battling against each other through the portal. There was a burly middle-aged man, an old woman with grey hair, a young boy, and a young woman with a curvy figure.
They were all the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who had previously entered the Universe Cave Heaven.
Yang Kai’s expression instantly darkened. [Are these people out of their minds? How could they engage in an all out battle inside a Universe Cave Heaven?]
Although the Universe Cave Heaven was left behind by a cultivator who was at least in the Eighth Order, it was ancient after all. It could accommodate several High-Rank Masters who came in to explore, but it certainly couldn’t bear the impact of a battle between such Masters.
People who could make it to the High-Rank were not fools, but despite knowing the consequences, they still engaged in an intense struggle.
Yang Kai was curious about the reason that caused these High-Rank Masters, who had been living furtively in the Shattered Heaven all these years, to be so determined to destroy one another.
Without any time to ponder on it, he quickly ran away because, while the black hole was rapidly expanding, a dangerous aura was felt coming from the Universe Cave Heaven.
The next instant, the Void trembled as countless shattered Spirit Provinces of different sizes shot out in all directions.
It looked like a Universe World had exploded all of a sudden.
In fact, that was indeed the case. The Universe Cave Heaven that had remained hidden in the Void for years collapsed due to the fierce battle among these High-Rank Masters.
A violent force swept out and even the High-Rank Masters had to stop fighting as they activated their powers to ward off the impact after the Universe Cave Heaven came apart.
Although Yang Kai had fled as early as possible, he still staggered upon impact. He was like a ship that was navigating across an ocean in a thunderstorm.
A moment seemed to have gone by, but it also felt as though a million years had passed as the terrifying fallout slowly subsided.
However, a huge black hole had appeared in the Void where the portal of the Universe Cave Heaven was located, and a horrifying aura of nihility was felt coming from it.
As soon as Yang Kai stabilised himself, he felt a crawling sensation on his scalp because when he looked up, he saw that the High-Rank Masters had turned into rays of light as they charged towards him. All of them were filled with murderous intent as their auras surged. At this moment, they were still exchanging moves, which caused the surrounding space to descend into chaos.
Although these people were regarded as cowards by Xu Wang, they were still High-Rank Masters in the end. They might not be comparable to Zuo Quan Hui from Thousand Cranes Paradise, but they certainly were not much weaker.
Zuo Quan Hui alone was enough to cause so much trouble to Void Land. Now that five High-Rank Masters were coming at him, Yang Kai wouldn’t dare to remain on the same spot. Given his current strength, if he was dragged into the fight, he would be badly injured, if not killed.
Just when he was preparing to use Instantaneous Movement to flee, he frowned and looked at a certain shattered Spirit Province that was coming right at him.
The shattered Spirit Province was apparently a part of the Universe Cave Heaven that had fallen apart. It seemed to be a small part of a mountain range with several mountains that were connected. However, Yang Kai could detect an amazing aura coming from one of the mountains.
He had no idea what was hidden on the mountain, but he soon realised that he wasn’t so unlucky after all. It was just that he happened to be escaping in the same direction the treasure the High-Rank Masters were fighting over was flying.
Since the High-Rank Masters had their eyes on this treasure, there was no way it was not valuable; therefore, despite not knowing what was hidden on the mountain, it didn’t stop Yang Kai from making a bold move.
Instead of backing down, he shot towards the shattered Spirit Province. After he got close, he directly opened his own Small Universe and stored the Spirit Province inside it.
He didn’t have time to examine it, so he could only act so. Although there might be some potential problems doing this, he reckoned that fortune favoured the bold. The potential problems were the last of his concerns now.
In an instant, the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were originally determined to kill one another in a heated battle, stopped. Both shocked and furious, they stared at Yang Kai and engulfed him with their Divine Senses.
None of them had expected that while they were hacking each other to death, a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm boy that they didn’t have any regard for would come over and snatch their prize.
“Brat! You court death!” The middle-aged man roared.
The others directly sent out ferocious Divine Abilities at Yang Kai.
The Divine Abilities seemed able to destroy the Heavens and shatter the Earth before they even reached their target. Certainly, Yang Kai wouldn’t stand still and wait for death. In fact, the moment he put the shattered Spirit Province inside his Small Universe, he also activated his Space Principles and disappeared from the spot the next instant.
The fierce World Forces arrived and shattered the Void.
Nevertheless, when the High-Rank Masters came over, Yang Kai was already nowhere to be found.
“Space Principles!” The old woman sported a dark expression while the others turned grim.
They initially thought that even though the Sixth-Order brat had snatched their treasure, he couldn’t possibly escape from them. Although the treasure was precious, he would need to stay alive to enjoy it. Since they were making a move together, they thought they could easily subdue a mere Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
However, since the other party was a Master of the Dao of Space, things had become thorny.
The young woman in the Seventh Order fell silent for a moment before she turned to look in a particular direction. She then turned into a ray of light and shot forward.
Seeing that, the others followed her without hesitation.
The High-Rank Masters, who were initially determined to destroy one another, seemed to have tacitly come to an agreement as they put down their grudges and pursued Yang Kai together. Nevertheless, only they knew whether there were any secret exchanges of moves while they were on the road.
In the depths of the Shattered Heaven, Yang Kai was running away at full speed.
The situation he was in seemed oddly familiar to him.
He suddenly recalled that after he ran away from Seven Wonders Land, he arrived at a dying Sun Star where he obtained the carcass of a mature Golden Crow. Following that, he was chased after by several people.
At that time, he was just an Emperor Realm cultivator while the ones running after him were a group of Low-Rank and Mid-Rank Masters, which included the Proprietress.
Eventually, he managed to escape and return to First Inn, though he was in a battered state when he arrived.
Back then, he was ignorant and uninformed as he had never heard of the Universe Transference Law before. He initially thought that he had gotten rid of the Proprietress, but when he saw that she suddenly appeared from First Inn to stop him, he was flabbergasted.
If it weren’t because he had a golden feather given to him by the Divine Spirit Mie Meng, he couldn’t have snuck into First Inn.
Since then, he and the Proprietress had become one family, thinking back on that incident was a pretty embarrassing memory for Yang Kai. First Inn was destroyed, which made him owe the Proprietress a lot of Open Heaven Pills. He had no choice but to become a waiter and debt collector for the Inn to pay off his due.
Although he was weak at that time, he was also carefree.
Regardless of what happened, the Proprietress would solve the problem for him.
After he and Bai Qi made a scene in Wind and Cloud Auction House in Thousand Birds Star City, it was the Proprietress who showed up and settled the issue for them.
Now, he was in a similar situation as when he snatched the Golden Crow carcass from the Open Heaven Realm Masters. He was also being pursued by Masters that he found difficult to deal with.
However, this time, there was no First Inn for him to seek shelter in.
With that said, he was no longer an Emperor Realm Junior who was powerless to deal with Open Heaven Realm Masters.
He could feel Divine Senses coming from behind him, and although he kept manipulating Space Principles, he was unable to shake them off. He couldn’t help but lament that it was truly difficult to deal with High-Rank Masters. If it weren’t because he was an expert in the Dao of Space, he would have no choice but to wait for death.
He wondered what was hidden in the shattered Spirit Province that made these High-Rank Masters covet it so greatly. They were relentlessly pursuing him as though he had snatched their Wives or Daughters.
While running away, he didn’t even have time to examine his reward.
Nevertheless, the High-Rank Masters’ action proved that the treasure was truly valuable, or else they wouldn’t have reacted in such a way.
A few days later, he realised that one of the Divine Senses had disappeared, making him wonder whether the person had given up or was forced to give up somehow.
Several days later, another Divine Sense vanished.
While fleeing, Yang Kai couldn’t help but put on a grin. It was possible that the first High-Rank Master who backed down had given up because there was no hope of catching Yang Kai, but that wouldn’t make sense when the same thing happened to the second person.
Hence, it was obvious that those High-Rank Masters were not united after all. While pursuing Yang Kai, they must have exchanged moves to destroy their opponents.
Therefore, only three out of the initial five High-Rank Masters were left.
Although the number of people had almost halved, that made no difference to Yang Kai.
He couldn’t help but ponder on the possibility of slowing down so that the remaining three would believe that he was on his last legs. In that case, they might kill off one another before getting to him.
However, while he was still contemplating this plan, his expression suddenly changed as he staggered and flipped upside down. He then kept tumbling through the void as he hurtled forward.
The turn of events astounded Yang Kai as the first thing that came to his mind was that he had been struck by someone. Nevertheless, he soon realised that the problem came from his own Small Universe.
Presently, his Small Universe was in chaos. The ground was shaking in a way as though there was an earthquake going on. All the World Force in his Small Universe was also madly streaming towards a certain spot.
Yang Kai turned pale as he tried to stop it, but his efforts were in vain. He could only watch as his World Force was consumed by something.
When he activated his Divine Sense and examined the situation, he was dumbfounded by what he saw.
The thing that caused the disaster in his Small Universe was none other than the shattered Spirit Province he had rashly put inside his Small Universe earlier.
It was easy to identify as the shattered Spirit Province was a part of the Universe Cave Heaven left behind by an Eighth-Order or Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so it still contained its original owner’s aura and World Force.
Right after Yang Kai stored it, he sealed it off inside his Small Universe. If he hadn’t done that, the World Force of someone else would’ve seeped into his Small Universe. Once that happened, it would take him a lot of effort to get rid of the impurities that didn’t belong to him.
He initially intended to settle the issue regarding the shattered Spirit Province after he had escaped to a safe place.
However, there was a change of plan now as the shattered Spirit Province had settled down and merged with his Small Universe for no apparent reason.
The World Force that was originally in the shattered Spirit Province started streaming into Yang Kai’s Small Universe. It was supposed to be the source of power for the owner, but to Yang Kai, it was nothing but impurities that affected his foundation.
It wouldn’t have mattered if that was all though. After Yang Kai killed Zuo Quan Hui in the past, his Small Universe was also filled with impurities from the latter’s Small Universe. It only took him some time to get rid of them.
The crux of the problem was that the World Force in his Small Universe was madly leaving him, which caught him off guard. That was the reason he was all flustered and battered.
As Yang Kai suppressed his weltering vitality, he took a glance at his Small Universe and became stunned.
He could see that there was a spring that had landed in his Small Universe alongside the shattered Spirit Province and settled down. The spring was deep and crystal clear. As his World Force streamed into it, the spring became increasingly fortified.
Following the appearance of this spring, some subtle changes took place in his Small Universe. He could feel a stream of invisible but truly existent aura wafting from the spring and assimilating into his Small Universe.
[What in the world is this?] Yang Kai was both shocked and doubtful.
He initially thought that there was an artifact or a precious treasure hidden in the shattered Spirit Province. It never crossed his mind that it was a spring.
Furthermore, the spring was madly absorbing his World Force in order to integrate into his Small Universe. Although he was taken aback because of that, he had a feeling that it was an invaluable treasure.
Yang Kai could confirm that the spring belonged to the owner of the Universe Cave Heaven, and the reason the High-Rank Masters got into a fight must have been to claim ownership of this thing. It was just that Yang Kai came across it first and snatched it.
Fortunately, even though the turn of events was shocking, the spring didn’t suck all of Yang Kai’s power out. More than ten breaths later, the noise in his Small Universe subsided as he finally managed to stabilize himself.
Three Divine Senses targeted him from behind at that moment as they sent out their Divine Abilities at the same time. Drenched in cold sweat, Yang Kai instantaneously disappeared from the spot.
A moment later, three figures shot past this place. They were the old woman with grey hair, the young woman with a curvy figure, and the middle-aged man with an ordinary face.
Presently, their streams of Divine Sense were entangled with one another. Although they were united in chasing after Yang Kai, that didn’t stop them from secretly exchanging moves. Two people were defeated earlier and were forced to look for a place to recuperate.
If nothing unexpected happened, given Yang Kai’s cultivation and his mastery over the Dao of Space, even thirty Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters wouldn’t be able to capture him, let alone three people.
However, since the day when the spring settled into his Small Universe, it would break out from time to time, and each time it did, Yang Kai’s World Force would madly leave him while his Small Universe fell into turmoil. During these events, he was unable to keep running, He could only stop to adjust his breathing and consume a lot of Open Heaven Pills to replenish his energy.
Fortunately, the breakouts usually wouldn’t last for a long time. Sometimes they’d last more than ten breaths, and sometimes they’d only last for a few breaths. Otherwise, he couldn’t possibly have kept escaping.
However, with this being the case, Yang Kai was never able to fully shake off the three Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters chasing him. Every time he successfully widened the gap between them, the turmoil in his Small Universe would make his effort go down the drain.
Yang Kai was so exasperated that he wanted to curse; however, compared to the displeasure he felt while running away, he was pleasantly surprised by the transformation taking place in his Small Universe. That was because he realised that every time a breakout took place, his Small Universe would become sturdier by a small margin. These changes were intangible, but real.
If the Small Universes of Open Heaven Realm Masters were compared to houses, the Small Universe of a Low-Rank Master was like a dilapidated cottage where water would leak through the ceiling should there be any rainy weather. The Small Universe of a Mid-Rank Master was like a solid wooden house. It was definitely better than the broken cottage, but it wasn’t anything amazing.
On the other hand, the Small Universe of a High-Rank Master was like a finely made stone house. Its foundation wouldn’t be destroyed even if there was a fierce storm. There was no way the house would be shattered unless it was faced with extreme weather.
Yang Kai’s original Small Universe was somewhere between a wooden house and a stone house. It was neither good nor bad; however, as the invisible aura continued streaming out from the spring, Yang Kai’s Small Universe, which was his house, became increasingly fortified.
It was like a barrier was being slowly erected inside his Small Universe, reinforcing its very structure.
Despite not knowing what the spring was, Yang Kai figured out that it was a precious item that was beneficial to a cultivator’s Small Universe just by observing the transformation in his own Small Universe.
The information he had read from the ancient books flashed through his mind as he had a speculation about the thing he had accidentally snatched from the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.
A World Spring!
One of the Four Universe Pillars!
There were Four Universe Pillars, which were the Profound Fish, World Spring, Starry Night Sea, and Full Sky Cloud. Although they were not the most precious treasures in the expansive universe, they were still extremely rare and valuable, only really inferior to Supreme Treasures.
These Four Universe Pillars didn’t provide help to one’s cultivation or increase their rate of cultivation; however, each of them could fortify the Small Universe of an Open Heaven Realm Master, making it impossible for others to invade or even shake it.
Such an item was useless to any cultivator below the Open Heaven Realm, but it was a sought-after treasure for any Open Heaven Realm Master.
If Yang Kai was faced with an opponent who possessed one of the Four Universe Pillars, his Cow Punch Secret Technique would be useless. That was because he had to follow the traces of their World Force back to his opponent’s Small Universe through his Secret Technique.
With one of the Four Universe Pillars in possession, the opponent’s Small Universe would be void of any imperfections and much sturdier than average. Regardless of how powerful Yang Kai was, he would never be able to harm the other party’s Small Universe, thus rendering his Cow Punch unusable.
The Small Universe of a cultivator who possessed one of the Four Universe Pillars would be extremely sturdy and would essentially never fall into chaos.
When Yang Kai dealt with powerful opponents, sometimes his Small Universe would shake when he was hit hard enough by his opponents’ attacks, which caused his flow of World Force to also become unstable, causing him to be at a deep disadvantage.
This was an inevitable reality for all cultivators and would happen to Yang Kai when he fought High-Rank Masters.
However, with one of the Four Universe Pillars strengthening their Small Universe, an Open Heaven Realm Master wouldn’t have such worries when engaging in a life-and-death battle. When one’s Small Universe was sturdy while the other had destabilised, there was no doubt that the former would get the upper hand given that their heritages were equally matched.
The benefits of the Four Universe Pillars were immense for any Open Heaven Realm Master.
In fact, these four items were not the only treasures in the world that could strengthen the Small Universe, but they were the most effective and powerful, which was why they were called the Four Universe Pillars. With any one of them in possession, a cultivator’s Small Universe would be unshakable.
Besides the Four Great Universe Pillars, there were also the Twelve Minor Universe Pillars. Any one of them was extremely hard to find, and the average person wouldn’t be able to see one in their lifetime.
Yang Kai initially hadn’t realised what the spring was, but as he observed the transformation going on in his Small Universe recently, he could confirm that he had obtained one of the Four Universe Pillars, the World Spring.
It was no wonder that the High-Rank Masters were determined to destroy one another to get this item. It had to be noted that they had always hidden in the depths of the Shattered Heaven and usually wouldn’t show up once in 100 years, but now there were five of them who appeared at once. It wouldn’t have happened if the treasure wasn’t alluring enough.
They must be aware of the situation in the Universe Cave Heaven, so they had been waiting there in advance so that they could be the first to get in and fight for the treasure. However, they eventually caused the Universe Cave Heaven to collapse, and the shattered Spirit Province where the World Spring was located coincidentally flew towards Yang Kai, who decided to snatch it.
Upon confirming that it was the World Spring, Yang Kai felt both pleasantly surprised and helpless. He was pleasantly surprised because he wouldn’t have to be afraid of dealing with opponents who were stronger than he was with this thing in his possession. On the other hand, he felt helpless because the High-Rank Masters would never let him off since he had snatched such a treasure from them.
The World Spring was still in the process of integrating into his Small Universe. During this period of time, it would absorb a lot of the World Force and cause some occasional breakouts, which was why Yang Kai was so flustered.
He also didn’t have time to get rid of the impurities in his body. While running away, he was even forced to choke down a lot of Open Heaven Pills from time to time to restore his energy.
The originally conspicuous streams of Divine Sense behind him had become intermittent. It was apparent that the gap between them had widened, and it was hard for the High-Rank Masters to accurately locate him.
He believed that he would be able to get rid of them in a few days.
Three days later, all of the Divine Senses had disappeared. It was then Yang Kai let out a long breath. It was the first time he was chased after by so many High-Rank Masters, and it was extremely difficult to shake them off.
Without stopping, he made a detour and kept flying for a few days before landing on a shattered Spirit Province.
There were countless shattered Spirit Provinces of different sizes in the Shattered Heaven. After witnessing the sight of the Universe Cave Heaven getting destroyed, Yang Kai finally realised how these shattered Spirit Provinces came to be.
They were either the broken pieces of Universe Cave Heavens and Universe Paradises, or the things left behind the Universe Worlds of ancient times.
This place was desolate and void of people, so Yang Kai found a hidden place and concealed his aura before sitting down with his legs crossed.
After some calculations, he believed that it was about time for the World Spring to absorb his World Force again. Yang Kai had no idea when this kind of torture would end. He had only read some information about the Four Universe Pillars from some ancient books, but he had never expected that one would go through so much trouble by putting one of them inside their Small Universe.
It was no wonder that while the High-Rank Masters were killing each other, none of them attempted to put the World Spring in their Small Universe. Yang Kai initially thought that they didn’t have the energy to do so, but it now seemed that it was just one of the reasons. The most important reason was that they were aware of what would happen after they stored the World Spring. Therefore, before getting rid of all other opponents, none of them would foolishly take it, or else they would be creating a chance for the opponents to destroy them.
Not long after Yang Kai settled down, his Small Universe descended into chaos again. As expected, the World Spring broke out again as his World Force started streaming into it.
This made him feel bitter as he had no idea when this kind of torture would end. He could only empty his mind while consuming Open Heaven Pills to replenish his loss.
A moment later, his Small Universe finally calmed down. He only got to his feet after getting some rest.
Although this place looked safe, he couldn’t stay here for a long time. The World Spring was deathly attractive to those High-Rank Masters, so they wouldn’t easily give up. They would find this place sooner or later.
Yang Kai had already obtained a huge reward in the Shattered Heaven since the World Spring was now in his possession, so he decided to return home.
After leaving his hiding place, he tried to identify the right direction, but just when he was about to leave, he suddenly froze and turned his head, only to see a curvy figure with a pair of alluring eyes who was staring at him like he was a ghost. As their eyes met, the young woman who looked like she was twenty-eight years flashed an innocent smile.
Yang Kai felt a chill running down his spine.
Although he had slightly put his guard down due to the turmoil in his Small Universe, he had never stopped monitoring the surroundings. However, he had no idea when the young woman arrived at this place.
Since the young woman was here, what about the old woman with grey hair and the middle-aged man?
An alarmed Yang Kai looked around as he secretly activated his World Force.
If all three High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were there to ambush him, he would not survive even though he was a Master of the Dao of Space.
He was unable to figure out why they could find him so soon since he believed he had gotten rid of them.
Just then, the young woman uttered in a clear voice, “Don’t panic, I’ve parted ways with them. It seems that I’m just lucky enough to be the first to find you.”
It was then that Yang Kai put on a smile, “So, you’re on your own. You should’ve said so sooner. I was terrified there for a moment.”
The young woman gazed at him with a tilted head, “You’re pretty interesting. Am I not enough to capture you alone?”
Yang Kai didn’t remark on that as he attempted to persuade her by saying, “Elder Sister, there are no grudges between us, nor do we know each other. Why don’t you just let me go?”
The woman directly nodded her head, “Good. I don’t intend to kill you anyway. Just give me the thing you’ve snatched, and I’ll leave.”
“You’re indeed a straightforward person, Elder Sister!” Yang Kai gave her a thumbs-up. As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly charged towards her as their faces almost came into contact. His World Force undulated around his Azure Dragon Spear as he thrust his weapon out.
He would’ve been wary of this young woman if he came across her before his life-and-death battles with Zuo Quan Hui; however, after several fights with Zuo Quan Hui, he had gained some valuable experiences in battling against a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Since he was weaker than the woman, he had no choice but to make a move first.
There was a tinge of shock on the woman’s beautiful face as she had never expected that Yang Kai was such a reckless person. Despite knowing that she was a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, he still had the guts to make the first move.
Although she didn’t seem to be moving at all, the Azure Dragon Spear eerily brushed past her and jabbed into the Void. She then raised her palm and extended it towards Yang Kai.
After Yang Kai launched an attack, he sported an expression that was as astounded as that of the young woman. That was because he realised that it was now harder for him to draw on the World Force in his Small Universe. As a result, he could only exert about 60% of his full strength.
This realisation stunned him as it was more shocking than when he saw the young woman just now.
Since it was harder for him to activate his World Force, it meant that he couldn’t fully use his power. He was unable to figure out the reason behind it.
He didn’t have time to ponder on it as the woman soon landed a palm on his chest.
Her attack was fueled by her rage, and although she hadn’t fully used her power, it was still about 80% of it.
The average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master would see his Small Universe plunging into chaos or even exploding into nothingness upon getting struck by such an attack.
Nevertheless, Yang Kai was not at risk of losing his life. As soon as he realised that something was off, he sprayed out a mouthful of Golden Blood, which turned into a blood mist and covered the woman’s face. At the same time, he rapidly moved backwards as Space Principles undulated.
There seemed to be an invisible wall in front of the young woman’s face that blocked the blood mist. In amazement, she stared at Yang Kai, who was still alive and kicking. She was surprised by how sturdy Yang Kai’s physique was as he wasn’t really harmed after getting struck by her palm. She then performed a hand seal and bellowed, “Rise!”
Rays of golden light suddenly appeared in all directions and covered the entire shattered Spirit Province. Since the space around them had been sealed off, Yang Kai suddenly stopped in his tracks as though he had been held down by an invisible hand.
Blood streamed out from the corner of his mouth while he was holding the Azure Dragon Spear. Yang Kai stared at the young woman who was approaching him while feeling bitter.
He had practically been defeated. His strength had been suppressed for no reason, which barred him from using Instantaneous Movement. Trapped in such a cage while he had to face a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, there was no way he could flee.
“Since I’m aware that you’re an expert in the Dao of Space, why wouldn’t I be prepared?” The woman smiled faintly. There were two dimples on her face. One of them looked smiling while the other contained murderous intent.
Yang Kai jabbed the Azure Dragon Spear into the ground and appeared to be completely frank, “It’s said that the winner is the King while the loser is the villain. Just tell me what you want. I won’t turn you down if it’s acceptable. I just hope that you won’t cross the line so that we’ll be able to meet again without any enmity between us.”
Upon seeing that he appeared to be resigned to fate, the young woman suddenly stopped in her tracks and furrowed her brows that looked like willow leaves. For some reason, she caught a whiff of a dangerous aura.
She then sneered, “Why didn’t you think about not crossing the line when you tried to stab your spear into me?”
Yang Kai suddenly looked away while appearing bashful, “I was just shocked by your sudden appearance. I would never have the heart to kill an alluring woman like you.”
All of a sudden, the woman’s voice was filled with fury as she said, “Have you refined that thing?”
Pretending to be clueless, Yang Kai asked, “What do you mean?”
The woman said through clenched teeth, “If you hadn’t refined that thing, you wouldn’t have found it hard to activate your World Force just now. Although the World Spring can help strengthen the Small Universe and prevent any external intrusion, the Small Universe would be suppressed by it before it’s fully refined. That’s why you now find it hard to circulate your World Force smoothly!”
Yang Kai was dumbfounded and almost cursed out loud.
He already had a speculation when he realised that something was off just now. He reckoned that it might have something to do with the World Spring. Upon hearing the young woman’s explanation, he realised that it was indeed the case.
The World Spring would suppress the Small Universe. After it was fully refined, it would be immensely beneficial; however, before that, it would negatively impact the cultivator’s power.
While he was fleeing some time ago, he had been manipulating Space Principles and occasionally utilising his World Force, but it wouldn’t consume a lot of energy doing so; therefore, he was unable to notice this. If he hadn’t launched a sneak attack on the woman just now, he still wouldn’t have realised it.
Now, he had practically no way to defend himself, which was why he felt bitter.
However, he knew little about the World Spring at that time, and he didn’t think twice before putting it inside his Small Universe. It never crossed his mind that the World Spring would try to merge with his Small Universe all on its own.
He was all battered while fleeing some time ago, and now this young woman directly captured him.
Yang Kai secretly tried to circulate his strength and realised that just like the woman had said, his Small Universe had been suppressed by the World Spring, so he was still unable to run his World Force smoothly.
After putting the Azure Dragon Spear away, he put on an embarrassed but polite smile, “Elder Sister, I didn’t want this to happen either. I can give you the thing you want, but please give me some time as the thing has settled down in my Small Universe. It’s not easy for me to take it out.”
The woman stared coldly at him and didn’t conceal her murderous intent. The emotions behind her gaze kept changing as though she was weighing the pros and cons of something. A moment later, she asked, “What was your Order when you broke through to the Open Heaven Realm?”
Yang Kai had no idea why she suddenly asked about it, but he wouldn’t mind stalling for time, so he answered honestly, “Fifth Order.”
The woman let out a breath as though she had just heard some wonderful news, “Fifth-Order… It means that you’ll have a chance to make it to the Seventh Order.”
Yang Kai fawned over her by saying, “That’s right. You’re indeed intelligent, Elder Sister.”
Apparently, the young woman didn’t like this kind of flattery as she stared dispassionately at Yang Kai, “Consider yourself lucky that I’m young enough to have time to wait. If the other two old farts were here, you would’ve lost your life by now.”
Yang Kai hurriedly cupped his fist, “Many thanks for not killing me, Elder Sister. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll do anything to repay your favour.”
The woman snorted, “Stop the smooth-talking, or else I’ll cut off your tongue.”
Yang Kai raised his hand and zipped his mouth as though he was determined not to speak again.
The woman scoffed, “Don’t move if you want to live; otherwise, I don’t mind gambling.” She then used a different hand seal and yelled, “Bind!”
Just then, the rays of light that had sealed off the entire shattered Spirit Province turned into silver threads and wrapped around Yang Kai.
Yang Kai instinctively wanted to resist, but he wouldn’t dare to take the risk as he could sense the woman’s faint murderous intent still lingering on him. He had no choice but to allow the silver threads to penetrate his body. The next moment, he grunted as he could feel something assimilating into his physique. Although he didn’t feel any discomfort, he knew that he couldn’t activate his Space Principles to flee before the silver threads were resolved. If he really did that, the young woman could easily make him stay by controlling the silver threads.
It felt terrible to have his life under someone else’s control; however, he was certain that if he really resisted just now, the young woman wouldn’t have spared his life. Given the state he was in, Yang Kai had no right to provoke a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Only by yielding to her demands would he stand a chance to survive.
He had never been humiliated in such a way since he started cultivating the Dao of Space. Although there were many times when he had to flee in embarrassment as he was chased after by more powerful cultivators, it had never come to such a point where he was disgraced in such a manner.
It was said that if one often walked by the riverside, there was no way he could always keep his shoes dry. Now, not only were his shoes wet, but he had actually been soaked in the river.
The young woman suddenly asked, “What’s your name?”
Yang Kai honestly told her his name, then added, “I’m a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven!”
Clearly unperturbed, the young woman sneered.
It was then Yang Kai knew that he had done something pointless. He initially wanted to bring up Bright King Cave Heaven so that this Seventh-Order woman would be wary of it and wouldn’t outright kill him. However, it seemed that she didn’t care whether he was a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven or not.
Just like Xu Wang had said, a noble background was pointless in the Shattered Heaven as the cultivators here only cared about strength. Some of the Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises had lost their lives in the Shattered Heaven, but the murderers were still at large.
Upon that realisation, Yang Kai decided to keep his mouth shut so that he wouldn’t say anything useless again.
The young woman’s expression suddenly changed as she turned to look in a particular direction, then said through clenched teeth, “That old hag found us pretty quickly.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed Yang Kai’s shoulder and surged her World Force in an attempt to run away with him.
Nevertheless, a ferocious force came right at her the next instant. The young woman gritted her teeth and tossed Yang Kai away. As her curvy figure whirled around, she pushed out her palm to parry the attack.
The shattered Spirit Province could not bear the fallout of the exchange of moves between two High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, so it exploded the next moment.
When Yang Kai came to his senses, he realised that the young woman was already standing beside him as she stared vigilantly ahead. Following her gaze, he saw an old woman with a hunched back hovering in the void as she looked greedily at him.
Faced with the stare, Yang Kai was having goosebumps all over his body.
The young woman bellowed, “You court death, Old Witch!”
The old woman’s wrinkled face creased together as she put on a withered smile, “Xia Lin Lang, stop being so haughty. Since both of us are in the Seventh Order, can you even kill me?”
The young woman named Xia Lin Lang snorted, “Even if I can’t kill you today, it doesn’t mean I won’t be able to do so in the future. Don’t forget that while you’re old and frail, I’m still young and strong. You’ll definitely pass away before I do.”
The old woman replied, “Yes, your youth is your greatest asset; however, you might not have the guts to risk your life while I care little for mine. I’m willing to die if it means I take you down with me. Do you have the gall to do it?”
Xia Lin Lang frowned, “I found him first, so the World Spring belongs to me. If you’re willing to back down, I’m willing to give you some compensation on behalf of Lin Lang Palace.”
The old woman sneered, “If it belongs to you just because you found him first, we wouldn’t have tried to hack each other to death a while ago. As for the compensation, just like you’ve said, I’m old and frail, so what’s the point for me to have it?”
Xia Lin Lang said through clenched teeth, “In that case, what’s the point of you getting the World Spring?”
“As for how I’ll use it, it’s none of your business.”
“It seems that you’re determined to lose your life here,” Xia Lin Lang’s murderous intent surged. Since they couldn’t come to any agreement, fighting was the only option.
The old woman shook her head, “Stop trying to intimidate me. Each of us will have a 50% chance of winning if we get into a battle. If others find out about it and butt in, both of us will get nothing in the end.”
Upon hearing that, Xia Lin Lang immediately looked around with vigilance. After making sure that no one else was around, she snorted, “Stop pulling cheap tricks with me.”
The old woman added, “Don’t worry, I found this place by chance. That guy went in a completely different direction, and he won’t pay attention to this place for a while.” Even though she was speaking to Xia Lin Lang, her turbid eyes had never moved away from Yang Kai. All of a sudden, she furrowed her brows, “Wait. Given your temperament, why would you still keep this brat alive? Could it be…”
Her expression suddenly changed as she glared at Yang Kai, “Brat, have you put the World Spring inside your Small Universe?”
Without responding to her, Yang Kai took a glance at Xia Lin Lang as though he would only obey her orders.
Just then, the old woman started guffawing, “Consider yourself lucky, brat. It’s no wonder that this snake woman didn’t kill you. Do you think it’s because she’s kind-hearted?”
In fact, Yang Kai hadn’t figured out the reason Xia Lin Lang didn’t just kill him. He had been vigilant while she was trying to plant a restriction in his body earlier and it never crossed his mind that this woman didn’t want to kill him at all.
“You’re wrong. The reason she didn’t kill you is that you’ve put the World Spring inside your Small Universe. You’re just a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now, so if you pass away, your Small Universe will completely disintegrate, and the World Spring might also be gone for good. There’s no way she’d take such a risk. Did she ask you whether you’d have a chance to make it to the High-Rank?”
Before Yang Kai replied to her, the old woman continued, “En, you should have a chance to ascend to the High-Rank; otherwise, you’d be dead by now. However, on the day you make it to the High-Rank, you’ll still die. The Small Universe of a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master has materialised, so even if you die, the World Spring will remain.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai finally understood the reason he was still alive.
It was no wonder Xia Lin Lang said she didn’t mind gambling. He was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master now, so supposedly, if he was killed, the World Spring might vanish alongside his Small Universe. Therefore, she had to keep him alive like she was rearing a farm animal. She would only make a move when he ascended to the Seventh Order.
Instead of getting furious though, Yang Kai felt his back drenched in cold sweat.
Although he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, his Small Universe had actually materialised. In other words, even if he passed away, it wouldn’t affect the World Spring that had settled down in his Small Universe.
Hence, he decided that he would never reveal the secret about his Small Universe; otherwise, he wouldn’t have a chance to survive.
While the old woman spoke, Xia Lin Lang didn’t intend to interrupt her. It was apparent that she didn’t mind Yang Kai finding out about her plan.
With what passed for an amicable expression, the old woman stared at Yang Kai and said, “Little one, although the woman beside you appears to be beautiful and innocent, her heart is as venomous as a viper. You’ll end up in a horrible state one day.”
Yang Kai put on a grin, “Well, it is said that dying on a bed of flowers is the best way to go.”
Xia Lin Lang shot him a glare while the old woman was lost for words.
After a moment of silence, the old woman said, “It’s inevitable that young men are enchanted by beautiful women. Why don’t you come with me instead? I’m not as devious as she is, and I can assure you that after you ascend to the Seventh Order, you’ll just have to cut off a small part of your Small Universe to remove the World Spring. I swear not to kill you. Although it might harm your foundation by doing so, it’s better than losing your life.”
Yang Kai pulled a long face, “You don’t look like a good person. I don’t trust you.”
The old woman laughed in a hoarse voice, “You don’t trust me, but you trust that devious woman?”
After a sigh, Yang Kai said, “Both of you are senior experts, so I can’t afford to offend either of you. Why don’t you have a life-and-death battle here first? I’ll follow the person who survives.”
The old woman snorted, “Cunning brat!”
Xia Lin Lang had run out of patience as she snapped, “Old Witch, if you’re determined to decide life and death here with me, I don’t mind sending you to the Yellow Springs. However, if you want to spend the rest of your life peacefully, scram!”
The old woman appeared furious, but it was apparent that unlike what she had said before, she wasn’t willing to take the risk of dying just to drag Xia Lin Lang down with her.
With a sneer, Xia Lin Lang grabbed Yang Kai’s shoulder and turned into a ray of light before shooting into the distance. Yang Kai could clearly feel a sense of murderous intent surging from the old woman as she stared fixedly at him from behind; however, even after they moved out of range of the old woman’s Divine Sense, she still didn’t make a move.
It was obvious that she didn’t have the confidence to make Xia Lin Lang stay. They would be evenly matched even if they got into a fight, so in the end, she decided to hold her fury in.
Watching as Xia Lin Lang and Yang Kai left, the old woman muttered resentfully, “Where do you think you can go anyway?”
“Are you disappointed that that Old Witch and I didn’t kill each other?” Xia Lin Lang suddenly shot him a glare.
Yang Kai patted his chest, “If you two got into a fight, I’d definitely help you.”
“Really?” Xia Lin Lang put on an inscrutable smile.
Yang Kai changed the topic by saying, “In fact, if you want the World Spring, you don’t have to wait for me to ascend to the Seventh Order. After the dust settles, I’ll try to force the World Spring out of my Small Universe.”
With a smile, Xia Lin Lang replied, “You can give it a try. If you succeed, it’ll be good for both of us.”
Yang Kai grunted in a sulky voice as he never intended to flee.
As though trying to placate him, Xia Lin Lang said, “Although the Old Witch is ill-intentioned, she’s right about one thing. I initially intended to kill you and get the World Spring after you made it to the Seventh Order. Since it’s been exposed, and you’ve been obliging, I won’t do anything that crosses the line.”
“What’s your plan now, Elder Sister?” Yang Kai asked.
“After you make it to the Seventh Order, you can keep your life if you’re willing to cut off a small part of your Small Universe and bring the World Spring out. However, by doing so, your cultivation will likely fall back to the Sixth Order, and it might cause your foundation to become unstable. By then, you won’t be able to deal with average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, and you’ll only be slightly stronger than the Fifth Order.”
“It’s decided, then,” Yang Kai hurriedly replied.
A shocked Xia Lin Lang gazed at him, “Don’t you want to sleep on it?”
Yang Kai put on a hollow laugh, “I’d rather live miserably than die horribly. Since you’re completely frank with me, I won’t beat around the bush and pull any tricks with you.”
A part of Xia Lin Lang’s heart seemed to have been touched as she sighed, “You’re right. It’s better to live miserably than die horribly.”
As they moved forward at full speed, she never allowed Yang Kai to use Space Principles, for she was wary of this strange ability of his. After all, if Yang Kai secretly pulled a trick while using Space Principles, she might not be able to notice it even though she was more powerful.
On the other hand, Yang Kai was tactful enough to not inquire about the woman’s background. Since she wasn’t willing to show up in the outside world by hiding in the depths of the Shattered Heaven, she must have some secrets that must not be exposed.
Half a month later, they arrived at a place in the void where no one was around. Xia Lin Lang finally stopped in her tracks.
Yang Kai looked around but didn’t discover anything of interest.
On the other hand, Xia Lin Lang performed different hand seals, then gently stuck two fingers out and pointed forward.
A ripple spread across the void, whereupon Yang Kai could see a picture scroll emerging into existence.
Inside the picture scroll, a beautiful view of mountains could be seen while some exotic beasts were roaming around. There were also some houses and gazebos on the mountains that made the place look like a paradise.
There was no doubt that the existence of a picture scroll in the void was shocking, but it would be completely normal if it was just a portal.
While grabbing Yang Kai, Xia Lin Lang plunged into the picture scroll without hesitation and disappeared the next moment.
The picture scroll that had abruptly appeared also vanished into thin air and left no traces behind.
Ample World Energy was felt coming right at their faces while they were surrounded by the thick aura of this World. When Yang Kai came to his senses, he realised that he was already in a place that was full of greenery, which looked just like a paradise.
He then looked around and became amazed.
Given his eyesight and experience now, he instantly realised that this place was different from the average Universe World. It was a Universe Cave Heaven that was left behind by a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master after his death, and it was very well preserved. The World Principles were complete, the world itself was stable, and the Dao Essence was ample. The Universe Cave Heaven that shattered following the exchange of moves between several Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters was not comparable to this one.
Moreover, he could clearly feel that the Dao Essence in this Universe Cave Heaven was compatible with him.
It was then he realised that the owner of this Universe Cave Heaven was an expert in the Spear Dao before his death. Therefore, the Spear Dao Essence in his Small Universe was abundant. By cultivating in such an environment, one could better comprehend the Spear Dao with half the effort.
When he entered the Blood Monster Cave Heaven in the past, the traces of Blood Principles were conspicuous; however, Yang Kai didn’t cultivate the Dao of Blood, so he didn’t feel anything while he was there. As for the Shadowless Cave Heaven, everything had been swept away by the Astral Wind, so the place was nothing more than a hollow shell.
In Yang Kai’s Small Universe, the most abundant Dao Essence was definitely the Space Dao Essence. After all, he condensed his Dao Seal through the Dao of Space. The rest was the Dao of Time, Alchemic Dao, and Spear Dao. If anyone managed to enter Yang Kai’s Small Universe, they would have a chance to comprehend his insights in these four Daos.
There were all sorts of Grand Daos in the 3,000 Worlds, but they all led to the same destination.
Even though Yang Kai’s mastery of the Spear Dao was inferior to that of the Dao of Space, it was still at the Third Level, Taking the Initial Steps; therefore, as soon as he entered this Universe Cave Heaven, he was moved by the thick Dao Essence.
This was indeed a wonderful place. If he could cultivate here for a long time, it would help improve his Spear Dao significantly. Although it was of no help to his cultivation, it could increase his combat strength.
While he was lost in his thoughts, Yang Kai suddenly looked down at a particular place.
Beneath him, there was a market located in a city that was bustling with noise as people streamed through the streets.
[There are so many people in this place!] Yang Kai was stunned.
He initially thought that the place Xia Lin Lang resided must be totally serene, but the sight before his eyes was different from what he had imagined.
As though knowing what was on his mind, Xia Lin Lang said, “This Universe Cave Heaven already looked like this when I found it in the past. The previous owner must have been in the Eighth Order at the very least. It wasn’t surprising that he raised some living beings in his body in order to generate Auspicious Spirit Essence and increase his World Force. Many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in ancient times would do this, much unlike the current generation of High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.”
Yang Kai couldn’t help but think about the Blood Monster Cave Heaven where there were many living creatures as well. The ancestors of Mo Mei and the others from Abundance City were living beings raised by Blood Monster Divine Monarch in his Small Universe.
However, Blood Monster Divine Monarch was a cruel and narrow-minded person, so the living creatures in his body were planted with a Blood Principles Restriction. Other than stopping them from comprehending the Heavenly Way and Martial Dao, the restriction would also ensure they couldn’t condense their Dao Seals. Additionally, there was no way they could flee from the Blood Monster Cave Heaven.
Without the nourishment of the aura in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven, those who had been planted with the Blood Principles Restriction would explode and die.
Back then, Yang Kai made a deal with Black Crow and obtained a technique that could disperse the Blood Principles Restriction. That was how he managed to bring Mo Mei and the others back to Void Land; otherwise, they would’ve been destroyed the moment Blood Monster Cave Heaven fell apart.
Xia Lin Lang was right to say that many High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters in ancient times would raise some living creatures in their Small Universes.
Nevertheless, things were different now. Yang Kai had never heard of any High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises who had this hobby. At least the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters he had come across didn’t have it, though he wasn’t sure about the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
There were many benefits to be gained by raising living beings in one’s Small Universe. The reproduction of these living beings would provide a continuous supply of Auspicious Spirit Essence. In that case, the World Force of the owner’s Small Universe would continue to increase without the need for him or her to actively cultivate.
This kind of increase was negligible in the short term for High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, who needed thousands to tens of thousands of years to make it to the next Order. Nevertheless, it could not be underestimated in the long term since many grains of sand would eventually build a mountain. It might help the owner shorten the time they had to cultivate significantly in the long term.
However, it wasn’t good news for the living beings who were raised in the Small Universe.
Usually, their daily life wouldn’t be affected, but if the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master got into a fight, and their Small Universe was shaken, a calamity would befall them. Worse, if the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master was killed, which resulted in their Small Universe collapsing, those living inside would die along with them. To those living inside, their fate was closely tied to the Small Universe’s owner. If anything happened to the owner, they would share the same terrible fate.
Yang Kai gently grunted as a realisation dawned upon him.
Xia Lin Lang shot him a weird look, “What’s wrong?”
Yang Kai straightened his face and replied dispassionately, “Nothing. It’s just that I’ve figured out something.”
Xia Lin Lang didn’t intend to keep asking. Since Yang Kai had been brought into this place, he was no different from a beast in a cage despite his mastery of the Dao of Space. Therefore, she wouldn’t do anything to him as long as he didn’t cross her bottom line.
On the other hand, Yang Kai finally figured out why the Four Universe Pillars were so popular and why several High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters were willing to kill each other in order to obtain one.
Naturally, the World Spring could help perfect a Small Universe and prevent any external influence from affecting it, which would be immensely beneficial when the owner is in battle. However, its biggest use was to allow one to safely raise living beings in their Small Universe.
With one of the Four Universe Pillars residing in their Small Universe, it wouldn’t fall into chaos as long as it wasn’t struck by deadly force, thus allowing those living inside one’s Small Universe to continue their lives peacefully.
In other words, with one of the Four Universe Pillars in possession, an Open Heaven Realm Master could start raising living beings in their body without any worries as they wouldn’t be affected even if they fought an intense battle.
Considering all this, Yang Kai couldn’t help having a bold idea.
Since the World Spring was now in his possession, he should probably start planning how to take advantage of it. Now, he was in the Sixth Order, which was still far away from his limit, the Eighth Order. It wasn’t certain how many years it would take him to make it to the Eighth Order, but if he could raise some living beings in his Small Universe, he could shorten the time needed to reach his limit.
However, he was nothing more than a captive now, so his first priority was to escape.
The reason he had been obliging until now was that he wasn’t willing to test Xia Lin Lang’s patience. If he hadn’t heard what the old woman had said, he would still have been very nervous about Xia Lin Lang killing him at any moment; however, upon learning the secrets of the World Spring, he now wasn’t worried that she would do anything to him. At the very least, Xi Lin Lang wouldn’t take the risk before he made it to the Seventh Order.
He would only be forced to deal with her when he ascended to the Seventh Order.
In truth, he never believed what she had said even though she appeared sincere.
Just then, a reflective lake came into his sight. There was an island in the middle of the lake where a bamboo forest swayed gently with the wind.
Xia Lin Lang led Yang Kai to land on the island and said impassively, “You’ll start cultivating here from now on. If you want to regain your freedom, you’d better ascend to the Seventh Order soon. When the time comes, I’ll fulfil the agreement we’ve come to.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I’ll try my best, but it’ll definitely take time.”
“Pass me your Space Ring,” Xia Lin Lang extended her hand.
Yang Kai batted his eyes as the sight was familiar to him. He then recalled that he had said the same thing to Luan Bai Feng in a matter-of-factly manner. It seemed that karma had finally come for him.
If Luan Bai Feng were here, she would’ve convulsed with laughter.
With a morose expression, he took off his Space Ring and tossed it at Xia Lin Lang in silence.
After taking it, Xia Lin Lang had a look at it and frowned, “Why are you so poor when you’re a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master?”
In fact, Yang Kai wasn’t poor at all. He had brought an enormous amount of resources with him when he left the Star Boundary; otherwise, the Void Yin-Yang Mirrors couldn’t have been refined. However, most of his things were placed in his Small Universe.
He already had such a habit when he still had the Sealed World Bead. All the valuable items were put in the Sealed World Bead while the miscellaneous items were in his Space Ring.
That was because if he came across any powerful cultivators and got robbed, he would still have his most precious items stashed away somewhere else.
Faced with her pitiful gaze that was tinged with disdain, Yang Kai put on a meek smile, “Although I’m not wealthy, I don’t think I’m considered poor either. These resources are enough for me to cultivate.”
Xia Lin Lang curled up her lips, “Didn’t you say you’re a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven? You’re a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master from one of the 36 Cave Heavens. Aren’t you worried that your poverty will embarrass your Sect?”
With a cold expression, Yang Kai snapped, “I don’t mind you mocking me, but please stop exposing my weaknesses. What’s the point of putting me in a tight spot while you’re fully aware of my shortcomings?”
Xia Lin Lang pursed her lips, “Stop the pretence, will you?”
She then tossed the Space Ring back at him, “Alright, just cultivate with such rubbish for now. I’ll tell someone to send you some resources later.”
Yang Kai nodded and put on his ring before saying, “By the way, please dispel the restriction in my body; otherwise, it’ll affect my cultivation.”
Xia Lin Lang looked playfully at him. She was fully aware of whether the restriction she had planted would affect his cultivation or not; however, since Yang Kai was like a caged beast now, the restriction was no longer important.
Not willing to waste any time on this issue, she put on a sweet smile and parted her lips, “Just stay here and cultivate. If I catch you running away, I’ll break your legs. If you do it again, I’ll end your life.”
Yang Kai instantly turned pale with horror and hung his head low, “I would never dare to!”
Xia Lin Lang crooked her finger, whereupon silver threads flew out of Yang Kai’s body and turned into a silver light in her hand before disappearing.
Xia Lin Lang was gone, but it wasn’t certain where she headed to. It seemed that she was not worried that Yang Kai would run away at all.
In fact, Yang Kai didn’t have the intention to flee.
Since the World Spring hadn’t been fully refined, his World Force would be sucked into it from time to time, which would cause his Small Universe to descend into chaos. Furthermore, when he took in the shattered Spirit Province where the World Spring was located previously, many impurities had also snuck into his Small Universe. Before he resolved these two major issues, he would never be able to flee from a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master regardless of how swift he was.
Although the island in the middle of the lake was not large, its view was magnificent. As the bamboo forest swayed with the breeze, the koi fish that came in different colours were seen swimming in the lake. It was truly a stunning sight to behold.
It took Yang Kai two days to build a bamboo hut to shelter himself from the wind and rain. Following that, he set up a simple barrier around the hut to prevent anyone from spying on him before he started cultivating.
He could refine the World Spring at a later time, as the most important task for him now was to purge the impurities from his Small Universe.
While these impurities were inside his Small Universe, he had to spend some effort to suppress them; otherwise, once they assimilated into his Small Universe completely, his foundation would be affected.
Fortunately, it wasn’t the first time such a thing happened to him, so he was already familiar with how to deal with it.
It took him about half a month to restore his Small Universe to its original state.
After settling the problem in his Small Universe, Yang Kai started refining the World Spring. This thing had started settling in on its own since it landed in his Small Universe, so he was just trying to accelerate the process by actively refining it.
Yang Kai hadn’t paid any attention to the World Spring since he was running for his life some time ago. Now that the dust had settled, he realised that as the World Spring absorbed his World Force and became fixed in place, there was an invisible aura that permeated his entire Small Universe which originated from it.
The existence of this aura had fortified and perfected his Small Universe. Even his heritage had been strengthened.
Yang Kai made some calculations and believed that given his current state, it would take him one to two months of hard work before he could fully refine the World Spring. During this process, the amount of World Force that would be consumed would be incalculable.
Although he had chugged down a lot of Open Heaven Pills to replenish his World Force, he still couldn’t make up for the losses.
Following a continuous infusion of World Force for the next two months, the World Spring, which caused Yang Kai’s Small Universe to descend into turmoil from time to time, finally merged with his it.
He instantly felt as ecstatic as a dead tree that had been resurrected. The pressure that had burdened him for months was finally gone for good. He clenched his fists and activated his World Force and confirmed that there were no longer any obstacles that stopped him from circulating his power smoothly.
The World Spring suppressed his Small Universe before being fully refined; otherwise, he could’ve at least counterattacked when dealing with Xia Lin Lang.
After all, he had engaged in life-and-death battles with Zuo Quan Hui before. Regardless of how powerful Xia Lin Lang was, she would not be stronger than Zuo Quan Hui.
Now that he had fully refined the World Spring, it wouldn’t obstruct his World Force and would instead reinforce his Small Universe, making it extremely sturdy and resistant to outside shocks and influence. Unless it was struck with enough force to crack it, his Small Universe wouldn’t fall into chaos again.
While he focused on examining the transformation in his Small Universe, the barrier around the bamboo hut was suddenly triggered. With a frown, Yang Kai looked out intently and realised a tan-skinned young man was standing outside the hut with a gloomy expression on his face. It wasn’t certain why he was so angry, but when he pushed out his fist, Yang Kai’s hastily arranged barrier and bamboo hut fell apart in an instant.
The barrier only served as a cover, and it wasn’t solid enough to ward off any attacks. Although the tan-skinned young man was irritable, he was surprisingly a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so it was only natural that the thin barrier couldn’t bear his attack.
[There are Open Heaven Realm Masters in this place other than Xia Lin Lang?] Yang Kai furrowed his brow. After giving it a thought though, he relaxed. Although Xia Lin Lang resided in this place, it wasn’t surprising that she had some subordinates as she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The moment the bamboo hut came apart, Yang Kai calmly landed on the ground.
As they exchanged glances, the young man examined Yang Kai with a furious expression, “Are you Yang Kai?”
Yang Kai nodded, “Yes.”
The young man snorted as he held a Space Ring in his hand and showed it to the other man, “Palace Master has asked me to pass this thing to you.”
Yang Kai took a look at the demolished bamboo hut and replied with a smile, “Did your Palace Master also ask you to destroy my hut?”
Without directly answering his question, the young man snapped, “I don’t care who you are, but we’ve all risked our lives to obtain the resources in this ring. Every one of them was not easy to come by. I, Qin Fen, wouldn’t disobey the Palace Master since she wants to give you these resources; however, you’ll have to prove your worth before you can get them!”
Finally understanding why the young man named Qin Fen was furious, Yang Kai put on a faint smile.
In order to help him ascend to the Seventh Order sooner, Xia Lin Lang would certainly give him some resources. That was the reason she took a look at his Space Ring some time ago. Nevertheless, it wasn’t easy to collect resources in the Shattered Heaven. As a disciple from Lin Lang Palace, Qin Fen definitely wouldn’t dare to disobey Xia Lin Lang, the Palace Master; however, he was also reluctant to give away resources, which he had exerted himself to find, to a stranger for free.
Since he had nowhere else to vent his anger, Yang Kai’s bamboo hut became the target.
“How do you want to find out whether I’m worthy?” Yang Kai gazed at the young man.
Qin Fen put away the Space Ring and extended his hand before summoning a spear with green and purple lights swirling around it. As his World Force surged, he pushed out the spear towards Yang Kai and bellowed, “Of course we’d have to fight. You’ll get the ring if you’re able to win the battle, but you’ll be killed if you’re defeated.”
Faced with the sudden attack, Yang Kai remained unmoved. However, as his clothes swayed with the wind, his figure started moving backwards like a phantom.
He had retreated several thousand metres in the blink of an eye while the tip of the spear remained seven metres away from his face. The light on the tip of the spear flickered as though it was the tongue of a snake.
Explosions occurred wherever they went, which went to show how powerful Qin Fen’s attack was.
However, regardless of how much force Qin Fen exerted, Yang Kai remained calm and collected, like a senior expert teaching his foolish student a lesson. Yang Kai looked teasingly at him, as though the latter was a child who was throwing a tantrum.
Qin Fen growled, “Stop using cheap tricks and face me directly if you have the guts!” He madly surged his World Force as his spear moved forward two more metres.
Following that, Yang Kai suddenly pushed out his fist.
Qin Fen widened his eyes in disbelief, for he felt an immense force coming right at him. The force whisked across his spear and came at his chest like it was a mountain. The green and purple lights around his spear madly flickered.
A horrified Qin Fen instantly moved backwards, but his chest was still struck by the attack. Upon impact, he tumbled across the surface of the lake as the waves surged. When he finally managed to stabilise himself and looked up, he saw that Yang Kai remained calm and collected while standing in front of the demolished bamboo hut and gazing impassively at him. It was as though he had never moved a muscle.
Upon standing with difficulty, Qin Fen hovered above the lake as a myriad of expressions came over his face. He was overwhelmed by a sense of shock and disbelief.
Both of them were in the Sixth Order, so he didn’t understand why there was such a huge gap between this man named Yang Kai and himself. He was easily defeated by the other party with only one move.
Just now, he felt as though he was facing a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like the Palace Master instead of a Sixth-Order one.
[Where did this guy come from?] The emotions in Qin Fen’s heart undulated. He only found out some time ago that the Palace Master had brought a stranger back to this place. He initially intended to ignore that man, but the Palace Master had asked him to send some resources to that person. After taking a look at the Space Ring, he realised that there were a lot of resources in it, which was why he was vexed. He wanted to teach the other party a lesson, but in the end, he was the one who suffered a setback instead.
Suppressing the roiling vitality in his chest, Qin Fen stared at the other man with a conflicted gaze. After a snort, he put away his spear and tossed the Space Ring at him, “Since you’ve proved your worth, this thing belongs to you now.”
The ring clanged to the ground. Yang Kai didn’t even bother to take a glance at it.
Qin Fen glared at him, “What do you mean by this?”
With a harmless smile, Yang Kai replied, “Nothing.”
Qin Fen had the urge to ask Yang Kai what the latter meant by nothing, but he knew that he would be humiliated if he really did so. Furthermore, Yang Kai had already made his stance clear. As he darted his gaze between Yang Kai and the Space Ring, he grimly said, “You may kill me, but you may never humiliate me!”
Yang Kai chuckled in response.
At that instant, Qin Fen fell into a dilemma. He was reluctant to pick up the ring and pass it to Yang Kai, but he wouldn’t dare to disobey the Palace Master’s order either, so he had to make sure that his task was completed. Initially, he just wanted to teach Yang Kai a lesson and dropped the ring in front of him like the latter was a beggar. However, he was the one who was embarrassed instead.
Just when Qin Fen didn’t know what to do, Xia Lin Lang suddenly spoke from a distance, “Don’t cross the line, Yang Kai.”
Seeing that Yang Kai remained silent, she went on to say, “Qin Fen, since you’ve destroyed his bamboo hut, you should rebuild it for him.”
Qin Fen respectfully cupped his fist, “Yes, Palace Master!”
Yang Kai pressed his lips into a line, but he still cupped his fist and said “Since you’ve said so, this Yang will obey.”
He would probably suffer horribly if he offended this Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. It still wasn’t the right time to confront her. Since she had made a fair judgement, he decided to make a concession.
Then, he extended his hand and grabbed the Space Ring. Upon infusing his Divine Sense into the ring, he realised there were really a lot of resources inside. Besides Open Heaven Pills, there were more than twenty complete sets of Fifth-Order materials.
There were no Sixth-Order materials. It wasn’t that Xia Lin Lang didn’t want to give him Sixth-Order materials, but be it in the 3,000 Worlds or the Shattered Heaven, all Open Heaven Realm Masters faced the same issue. Yin and Yang Element Materials in the Sixth Order and above were extremely rare while it was easier to find materials of the Five Elements. However, when one cultivated, there couldn’t be a lack of Yin and Yang Element Materials while just refining Five Elements materials, for doing so would disrupt the balance of power in their Small Universe.
As such, when an Open Heaven Realm Master refined cultivation materials, they had to prepare a complete set of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements.
Other than an opportunity such as entering a Small Source World, the quickest and most effective way for Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like Yang Kai to cultivate was to refine Sixth-Order materials; however, Sixth-Order Yin and Yang Element materials were hard to come by, so most had to settle for the second-best materials, the Fifth-Order ones.
It was the case for Yang Kai and even for the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises. No one would waste Sixth-Order materials.
More than twenty sets of Fifth-Order materials and thirty million Open Heaven Pills could only last Yang Kai for about half a year.
Since Xia Lin Lang had given the order, Qin Fen wouldn’t dare to disobey her; therefore, for the next few days, he had been building a bamboo hut for Yang Kai. He initially intended to build a sloppy one, but what made him furious was that Yang Kai had been instructing him like a supervisor the whole time.
Qin Fen had a strong urge to kill this guy with his spear.
A few days later, the bamboo hut was finally completed. Qin Fen instantly left the place without sparing Yang Kai a glance, for he was worried he wouldn’t be able to contain his fury.
Nothing major happened in the days that followed.
No one would bother Yang Kai while he stayed on the island in the middle of the lake, so he could focus on cultivating.
Since he ascended to the Open Heaven Realm, he had rarely had any chance to sit and cultivate in peace. In the past, he was forced to ascend to the Fifth Order outside the Shadowless Cave Heaven. After entering it, he consumed a World Fruit and made it to the Sixth Order. Following that, he had to travel to many places and deal with a lot of issues. Sometimes he would have some free time, but he would soon have to get to work again.
Although he was forcefully brought to this place by Xia Lin Lang, it could also be considered an opportunity for him as he could seize this chance to strengthen his cultivation. After ascending to the Open Heaven Realm, a cultivator had to carefully manage their Small Universe, a process that couldn’t be rushed as it took years of accumulation.
What was more important was that he was given free resources. Although he didn’t really care about it since he was pretty wealthy now, no one would turn down free resources.
Half a year later, Yang Kai had used up all the resources Qin Fen had sent him.
He didn’t ask for more resources from Xia Lin Lang though, because normally, so many resources could last a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master two or three years.
Fortunately, he still had a lot of resources in his Small Universe, so he wouldn’t have to stop cultivating.
This way of cultivating was extremely dreary, but it was inescapable for all Open Heaven Realm Masters. As time passed, Yang Kai managed to calm himself and slowly understand his own deficiencies.
The reason he made it to the Sixth Order from the Fifth Order was that he had consumed a Mid-Rank World Fruit. After that, due to various opportunities, his cultivation had increased significantly. Although there were many benefits in the short term since his power had risen quickly, there were some barely noticeable dangers that would snowball into something serious in the long term if not addressed.
These hidden concerns wouldn’t break out so soon, but as his cultivation increased, it would slowly affect his foundation, and once that happened, the situation would become very serious.
Hence, now was the perfect chance for Yang Kai to rectify these problems since he could focus on cultivating in peace right now.
On the other hand, this Universe Cave Heaven was indeed rich in Spear Dao Essence. Qin Fen, who had provoked Yang Kai some time ago, also used a spear, and his mastery of Spear Dao was actually better than Yang Kai’s. However, since there was a huge gap between their strength, he was defeated by Yang Kai with only one move.
If their heritages were the same, and they both used spears to battle, Yang Kai might not be able to defeat Qin Fen despite having the Supreme Limitless Spear Art.
While cultivating, he also never forgot to improve his comprehension of the Spear Dao using the Dao Essence filling this Universe Cave Heaven.
Time passed by quickly and Yang Kai never stepped out of the bamboo hut. All he did was cultivate with his legs crossed.
New resources would be sent to him every three years, but it was no longer Qin Fen who did so. Since he was defeated by Yang Kai before, he wouldn’t have the face to come to this island again. The person who was responsible for sending him resources was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but they never even spoke. After arriving at the island in the middle of the lake, he would hurriedly pass a ring to Yang Kai and leave.
For the past ten years, Yang Kai had not seen Xia Lin Lang again, making him wonder what she had been doing.
Ten years was neither a short nor long time, and it certainly was not enough for Yang Kai to significantly increase the heritage of his Small Universe. However, it was enough for him to achieve greater heights in his Spear Dao.
Originally, his mastery over the Spear Dao was only in the Third Level, Taking the Initial Steps. Nevertheless, after ten years of study and comprehension, he had reached the Fifth Level, Attaining Mastery Through Comprehensive Understanding.
There were four Daos that Yang Kai had significant attainments in. His Dao of Space was at the Eighth Level, Summiting the Peak, while his Dao of Time had reached the Sixth Level, Exceeding the Ordinary to Reach the Extraordinary. Additionally, his Spear Dao was now on the level of Attaining Mastery Through Comprehensive Understanding.
On the other hand, he had all but given up on the Alchemic Dao. If nothing unexpected happened, he probably wouldn’t spend any time and energy to improve it again.
One day, while cultivating, Yang Kai opened his eyes and looked up. He could sense Xia Lin Lang’s aura appearing in a particular direction as she turned into a ray of light. Soon, she left this Universe Cave Heaven and disappeared into the distance.
Yang Kai became startled for a moment, before putting on a grin, “Today is the day. The chance has finally come!”
Without hesitation, he stood up and dashed out of the bamboo hut. After taking a look into the distance, he disappeared from the spot the next instant.
There was a palace in the place where Xia Lin Lang’s aura appeared just now. It was also her foundation, Lin Lang Palace.
A moment later, Yang Kai revealed his figure in front of a magnificent palace. While looking up, he muttered, “Just as I suspected!”
Just like the Heavenly Sword Palace, the palace in front of him named Lin Lang Palace was also a flying palace artifact.
In fact, Heavenly Sword Palace wasn’t the first mobile palace artifact Yang Kai had seen, the Flowing Time Temple was. Blood Monster Divine Palace in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven was also such a palace artifact.
However, the Flowing Time Temple was a product of the Star Boundary. Although it belonged to Flowing Time Great Emperor when he was alive, it was inferior to the other mobile palaces Yang Kai had seen. The Flowing Time Temple was invincible in a battle between cultivators below the Open Heaven Realm; nevertheless, in a fight between Open Heaven Realm Masters, it was practically useless.
Strictly speaking, the Blood Monster Divine Palace was the first true mobile palace artifact Yang Kai had come across.
Unfortunately, when the Blood Monster Cave Heaven collapsed, the Blood Monster Divine Palace was also destroyed.
Meanwhile, Lin Lang Palace was also a palace artifact. Just like the status of Blood Monster Divine Palace in Blood Monster Cave Heaven, Lin Lang Palace was the centre of this Universe Cave Heaven. It was very important as it was just like the Array Core of a Grand Array.
The one who obtained Lin Lang Palace would be able to control this Universe Cave Heaven.
Presently, Lin Lang Palace had been left with Xia Lin Lang’s Imprint, so she was its owner.
Yang Kai had been cultivating in seclusion for the past ten years because, first, he indeed needed to calm down and cultivate, and secondly, he couldn’t confront Xia Lin Lang since he was no match for her in this Universe Cave Heaven where she held all the advantages.
However, he would certainly want to counterattack when there was a chance. Yang Kai wouldn’t risk his life for the magnanimity of a woman he was at odds with.
As soon as Yang Kai showed up, a figure shot out of Lin Lang Palace. It was Qin Fen, who was defeated by Yang Kai before. While glaring at him, he demanded, “What are you doing here?”
Before the Palace Master left, she told him to keep an eye on Yang Kai. It never crossed his mind though that right after the Palace Master left, this guy would show up here. It was obvious that this bastard had some ill intentions.
Yang Kai retracted his gaze from the palace and took a glance at Qin Fen before smiling and declaring, “Those who stand in my way will die!”
An unperturbed Qin Fen snapped with a cold expression, “You can give it a try!”
Certainly, Yang Kai was going to try. He turned into a beam of light and shot towards Qin Fen. As though recalling the defeat ten years ago, Qin Fen couldn’t help but take a few steps back; however, before Yang Kai even got close to him, a light barrier appeared around Lin Lang Palace. Yang Kai crashed into the light barrier, causing the entire palace to shake. Although the light became dented, it wasn’t broken in any way.
Yang Kai flew back 300 metres before standing still in a calm manner.
Qin Fen sneered, “Palace Master knew that you’d create trouble after she left, so she had made some preparations. You’d better leave now; otherwise, no one can save you when Palace Master returns.”
Yang Kai extended his hand and summoned out his Azure Dragon Spear before uttering impassively, “If Xia Lin Lang was still inside Lin Lang Palace, I naturally wouldn’t dare to make a scene; however, since you’re the one who is in charge now, what’s the percentage of the palace’s power that you can use?”
Qin Fen snorted, “More than enough to deal with you!”
Yang Kai grinned, “The biggest mistake Xia Lin Lang made is regarding me as an average Sixth-Order Master. Let’s find out how many of my attacks this barrier can bear, shall we?”
After he finished speaking, Yang Kai pushed his World Force and infused it into his spear before thrusting out his weapon.
Qin Fen wanted to mock him, but when the spear came into contact with the light barrier, it actually flickered noticeably. Although Xia Lin Lang had given him some temporary powers, Qin Fen was still stunned by the attack.
A flabbergasted Qin Fen hurriedly fished out a jade and performed a hand seal. By activating the power of the jade, he could control the Grand Array.
Just like Yang Kai had said though, Lin Lang Palace belonged to Xia Lin Lang. Even though she had given Qin Fen temporary authority to control the Grand Array before she left, he couldn’t fully use its power.
Yang Kai’s attacks continuously rained down on the light barrier of the Grand Array.
In the past, Yang Kai couldn’t have achieved this even though his spear technique was already fairly powerful; however, after ten years of cultivation in seclusion, while he hadn’t improved the heritage of his Small Universe much, he had gained quite a bit of insight into the Spear Dao.
As he wielded his spear, the Spear Principles in the Universe Cave Heaven seemed to have been stimulated, which helped empower Yang Kai.
Qin Fen staggered while he kept performing different hand seals, but he couldn’t stop the light barrier from dimming. Impacted by the turmoil in Lin Lang Palace, his Small Universe had also become unsteady.
After about 100 attacks from Yang Kai, the barrier around Lin Lang Palace broke into pieces like a shattered mirror. Qin Fen fell on his backside as blood streamed out of his mouth and nose.
With his spear in hand, Yang Kai sauntered up the stairs as though no one else was around.
Seeing this, Qin Fen gritted his teeth and roared. He then summoned his cyan spear and fearlessly attacked Yang Kai.
Yang Kai lightly swung his Azure Dragon Spear, and as the spears brushed past each other, his spear jabbed into Qin Fen’s shoulder, drawing a spurt of blood from the latter. He then lifted Qin Fen off his feet with his spear.
On the other hand, the tip of Qin Fen’s spear was just a palm’s length from Yang Kai’s chest, flashing with ample World Force. However, even a palm’s length was like the difference between life and death in this situation.
After his defeat on the island in the middle of the lake, Qin Fen knew that there was a gap between Yang Kai and him, but what horrified him was that the gap was so wide.
He could use the excuse of being negligent for his previous defeat, but in the life-and-death battle just now, he was still overpowered by the other party with ease.
The outcome gave Qin Feng a crawling sensation on his scalp.
He had never seen or heard of such a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master before. The Palace Master had left, and the Grand Array around Lin Lang Palace was unable to stop this person’s steps. Who else in this place could be a match for him?
He didn’t blame Yang Kai for being ruthless; he just hated the fact that he was unable to protect the palace while the Palace Master was gone.
As blood spurted, Yang Kai tossed Qin Fen away from his spear and activated his Cow Punch Secret Technique. Instantly, Qin Fen felt dizzy as his Small Universe shook violently. He was unable to come to his senses for a long time.
Just then, a few figures shot out of Lin Lang Palace. The person who always sent the resources to Yang Kai over the years was among them. There were also several Fifth-Order and Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters he had never seen before.
They rushed over to have a look the moment they heard the noises that were coming from Lin Lang Palace, but it was too late. When they saw that Qin Fen’s shoulder was covered in blood while he was seated on the ground, they were astonished.
They then glared at the culprit Yang Kai as their murderous intent surged.
“Stop embarrassing yourselves. Even together, all of you are no match for him!” Qin Fen shouted with difficulty. In Lin Lang Palace, he was the strongest apart from Xia Lin Lang, but he was defeated by Yang Kai in just one move. If it weren’t because Yang Kai didn’t have the intention to kill, he would’ve lost his life already.
Although there were some Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters among those people, they wouldn’t be able to deal with Yang Kai.
Qin Fen’s words were effective in stopping them from making any rash moves. Those people appeared furious and eager to fight, but they still held their anger in and did not make a move. One woman circumvented Yang Kai and walked up to Qin Fen before helping him up with a worried expression.
Qin Fen waved his hand to show that he was fine, though the upheaval in his Small Universe didn’t seem like it would settle any time soon. An invisible force had permeated his Small Universe and thrown it into absolute chaos.
He then wiped the blood from his mouth and stared coldly at Yang Kai, “So, what if we’re no match for you? In Lin Lang Palace, you’re unable to flee without the Palace Master’s permission. I suggest you retreat now; otherwise, you’ll be killed when the Palace Master returns.”
Yang Kai snorted, “Retreat, why should I retreat?”
Although Lin Lang Palace was a Universe Cave Heaven left behind by a High-Rank Master with a closed portal, it was still possible for Yang Kai to flee if he wanted to. As an expert in the Dao of Space, he just had to head to the portal and forcefully open it. Once he ran away from this place, Xia Lin Lang wouldn’t be able to harm him despite being a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
With that said, Yang Kai never had any intentions of fleeing. He had waited for ten years before Xia Lin Lang finally left, because he decided to do something big.
Qin Fen suddenly paled as he gazed at Yang Kai’s right hand, “What are you trying to do?”
At this moment, Yang Kai was holding a jade in his right hand as he fiddled with it.
The jade was given to Qin Fen by Xia Lin Lang before she left. It was the jade that was used to control Lin Lang Palace.
Qin Fen had no idea when Yang Kai had snatched the jade from him. It was probably during the time he was in a dazed state due to the turmoil in his Small Universe.
Upon realising Yang Kai’s plan, Qin Fen was instantly drenched in cold sweat. He already felt guilty that he couldn’t stop Yang Kai from barging into Lin Lang Palace, but if Yang Kai managed to refine the palace as well, Qin Fen would never forgive himself.
“This thing is pretty easy to refine.” Yang Kai put on a smile. As he waved his hand, Lin Lang Palace shook a little while an invisible force swept out. Qin Fen and the other Open Heaven Realm Masters were sent flying away by this force. When they landed on the ground, they were already outside of the palace.
The light barrier, which Yang Kai had shattered earlier, reappeared and blocked them out.
Of course, a jade that was used to control a palace artifact couldn’t be refined easily. In fact, Yang Kai had only refined a little of it and there was still a lot to do.
Since Xia Lin Lang decided to pass this jade to Qin Fen so that he could protect Lin Lang Palace, she naturally had to get rid of her own Imprint from it in advance.
Therefore, only Qin Fen’s aura was now left in the jade, which was why Yang Kai could easily dispel it. It wouldn’t have been easy if Xia Lin Lang’s aura were still inside it.
In fact, Xia Lin Lang hadn’t made any mistakes in her arrangements. Qin Fen and Yang Kai were both in the Sixth Order, and although Qin Fen appeared to be weaker than Yang Kai in the battle on the island previously, he should have been able to deal with an opponent in the same Order with the help of Lin Lang Palace. Furthermore, there were other Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the palace to assist if something went wrong.
Xia Lin Lang believed that with such arrangements in place, Yang Kai wouldn’t be able to carry out any scheme he had even though she had left.
Unfortunately, she had greatly underestimated Yang Kai’s strength.
Qin Fen had only temporarily taken over Lin Lang Palace, so he was unable draw out its full power. On the other hand, Yang Kai was overwhelming and acted resolute in every move he made. After breaking the Grand Array around the palace, he directly snatched the jade from Qin Fen.
That was the reason Yang Kai said that Xia Lin Lang had made a mistake by regarding him to be an average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. It wasn’t that Xia Lin Lang was careless, but a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Yang Kai was too unique. Common sense was not applicable to a monster like him.
After they were pushed out of the palace, one of the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters became furious and wanted to make a move, but Qin Fen raised his hand to stop him, “Stop wasting your energy. The Grand Array of Lin Lang Palace has been activated. You won’t be able to break it.”
As he spoke, a renewed sense of horror came over him. Yang Kai managed to break the Grand Array around Lin Lang Palace with a burst of about 100 attacks. It indeed had something to do with the fact that the Grand Array’s power had been weakened under Qin Fen’s control, but the major issue was that there was a huge gap between his strength and Yang Kai’s.
He initially thought that he could shorten this gap if he cultivated hard, but now it seemed that even if he reached the peak of the Sixth Order, he still wouldn’t be able to defeat Yang Kai. At that instant, he felt extremely bitter in his heart.
It was expected that he was haughty since he was able to make it to the Sixth Order, but the experience on this day was like a slap in the face for him, making him realise that there were always people beyond people out there.
“Do we just watch and do nothing then?” The Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was impolite as he blamed Qin Fen for losing the jade of Lin Lang Palace.
Following a sigh, Qin Fen replied, “The portal in this place is sealed, so he can’t flee anyway. He’ll only suffer miserably when Palace Master returns.”
Upon hearing that, all of them were lost for words.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai shuffled towards the centre of Lin Lang Palace.
In just a while, he arrived at a spacious Grand Hall with nothing in it. However, the abstruse patterns of a Grand Array were carved on the ground and walls. Amazing aura was seen weltering within the Grand Array, and it was clearly closely connected to the Universe Cave Heaven.
This was apparently the place where the central Grand Array of Lin Lang Palace was located. This Grand Array was linked to the jade in his hand.
Yang Kai then walked up to the middle of the Grand Array and sat down with his legs crossed. Following that, he crossed his fingers and placed his hands on his lap, the Array Jade nestled between his palms.
As he activated his World Force, Yang Kai infused his power into the jade and refined it.
He wasn’t considered powerful since he was just a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, but he was definitely not weak either. As a result, it was easy for him to refine a basically ownerless Array Jade.
He wasn’t certain why Xia Lin Lang had left or when she would return, so he didn’t dare to be negligent.
Presently, he was still not a match for a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Lin Lang Palace would be the key if he wanted to go up against Xia Lin Lang; otherwise, he would’ve forcefully opened the portal and fled instead of wasting time here.
Xia Lin Lang thought that there wouldn’t be a problem with Qin Fen in charge of the palace, which went to show that she still underestimated Yang Kai.
It was easy to refine the jade in the initial stage, but it became increasingly difficult as he progressed further.
It took Yang Kai half a month before he fully refined the jade.
As he slowly opened his eyes though, he became dumbfounded. Soon, he snapped out of the dazed state and snarled, “That woman is so sly! I’ve never seen a more cunning person than her!”
He appeared incensed as he was in a terrible mood.
This couldn’t be helped, as he realised that he could only control half of Lin Lang Palace’s power through this jade even after he fully refined it.
In other words, this Array Jade wasn’t complete, with its other part still in Xia Lin Lang’s hands.
This was quite embarrassing. The main reason Yang Kai had taken the risk to stay was to refine Lin Lang Palace. As long as he could occupy this palace, he would no longer be afraid of Xia Lin Lang since he would be able to control the entire Universe Cave Heaven through the palace and make use of the World Force in this place to deal with her. This was a Universe Cave Heaven left behind by a cultivator who was at least in the Eighth Order. If Yang Kai managed to succeed, Xia Lin Lang wouldn’t be able to harm him despite being a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
However, after he spent so much effort refining the jade, he realised that Xia Lin Lang had pulled a trick.
In that case, he was the half-owner of Lin Lang Palace, the same as Xia Lin Lang. No one was at an advantage in this regard.
Yang Kai had no idea whether Xia Lin Lang was being careful or that there were originally two parts of the Array Jade, but his plan was now impossible to complete.
Fortunately, there was still a benefit to his actions to be excited about.
Outside Lin Lang Palace, even though Qin Fen was still slightly pale, he was actually fine as the wound on his shoulder was almost healed. Even if a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had never practised Body Tempering before, their physique would still be pretty sturdy. Although Yang Kai was decisive in his moves, he didn’t have the intention to kill, so it took just half a month for Qin Fen to fully recover.
During this period of time, he and his companions had been staying outside Lin Lang Palace with grim expressions. In the meantime, they prayed that their Palace Master would return sooner to teach that reckless bastard a hard lesson.
Just then, Qin Fen sensed something and looked up at the sky. The next instant, his expression changed drastically as he stood straight up and glared at Lin Lang Palace.
Besides him, the two other Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were respectively in the Sixth Order and the Fifth Order, did the same.
The remaining three people had no idea why Qin Fen and the others had reacted in such a way.
“That crazy bastard!” Qin Fen growled through clenched teeth.
Another Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master appeared to be heartbroken, “He’s basically drying out the lake to catch the fish!”
Although the Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master didn’t say anything, he pressed his lips together with a gloomy expression.
At this point, their companions finally realised that something was off. The woman, who helped Qin Fen up earlier, was standing beside him as she asked gently, “Senior Brother Qin, is that person absorbing Spear Dao Essence?”
With reddened eyes, Qin Fen nodded.
The woman let out a sigh.
The original owner of this Universe Cave Heaven was a Master of the Spear Dao before his death, which was a well-known fact, so the Spear Dao Essence in this place was quite abundant. Therefore, be it the Open Heaven Realm Masters or the other sentient beings raised in this place, many of them were good at using spears.
Ironically, the current owner of Lin Lang Palace, Xia Lin Lang, knew little about the Spear Dao.
In the past, Qin Fen would always cultivate together with the other two Open Heaven Realm Masters who were adept at the Spear Dao. They could easily achieve greater heights in the Spear Dao due to the unique environment in this Universe Cave Heaven.
If this Universe Cave Heaven was like a pond, the ample Spear Dao Essence in this place was like the fish, and the people who were adept at the Spear Dao were like the anglers on the shore. As for how many fish they could catch, it depended on their talent and opportunities.
Qin Fen’s innate aptitude was excellent, which was why he had built a solid foundation in the Spear Dao. Xia Lin Lang once said that if Qin Fen could keep achieving greater heights, he would have a chance to receive the inheritance of this Universe Cave Heaven that the previous owner had left behind.
It was the inheritance of an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so it was expected that everyone had their eyes on it. Qin Fen had always regarded himself to be the only choice to succeed the inheritance.
However, at this moment, someone had brought a giant net with very small holes to this pond that was full of fish.
After he was done with catching the fish, there wouldn’t be many, if any left for everyone else.
That was the reason Qin Fen was heartbroken, and it was the same case for the other two Open Heaven Realm Masters who were experts in the Spear Dao.
Inside Lin Lang Palace, Yang Kai, who was seated with his legs crossed in the middle of the Grand Array, could clearly feel the abstruse aura streaming into his body from all directions, which helped him quickly comprehend the Spear Dao. The sense of enlightenment made him feel ecstatic.
The moment he was brought to this place by Xia Lin Lang, he could feel that the Spear Dao Essence in this place was abundant. It was the reason he had improved his comprehension of the Spear Dao by two levels in just ten years.
Nevertheless, he wasn’t content with just that. His goal had always been to absorb all of the Spear Dao Essence in this place. As for whether his actions were considered drying out the lake to catch the fish, he didn’t give a damn.
Since Xia Lin Lang was trying to harm him, he certainly had to get his revenge.
Although Yang Kai already had this plan a long time ago, he was unable to carry it out. Now that he had refined half of Lin Lang Palace, he had the right to do it now.
Other than being a palace artifact, Lin Lang Palace was also the command centre of the entire Universe Cave Heaven. Streams of aura around the edge of the Grand Array were closely connected to the Universe Cave Heaven, and every move made here would have far-reaching implications.
The status of Lin Lang Palace in this Universe Cave Heaven was the same as that of Blood Monster Divine Palace in the Blood Monster Cave Heaven. The reason Blood Crow wanted to refine Blood Monster Divine Palace back then was to take control of the entire Blood Monster Cave Heaven.
Even though Yang Kai had only refined half of Lin Lang Palace, he could do whatever he wanted, seeing as the controller of the other half wasn’t around.
Streams of existent but faintly discernible Spear Dao Essence were being absorbed by Yang Kai, which greatly improved his mastery over the Spear Dao. Although he couldn’t comprehend the Dao by blindly drawing it in, he would be able to digest it in the future.
The transformation going on in the Universe Cave Heaven was silent. Only the Open Heaven Realm Masters who were adept at the Spear Dao could clearly feel its loss. As time passed, the originally ample Spear Dao Essence soon became sparse and disappeared.
Qin Fen appeared to be devastated. Although Yang Kai had occupied Lin Lang Palace, Xia Lin Lang could still retrieve it upon her return. Nevertheless, the loss of Dao Essence was irreversible.
In the Grand Array of Lin Lang Palace, Yang Kai, who was seated with his legs crossed, belched as though he was full.
While he was seated there, his Spear Intent surged as though he was an invincible spear himself. Certainly, he couldn’t digest all the Spear Dao Essence in a short time, but as long as he could assimilate it into his body, he believed that he could still improve his comprehension of the Spear Dao by another two levels, which would mean that it would be his second most powerful Grand Dao after the Dao of Space.
He had refined half of Lin Lang Palace and snatched all the Spear Dao Essence in this Universe Cave Heaven. Although he was forcefully brought to this place, he had gained immense benefits in the end.
After what he had done, Yang Kai knew that he couldn’t stay here any longer. Certainly, he wouldn’t wait for Xia Lin Lang to return and settle the score with him.
Lin Lang Palace couldn’t be taken away. In truth, he could forcefully bring it with him, but by doing so it would cause the Universe Cave Heaven to collapse. While those living inside this place would end up in a miserable state, Xia Lin Lang would also be determined to kill him.
As Space Principles undulated, Yang Kai disappeared from the spot the next moment.
When he reappeared, he was already in front of the portal where he previously passed through to enter this place.
Xia Lin Lang’s aura also disappeared in this place when she left some time ago.
Initially, Yang Kai thought that given his master of the Dao of Space, it wouldn’t be hard for him to open the portal even though he would need to spend some effort. However, upon arriving at this place, he was shocked to realise that there were no traces of a portal here at all.
After searching around for half a day, he still couldn’t find it.
This caused Yang Kai to frown, but a thought flashed through his mind the next moment. As the half-owner of Lin Lang Palace, he could connect to the entire Universe Cave Heaven and look for the portal. It wouldn’t be easy if Xia Lin Lang was here, but since she wasn’t around, he could basically do whatever he wanted.
Soon, Yang Kai discovered something.
His eyes widened in amazement because not only was the portal hidden, but it also kept moving to new spots as time passed. It was then he realised the reason he couldn’t find the portal was that it was on the move. He had wasted half a day as he thought that the portal was still in its original spot.
Since he had found the portal, he instantly activated his Space Principles in an attempt to forcefully open it.
Half a day later, he wore a livid expression.
The portal had been sealed off by Xia Lin Lang as it was now connected to the entire Universe Cave Heaven. Unless he possessed a power that surpassed the heritage in this place, he could never force it open.
Basically, she wouldn’t allow him to leave.
It was no wonder that despite knowing that Yang Kai was an expert in the Dao of Space, she still left the place without worries. It was apparent that she knew he couldn’t break open the portal.
Although he was a half-owner of this place, his foundation was still weak. On the other hand, Xia Lin Lang had been managing this place for a long time, so it wasn’t surprising that she had left behind some tricks.
After a moment of silence, Yang Kai turned around and returned to Lin Lang Palace.
Since she wouldn’t allow him to leave, he would just stay here then. Previously, he was a captive who was powerless to go against Xia Lin Lang; however, now, he already had the capital to challenge the Seventh-Order woman. In fact, he was not afraid of her return. The reason he wanted to leave was that he didn’t want to get into a pointless fight with her.
He moved around by using Space Principles, so Qin Fen and the others, who had been waiting outside of Lin Lang Palace, were not aware he had even left.
In the days that followed, Yang Kai stayed inside Lin Lang Palace to cultivate while trying to assimilate the Spear Dao Essence into his body.
Half a month later, he suddenly opened his eyes and appeared on the roof of the palace before looking up.
Half a month wasn’t enough for him to fully absorb all the Dao Essence, but he was now only one step away from the Sixth Level in his Spear Dao.
A ray of light was approaching from the distance. Before she even arrived, she already noticed the transformation this place had gone through. Her grim gaze penetrated the void and clashed with that of Yang Kai as her murderous intent surged.
In response, Yang Kai flashed a smile at her.
After the curvy figure landed outside Lin Lang Palace, Qin Fen and the others, who looked like young kids who had been bullied while the adults were not around, wailed, “Palace Master!”
Xia Lin Lang sported a calm expression and looked up at Yang Kai, who was standing on the palace roof. Beneath her calmness was a volcano of fury that was about to burst.
A guilty Qin Fen said, “Palace Master, I’m sorry for disappointing you. Yang Kai barged into Lin Lang Palace and snatched the Array Jade. He then occupied the palace and forcefully absorbed the Spear Dao Essence. I’m so sorry!”
Xia Lin Lang gently waved her hand without saying a word.
Seeing that, Qin Fen felt even more guilty.
Standing on the roof, Yang Kai extended his hand with a smile.
The next moment, Xia Lin Lang landed on a spot that was ten metres beside Yang Kai and stood alongside him. She then snorted, “It seems that I’ve underestimated you.”
“The view here is magnificent,” Yang Kai replied, but it had nothing to do with what she had said.
“Did you hide your true strength previously?” Xia Lin Lang turned to look at him. Although her figure was shorter than Yang Kai’s, her gaze was condescending. As a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, she had the right to be haughty.
Yang Kai said with a smile, “I’ve never had a chance to show my true strength, so I don’t think it could be considered that I’ve hidden anything.”
The World Spring started settling down in his Small Universe when Xia Lin Lang captured him. Since his Small Universe had been suppressed by it, he was unable to fully use his power.
“Why did you not run away after doing so many terrible things? Are you waiting for death here?” Xia Lin Lang looked mockingly at him. She then derided him by saying, “Oh, I’ve forgotten that even though you’re adept at the Dao of Space, you couldn’t leave this place without my permission.”
Like a wise old man, Yang Kai snuck his hands into his sleeves and said sincerely, “That’s why I’ve been waiting here to have a discussion with you.”
“Go on.”
“Open the portal and let me leave. After that, we’ll have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
Xia Lin Lang examined him for a moment before saying, “I’ll just regard it as you spouting nonsense.” She extended her hand, “Pass the Array Jade to me, and I can pretend that nothing has happened. I’ll still wait for you to ascend to the Seventh Order; otherwise, I’ll kill you even though I might lose the World Spring. After your death, the Dao Essence you’ve stolen will return to this place, and even your own Dao Essence will stay. In that case, we haven’t actually suffered any loss.”
Yang Kai sighed, “When one’s strength is weak, their words carry no weight.”
Xia Lin Lang sneered, “Do you think you have the capital to haggle with me now?”
With a frown, Yang Kai gave it a thought for a moment before saying calmly, “Don’t I?”
Xia Lin Lang roared, “Brat, don’t go too far! My patience is limited. You won’t gain anything by offending me!”
Following a sigh, Yang Kai said, “It seems that we have no choice but to fight.” He then extended his hand and summoned his spear before pointing it at her, “Come on, Grandma!”
“Grandma?” Xia Lin Lang, who had the appearance of a beautiful young woman, felt humiliated as her facial features contorted.
Qin Fen and the others, who were waiting outside of Lin Lang Palace, were instantly drenched in cold sweat.
The next instant, an intense battle began.
Xia Lin Lang forcefully pushed out her palm towards Yang Kai who was just ten metres away. The World Force of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master surged from her petite palm like a tsunami. There was no holding back of her power as she was seemingly infuriated by what Yang Kai called her.
An unperturbed Yang Kai parried the attack with his spear.
As their World Forces clashed, the air blast turned into a ripple and spread out.
Azure Dragon Spear became bent, as though it would break at any moment. Faced with the overwhelming power, Yang Kai made use of the force to fly backwards and open some distance.
However, Xia Lin Lang’s attacks were continuous as she landed strikes on him like a storm.
Yang Kai kept moving backwards, as though he was powerless to counterattack.
Three breaths later, he was already several hundred thousand kilometres away. He couldn’t move backwards any longer since there was a mountain behind him. Upon impact, he flew away like a sack and smashed into the mountain.
The mountain collapsed and engulfed Yang Kai in it. As the dust rose, Xia Lin Lang hovered in mid-air as she looked down in a condescending manner.
A moment later, Yang Kai shot out of the rubble. Although he appeared a little battered as blood leaked from his mouth, his aura remained stable.
He jabbed his spear into the ground and let out a breath before remarking, “The Four Universe Pillars live up to their reputation!”
If he had to directly deal with the ferocious attacks from a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master before fully refining the World Spring, his Small Universe would’ve descended into chaos by now. When he fought against Zuo Quan Hui previously, he was constantly at a disadvantage and restricted in many ways mainly due to the instability in his Small Universe.
However, with the presence of the World Spring, his Small Universe remained stable regardless of how powerful Xia Lin Lang’s strikes were. It didn’t even shake a little.
The presence of the World Spring was like sturdy armour covering his Small Universe. Even when Yang Kai was faced with an opponent with a stronger heritage, he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.
Certainly, if the opponent was powerful enough to break that armour, the World Spring wouldn’t be able to ensure the stability of his Small Universe any longer. Although Xia Lin Lang was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master though, she didn’t have the power to shatter the World Spring’s protection.
It could be said that with the World Spring in possession, Yang Kai had reached greater heights in his combat strength as he now had the capital to battle against opponents that were in higher Orders than him.
“Is that the reason you’re so confident?” Xia Lin Lang looked impassively at him, “If you think there’s nothing I can do just because you have the World Spring, you’re wrong.”
Even though he had an impeccable defence, he wouldn’t be able to defeat the other party without the power to fight back.
Yang Kai wiped away the blood from his mouth and put on a grin, “Even though the World Spring is amazing, it’s just an external aid. If my confidence hinged on any mere tools, I wouldn’t have survived till this day.”
A frown appeared on Xia Lin Lang’s face as she finally saw the boy in front of her in a different light.
Yang Kai raised his spear and got ready before speaking shouting, “Pear Flower!”
In an instant, Xia Lin Lang was alarmed because the moment Yang Kai lifted his spear, the entire Universe Cave Heaven seemed to resonate with him. Looking up, she realised that Yang Kai’s figure seemed to have turned into a razor-sharp spear.
As the half-owner of this Universe Cave Heaven, Xia Lin Lang snorted while trying to suppress the world’s resonance with him.
Yang Kai smiled, “Both of us are half-owners of this place; however, it seems that this world favours me!”
There was a grim expression on Xia Lin Lang’s face as she realised that she was unable to suppress the resonance.
It wasn’t that she, as a half-owner, was inferior to Yang Kai in terms of control. In fact, they were equally matched when it came to their ability to manipulate the Universe Cave Heaven.
Therefore, she had never thought about making use of the Universe Cave Heaven’s power to deal with him, nor did Yang Kai have this plan, for it was pointless to do that. By doing so they would only deplete the heritage of this Universe Cave Heaven.
They were indeed equal when it came to their control over this world, but there was no doubt that this World favoured the outsider Yang Kai instead of Xia Lin Lang, who had been living in this place for a long time.
That was because Yang Kai had absorbed all the Spear Dao Essence in this place, so he could be considered a successor to the inheritance of its original owner.
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai declared, “The title of this Universe Cave Heaven’s original owner was Pear Flower Divine Monarch, and that palace’s true name is Pear Flower Palace, not Lin Lang Palace!”
Xia Lin Lang snapped, “I can call it whatever I want. It’s none of your business!”
Yang Kai replied dispassionately, “It was none of my business in the past. However, since I’ve obtained Senior Pear Flower’s inheritance, I have a duty to make things right.”
He then pointed his spear at her and drew a deep breath. With the resonance of this world, his aura surged massively, “My name is Yang Kai, and I’m eternally grateful for your inheritance, Divine Monarch. Today, I borrow your power, so I do not disappoint your expectations!”
As he gently pushed out his Azure Dragon Spear, Yang Kai roared once again, “Pear Flower!”
At that instant, all the pear trees in this world seemed to have blossomed.
The shadows of his spear filled the entire world and engulfed Xia Lin Lang. With the help of the World’s power, his strike was horrifyingly strong while World Force gushed form his own Small Universe like a raging tide.
As he made a move, the Grand Hall of the place named Lin Lang Palace by Xia Lin Lang, which was supposed to be Pear Flower Palace, radiated a dazzling glow as Spear Intent filled the world. Qin Fen and the other Open Heaven Realm Masters, who were experts in the Spear Dao, were dumbstruck as they looked at the sky of Pear Flower Blossoms. Their eyes were filled with amazement as it was the most beautiful sight they had ever seen.
A moment seemed to have passed, but it was also as if 10 million years had gone by. When the spear shadows dissipated, Xia Lin Lang’s figure appeared battered.
Presently, her face was slightly pale. There were some cuts on her clothes, and her hair was a mess. Her twin peaks heaved as she glowered at Yang Kai.
While she clenched her teeth, blood streamed out from the corner of her mouth.
Yang Kai put on a grin, “I can do this three more times.”
Xia Lin Lang’s face twitched. The attack with the help of Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s power was equivalent to the all-out attack of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. The fact that she could parry it showed that she was truly powerful. Although she wasn’t severely wounded, she wasn’t completely fine either.
She would be badly injured if she had to deal with the same kind of attack three more times. Certainly, Yang Kai would also end up in a horrible state by then, but it wasn’t worth it for her.
At that instant, she was in a dilemma. She was reluctant to let Yang Kai go, but if she made him stay, one of them would have to die today.
“What do you say?” Yang Kai demanded, as he didn’t intend to give her time to ponder the issue, “Do you want to engage in a life-and-death battle with me? Or do you want both of us to live? The choice is yours!”
He wisely stopped mocking her as a ‘Grandma’ lest the situation be exacerbated.
Seeing that she remained silent, Yang Kai went on to say, “I definitely cannot defeat you, and I might even lose my life here; however, before that happens, half of Pear Flower Cave Heaven will be destroyed, which will be an immense loss for you. If you let me go now, we’ll be even. We might even have a chat over a cup of wine when we meet again in the future.”
A myriad of expressions came over Xia Lin Lang while Yang Kai stopped urging her as he fell silent.
A moment later, her expression turned milder. She took a deep breath and said, “You can leave, but you have to return the jade to me.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai nodded with ecstasy, “Good. However, you’ll have to see me off.”
Xia Lin Lang shot him a glare and dashed into the sky.
After putting away his Azure Dragon Spear, Yang Kai placed his hands behind his back and calmly followed her. He seemed to have put down his guard, though nothing could be further from the truth.
A moment later, they arrived somewhere in the sky, then Xia Lin Lang turned around to look at him.
Yang Kai said, “Since you’ve decided to let me go, you should stop being doubtful. After I leave, it’s pointless for me to keep the jade, and I’ll only offend you by doing so. Don’t worry. After you open the portal, I’ll leave the jade here and go.”
“Don’t try to pull any trick on me!” Xia Lin Lang warned.
“I’ve always been a man of my word,” Yang Kai appeared solemn.
It was only then that Xia Lin Lang performed a hand seal. A moment later, a portal appeared in the Void. Yang Kai used his Divine Sense, and upon detecting the aura of another world from the other side of the portal, he set his mind at ease.
He fished out the jade and showed it to Xia Lin Lang before flicking it towards her. At the same time, he plunged into the portal without hesitation.
Xia Lin Lang took the jade and didn’t seem to have the intention of stopping him. Nevertheless, just as Yang Kai slipped through the portal, she curved her lips into a sneer.
After Yang Kai was gone, she scoffed, “You think you’re so smart? You’ve fallen for my trick in the end!”
Yang Kai arrived at a place where the mountains were covered with trees. While the exotic beasts galloped forward on the ground, the sky was filled with birds.
A dumbfounded Yang Kai gazed at the sight before his eyes as a myriad of expressions came over him. A while later, he looked up and sighed, “I suppose what goes around comes around!”
He had fallen into that woman’s trap!
Xia Lin Lang had opened up a portal for him earlier. After passing through it, he arrived at this strange place instead of returning to the outside world.
He was certain that he was neither in Pear Flower Cave Heaven nor the Shattered Heaven.
Just then, Xia Lin Lang abruptly appeared like a ghost as she shot Yang Kai a glance. With a mocking smile, she said, “Isn’t this the young man who has almost turned my backyard upside down? What a coincidence. I never expected that we’d meet again so soon.”
Presently, her skin was glowing without any signs of the paleness it had earlier.
It was apparent that Yang Kai’s Pear Flower Divine Ability hadn’t caused any real damage to Xia Lin Lang, but she acted as if she was badly injured, which went to show how scheming she was.
“Hey Grandma, what is this? Don’t you know it’s inappropriate to see a visitor off only to force them to stay as a guest?”
Xia Lin Lang batted her lashes and just replied lightly, “It’s expected that women are erratic creatures. Didn’t your Mother ever teach you that?”
At that moment, Yang Kai was lost for words.
After a moment of silence, he said, “If I’m not mistaken, this should be the world in that picture scroll.”
A calm and collected Xia Lin Lang gazed at him, “How are you still in the mood to ask me about such frivolous things even facing your imminent death?”
It was as though Yang Kai was speaking to himself as he said, “The portal of Pear Flower Cave Heaven was that picture scroll. I already realised that the picture scroll was extraordinary when I first saw it, but now it seems that the picture scroll wasn’t just a powerful artifact, but a self-contained World of its own. You acted reluctant to let me go, but you actually used a trick on me to let me jump into a more suited cage than the last one.”
At this point, Yang Kai muttered in annoyance, “It seems that before your return, even if I was able to force open the portal of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, I would still plunge into this place and become trapped.”
Xia Lin Lang gazed at him in an innocuous manner, “So what if you’ve figured it out? There’s no pill in the world for regret. If there was one, I wouldn’t mind buying a few thousand of them and letting you have a taste.”
Yang Kai pressed his hand against his chest, “It feels terrible!”
With her lips covered, Xia Lin Lang giggled, “Oh really? I’m very pleased actually.”
A vexed Yang Kai stared at her and said, “I’ve treated you with sincerity, but you’ve gone back on your word instead. That’s not righteous at all!”
Xia Lin Lang couldn’t help but roll her eyes, “What a thick-skinned man!”
“Since you have no more worries, are you ready to make a move now?” Yang Kai gazed at her.
Dispassionately, Xia Lin Lang replied, “I’ll never be at ease as long as someone who doesn’t know his place like you is still alive. Although the World Spring is precious, I don’t have the patience to wait for you to make it to the Seventh Order. Let’s just see how lucky I am. If I’m lucky, the World Spring might survive after your death. If I’m not, I’ll just watch as the World Spring goes with you to the Yellow Springs. As a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, you shouldn’t have any regrets since you have such an honour.”
Yang Kai nodded gently, “You’re right.”
“Do you have any last words?” Xia Lin Lang gaped at him.
“There’s no need for that,” Yang Kai shook his head.
Xia Lin Lang stared fixedly at him. The next moment, she appeared in front of him and pushed out her palm before cursing, “You can die now, then!”
Instantaneously, Yang Kai parried the attack with his fist.
Following a loud boom, the ground shook violently. A crack appeared beneath Yang Kai as his feet sank into the ground.
Without giving him a chance to take a breath, Xia Lin Lang pushed out her palm again at the speed of lightning. If Yang Kai hadn’t personally experienced it, he wouldn’t have believed that such a petite woman could unleash such violent attacks. The last time he came across such a situation was when he met Zhu Qing, who was from the Dragon Clan, for the first time.
Her attacks landed on Yang Kai like a torrent, and ten strikes later, half of Yang Kai’s figure was beneath the ground.
“How is a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like you supposed to fight me without the help of Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s power? Regardless of how amazing the World Spring is, it can’t make up for the gap between us!” Xia Lin Lang snorted while her attacks never stopped. Previously, since Yang Kai had obtained the inheritance of Pear Flower Divine Monarch, he was able to make use of Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s power. If they got into an intense battle in Pear Flower Cave Heaven, the place would suffer an immense loss.
That was the reason Xia Lin Lang tricked him into entering the world in the picture scroll instead.
The picture scroll outside of Pear Flower Cave Heaven not only served as a portal and a layer of defence, but it was also a cage.
Now, Yang Kai was trapped inside this cage, and unless he killed Xia Lin Lang, he would never be able to get out of it.
As Xia Lin Lang spoke, she attempted to sweep her leg across the man’s head. Yang Kai raised his hand to block, but as he was faced with the violent force, he was sent flying away like a carrot that had been plucked out of the ground. While in mid-air, he sprayed out a mouthful of blood.
Although the World Spring was able to stabilise his Small Universe and prevent it from falling into chaos, the attacks from a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could not be underestimated. After getting struck so many times, Yang Kai was naturally injured.
He managed to stabilise himself in mid-air with difficulty and wiped the blood from his mouth. As he gazed at the grim-looking Xia Lin Lang, he put on a grin and taunted, “An old bat like you is indeed quite powerful.”
An incensed Xia Lin Lang snarled, “I’ll tear your mouth off!”
The moment she finished saying the last word, Yang Kai was sent flying away again as though he had been struck by lightning. Although he was in a defensive pose, there was a huge gap between their strengths, so he was unable to disperse her raging attacks.
The ground shook and the sky paled. The mountains in the picture scroll crumbled and fell; it was as though the entire world had been turned upside down. Xia Lin Lang didn’t hold back at all, leading Yang Kai to be struck like a sandbag, powerless to counterattack.
If he hadn’t refined the World Spring, his Small Universe would’ve come apart already. If it weren’t because his Half-Dragon Form physique was so sturdy, he wouldn’t have persevered.
On the other hand, Xia Lin Lang became increasingly unsettled as time passed, for she had a feeling that Yang Kai had some kind of secret plot; after all, he hadn’t summoned his spear even up until this moment and had simply been facing her with his body.
However, she felt that Yang Kai wouldn’t be able to carry out any secret plot in this world in the picture scroll even if he had any. In this place, she was already invincible as a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
Therefore, her doubt soon vanished into thin air as her attacks became even more rapid. With that said, she was amazed at the fact that a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master still hadn’t lost his life following her barrage of blows.
It was no wonder that after she left, he was able to occupy Lin Lang Palace and kick Qin Fen and the others out so easily. He was indeed significantly more powerful than an average Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters.
An incense stick later, Yang Kai appeared to be at an absolute disadvantage as he was completely powerless to fight back. In addition to many bruises on his face, his figure was covered in wounds and blood. He looked truly battered.
Having lost her patience, Xia Lin Lang stared calmly at the staggering man who was standing not far away from her. A sense of hesitation flashed through her eyes, but it soon dissipated. As she performed a hand seal, she yelled, “I’ll end it here!”
As her hand seal was formed, her World Force surged. She then pointed her finger at Yang Kai’s forehead from a distance.
Her attack would determine the life or death of this man!
Her slender finger seemed to ignore the limits of space and gently landed on Yang Kai’s forehead. As if struck by a mountain, he suddenly tipped his head back, but a grin appeared on his blood-covered face at that exact moment as he threw out his fist and bellowed, “Cow Punch!”
A violent force burst out from his figure. Following the trail of the aura he had spent so much effort chasing, Yang Kai crashed all the force he could muster into the woman’s Small Universe.
Xia Lin Lang’s expression changed drastically. In an instant, she felt the world around her spinning, and a thunderous noise rang out in her ears as her Small Universe was sent into turmoil.
Before she could come to her senses, she saw a spear magnifying before her eyes through her blurred vision, a horrifying murderous intent swirling around its tip.
The strength and resilience of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could not be underestimated though. At the critical moment, Xia Lin Lang forcefully drew upon her Small Universe’s might and exerted more force with the finger that was on Yang Kai’s forehead, knocking him away.
Azure Dragon Spear jabbed almost a palm’s length into her belly before it was forcefully drawn out, its blade covered in blood.
Having just escaped from death’s door, Xia Lin Lang rapidly withdrew 1,000 kilometres.
Looking down, she realised that blood was streaming out of her belly and dying her clothes crimson. Her figure was close to being run through by the weapon just now. If she had suffered such an injury, while she wouldn’t have lost her life given her Seventh-Order cultivation, it would still be considered a critical wound.
What was more shocking for her was that there was a dark flame burning around her wound.
The black flame was so ferocious that she could only suppress it, but not put it out immediately despite being a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
“Golden Crow’s True Fire!” Xia Lin Lang’s pupils contracted as she instantly deduced the flame’s origin.
Golden Crow’s True Fire was a High-Rank Fire Element Power. Since Yang Kai was able to use this power, it meant that he had refined it for himself.
Xia Lin Lang slowly made it to the Seventh Order from a lower realm, so she knew full well how hard it must have been to condense a High-Rank Element Power.
It was then she realised why Yang Kai was far stronger than cultivators in the same Order. In this vast universe, those who could condense High-Rank Elements and make it to the Open Heaven Realm were all famous figures.
[Could this guy really be a disciple from Bright King Cave Heaven? But I’ve never seen him use the Immovable Bright King Body before. However, just like what’s described in the rumours, his physique is extremely robust.]
While the use of Golden Crow’s True Fire stunned Xia Lin Lang, the transformation in her Small Universe was what really concerned her. At this moment, a force was weltering in her Small Universe, which made it impossible for her to circulate her strength smoothly.
Before she could attempt to suppress it though, Yang Kai came at her with his spear.
The mark of a finger on his glabella was conspicuous and golden blood streamed out of the wound and slid down his face. An unperturbed Yang Kai put on a savage grin, which made his face look even more hideous.
“Do you think I can only go against you using Senior’s Spear Dao? I, Yang Kai, have my own Daos. I’ll let you know the consequences of angering me!”
The reason he held his fury in and never summoned his Azure Dragon Spear despite being wounded all over his face and body was that there was a huge gap between their base strengths. Even if he summoned Azure Dragon Spear, the outcome wouldn’t change. However, it was different at this moment. Following his use of Cow Punch Secret Technique, the situation had been turned around. He now had the capital to oppose her.
It had to be said that the aura of a Seventh Order was extremely difficult to trace. Since he comprehended his Cow Punch Secret Technique, Yang Kai had only used it to deal with four people.
Senior Sister Jin was the first, but that was more like a friendly spar rather than a life-and-death battle, and it ended after Yang Kai succeeded.
Tan Luo Xing was the second. As a Sixth-Order Blood Slave, he barely had any sentience left to speak of, so after the trail of his aura was caught by Yang Kai, he was instantly killed.
Blood Crow was the third, and he had indeed suffered a big setback because of Yang Kai.
However, these three were all in the Sixth Order while Xia Lin Lang was in the Seventh Order. Yang Kai hadn’t endured an incense stick’s worth of attacks for no reason. As their World Forces clashed and their auras entangled, he could finally find the chance to counterattack at the most critical moment.
Unaware of Yang Kai’s capabilities, Xia Lin Lang almost had her figure penetrated by his spear.
If she were a stronger Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Yang Kai might not have had the chance to use this Secret Technique and he would’ve fallen into a state of complete powerlessness.
Yang Kai was playing with fire by enduring the bombardment of attacks for an entire incense stick of time. If he wasn’t careful, he would’ve lost his life. However, if he hadn’t done that, he couldn’t have obtained the right to fight against Xia Lin Lang, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
As he wielded his Azure Dragon Spear, Pear Flowers seemed to blossom.
Yang Kai had comprehended this Divine Ability after obtaining the inheritance of Pear Flower Divine Monarch, so it wasn’t his own technique. If he were still in Pear Flower Cave Heaven, he could make use of the World’s power and to unleash a blow that was equivalent to a Seventh-Order Master’s full powered attack; however, since he had left Pear Flower Cave Heaven, the force of this attack had become less immense, though it was still fairly powerful.
Xia Lin Lang’s figure was engulfed in countless spear shadows, but as her World Force surged, the phantoms dissipated.
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai roared, “Golden Crow Casts the Sun!”
Senior Pear Flower’s Dao didn’t belong to him; however, the Golden Crow Casts the Sun did.
As a Golden Crow was heard cawing, a Great Sun leaped into the sky and illuminated the entire world.
Xia Lin Lang’s pupils contracted again as she exclaimed, “A Divine Manifestation!?”
Yang Kai guffawed, “You have pretty acute vision. It is indeed a Divine Manifestation!” He then stuck his spear to the Great Sun and pushed it towards the woman.
Xia Lin Lang’s gaze appeared conflicted. She was jealous and envious, but at the same time, she was unresigned and furious. Normally, Divine Manifestations were exclusive to High-Rank Masters. Only when a cultivator reached the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm could they stand a chance to comprehend their own Divine Manifestation. However, not every High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master had this opportunity.
Although it had been a long time since Xia Lin Lang ascended to the Seventh Order, she still hadn’t comprehended her own Divine Manifestation. There were many Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters who remained hidden in the Shattered Heaven, but only 10% of them could use Divine Manifestations.
Xia Lin Lang had never expected that one day she would come across a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who could cast a Divine Manifestation. At that instant, she felt as though she was dreaming.
If this wasn’t a dream, why would there be such a ridiculous thing in this world?
However, the Divine Manifestation indeed showcased a High-Rank Power, so she could not underestimate it.
The spear surged forward like a Dragon while the Great Sun rapidly magnified before her eyes. Since her aura was still in chaos, there was no way she could dodge the attack. Left with no other option, Xia Lin Lang unleashed a great shout as the illusory phantom of her Small Universe flashed behind her back. Ignoring the turmoil in her Small Universe, she forcefully drew out her World Force to meet the Great Sun head on.
As the moves met, the world fell silent.
As the Great Sun exploded, the world in the picture scroll became blindingly bright. Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang were both sent flying in opposite directions as they sprayed out mouthfuls of blood.
While Yang Kai was soaked in blood, Xia Lin Lang’s hair was a mess, and her clothes had become tattered. The chaos in her Small Universe had also been exacerbated.
Before she could take a breather, she was suddenly engulfed in a great sense of danger, one even more intense than when Yang Kai used his Divine Manifestation just now.
Upon stabilising himself, Yang Kai pushed his power without reserve. A Great Sun leapt into the sky again, and following that, a cold Moon rose into existence.
The Sun and the Moon shone brightly together!
As Time Principles and Space Principles intertwined, the Space-Time Strength permeated the World.
Sun and Moon Divine Wheel!
The Great Sun and Moon circled one another in an endless cycle, rotating faster and faster. While carrying an amazing power, the two celestial bodies flew towards Xia Lin Lang, who was still dizzy from the last attack.
Space was instantly frozen while time seemed to have stopped flowing.
Xia Lin Lang had never come across such an abstruse Divine Ability. At that instant, she didn’t know what to do. Despite that, she innately understood that one great force could suppress even ten Masters. While clenching her teeth, she suppressed the weltering vitality in her heart and madly activated her World Force before meeting the rapidly rotating Sun and Moon head-on.
As the surrounding space collapsed, Xia Lin Lang shot forward and landed a palm on Yang Kai’s forehead.
Yang Kai was sent flying away while gripping his spear. As blood spurted, both of them fell to the ground with a loud thud.
While lying on the ground, Yang Kai panted heavily and widened his eyes, but his vision was all blurred. He could feel his aura weltering around his body, as though there were thousands of horses rampaging inside him and tearing his physique apart.
He had previously endured Xia Lin Lang’s attacks for an entire incense stick, and now he had cast two powerful attacks without taking the consumption of energy into consideration. After he was struck by the woman’s full-force counterattack, he almost lost his life.
At this moment, he didn’t even have the strength to move a finger.
Although he was badly injured, Xia Lin Lang wasn’t in any better shape. She had sequentially been struck by Yang Kai’s Cow Punch, then his Golden Crow Casts the Sun, then his Sun and Moon Divine Wheel. Despite being a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, she couldn’t possibly keep fighting after suffering so many powerful blows.
As he activated his Divine Sense, Yang Kai realised that the woman was indeed lying in a pit that was a few thousand metres away. She remained unmoving, and her aura was weak.
The fierce battle turned out to be a mutual loss.
No one would’ve believed it if they were told. Although there was only a difference of one Order, a Seventh-Order Master should easily be able to defeat ten Sixth-Order Masters, so how did Xia Lin Lang end up in such a state?
However, that was indeed what had happened. Presently, Xia Lin Lang, who was lying in the pit, appeared extremely embarrassed. Her clothes were all tattered, which revealed her underwear. If anyone saw her without knowing what had happened, they would’ve thought that she had been molested and then thrown away by Yang Kai.
On the other hand, she had never expected she could be horribly injured by a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master one day. She felt so humiliated that she was on the brink of bursting into tears.
While clenching her teeth, she managed to spit vehemently, “Just you wait. I’ll definitely rip your corpse into 10,000 pieces!”
Despite her hushed voice, she knew that Yang Kai could hear her.
As expected, Yang Kai was then heard snorting, “How do you have the nerve to utter threats now? Neither of us can move, so whoever can recover first will be the winner. Although my cultivation is lower than yours, I have full confidence in my recovery abilities!”
His confidence came from his Half-Dragon physique and his Wood Element Power condensed from the Immortal Tree. Therefore, even though she was one Order higher than him, Yang Kai believed that there was no way Xia Lin Lang could recover before he did.
While he was lucky enough to have pushed Xia Lin Lang over the edge, it was also thanks to his well-thought-out plan. If his Cow Punch Secret Technique hadn’t been effective, the subsequent sequence of events wouldn’t have happened. The turmoil in her Small Universe gave Yang Kai a chance to hit her with his two trump cards.
Otherwise, regardless of how powerful Golden Crow Casts the Sun and Sun and Moon Divine Wheel were, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could have resolved his attacks.
That was what had happened when he fought against Zuo Quan Hui.
Yang Kai had gotten into several intense battles with Zuo Quan Hui, but other than the final conflict, which he was lucky enough to have killed him in, Yang Kai was essentially always at a disadvantage. Since he had come to a draw with Xia Lin Lang, it went to show that his power had increased significantly during this period of time.
“How could you oppress a weak woman like me? Are you even a man!?” Xia Lin Lang snapped.
Yang Kai sneered, “You’re just an Old Witch! I suppose you hadn’t expected this to happen when you oppressed me just because you thought yourself stronger!”
Xia Lin Lang was enraged. Perhaps she had rarely argued with anyone, so her vocabulary was rather limited when it came to such a situation, so she just continued snapping, “Damned brat!”
Yang Kai retaliated, “Old Witch!”
“Smelly man!”
“Hag!”
…
Instead of trying to recuperate, the two of them bickered with each other while lying on the ground. Although they cursed one another, there was no doubt that Yang Kai’s calm and collected demeanour had put him in an advantageous position. In just a while, Xia Lin Lang was so exasperated that she started spraying out a mouthful of blood as her twin peaks heaved. After suffering a small loss, she stopped humiliating herself as she decided to keep her mouth shut and let Yang Kai’s words roll off her back.
Yang Kai guffawed in a smug manner, as though he had won another battle.
One hour later, he suddenly let out a long breath, “We could’ve parted ways and lived our lives in peace, but you insisted on choosing death instead.”
Upon finishing his words, he slowly got to his feet and stumbled forward with his Azure Dragon Spear in hand. Although his aura was still weak and unstable, he had restored some of his energy.
Despite sensing his movements, Xia Lin Lang remained unmoving.
Yang Kai walked down the pit and stood beside her. Looking down, he asked calmly, “Do you have any last words?”
Xia Lin Lang glared at him, as though she was trying to cut him in half with her gaze.
Yang Kai went on to say, “Alright, stop pretending. You’re a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master after all. Although you couldn’t possibly have restored a lot of your strength in such a short time, I doubt you’d just lie there waiting for death. Since both of us can still make the last move, fate will decide which one of us will have the last laugh.”
Xia Lin Lang decided to ignore him and closed her eyes.
On the other hand, Yang Kai sported a solemn expression. He wouldn’t dare to make a rash move upon seeing her reaction. Just like he had said, both of them had restored a bit of their strength and apparently, she was saving hers to react accordingly. There was only a slim chance of success if he acted hastily now.
All of a sudden, Xia Lin Lang opened her eyes and roared, “I’ll dig your eyes out if you keep ogling me!”
Yang Kai was torn between tears and laughter, “It’s not that I want to take advantage of you when you’re in such a state, it’s just that your clothes are a complete mess and you don’t want to get changed. I’m just considering which part of your body to stab my spear into.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “Why don’t you change into new clothes? You’ll look more decent when you die.”
It wasn’t certain what was on Xia Lin Lang’s mind, but she really followed Yang Kai’s advice. After sitting up, she fished out new clothes from her Space Ring and directly put them on.
It was apparently a defensive artifact instead of ordinary clothes.
Yang Kai didn’t stop her.
After putting on her clothes, Xia Lin Lang lay on the ground again and placed her hands on her belly. She was as silent as a corpse.
Yang Kai’s brow twitched, “Just what do you want?”
Xia Lin Lang opened her eyes and shot him a faint glance, “I’m not going to make a move. I enjoy watching you act all anxious!”
Yang Kai snapped, “I’ll make a move then if you’re not going to!”
“You can give it a try! Let’s see which one of us dies in the end!”
“Do you think I don’t dare to?” Yang Kai was completely incensed.
“Do it then! What are you waiting for?”
While Yang Kai’s face twitched, the veins on his forehead also throbbed.
Just when he was considering whether he should push out his spear without worrying about the consequences, events took a turn. The world in the picture scroll shook while the sky paled.
Yang Kai subconsciously thought that the woman was trying to launch a sneak attack on him, so he instantly moved backwards about 100 metres. While lifting his spear defensively, he went on full alert.
On the other hand, Xia Lin Lang rapidly got to her feet and shot the man a glance before sneering, “I thought you were a bold man, but it turns out you’re just a coward!”
She then looked up at the sky with a frown.
Yang Kai also came to his senses as he realised that the turmoil wasn’t the woman’s doing. Instead, it came from the outside world.
As he recalled that they were in the world in the picture scroll, which was also a portal that led to Pear Flower Cave Heaven, Yang Kai arched his brow and asked, “Someone is attacking the portal, right?”
It was because some other group was attacking the portal from outside that the world in the picture scroll was in turmoil, and judging from the violent movements, Yang Kai believed that the attackers were fairly powerful.
With that said, Xia Lin Lang, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, was in charge of Pear Flower Cave Heaven. The attackers wouldn’t have made a scene if they didn’t have confidence.
Taking pleasure in her misfortune, Yang Kai guffawed, “It seems that retribution has come for you!”
He was still disgruntled about this woman tricking him, so he was more than happy to see her suffer.
Xia Lin Lang coldly retorted, “What are you so pleased about? If they manage to shatter the portal, you’ll be the first to suffer, not me.”
Yang Kai’s laughter abruptly caught in his throat as he came to his senses, “They’re here for me?”
“What do you count for?” Xia Lin Lang sneered, “They’re after the World Spring!”
“It’s them?” Yang Kai finally figured out who the attackers were as there were only a small number of people who were aware of the World Spring’s existence. Certainly, the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters who attempted to hack each other to death in the now-shattered Universe Cave Heaven knew about it though.
After Xia Lin Lang captured Yang Kai, she was intercepted by an old woman.
Xia Lin Lang followed up, “They must have tailed me while I was outside some time ago. That’s why the location of this place has been exposed; otherwise, they couldn’t have found this place so soon.”
Yang Kai snapped, “Why were you so careless?”
Xia Lin Lang sneered, “Didn’t you say I deserve retribution? Why are you so anxious?”
At that instant, Yang Kai was lost for words. If this matter had nothing to do with him, he could’ve sat on the mountaintop and watched the tigers fight; however, since he was their primary target, it was expected that he was anxious. Although he wasn’t certain whether Xia Lin Lang was lying, he believed that this woman had no reason to mess with him at this point.
A myriad of expressions came over him.
While staring at him, Xia Lin Lang suddenly put on a smile, “Why don’t I open the portal and let you flee? You’re an expert in the Dao of Space anyway. If you want to flee, those people might not be able to capture you even though they’re in the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm.”
Yang Kai snarled, “Do you think I can flee from multiple High-Rank Masters when I’m in such a state?”
“What does that have to do with me?” Xia Lin Lang smiled elegantly.
Yang Kai was so vexed that he had the urge to kill this woman with his spear right here and now.
Just now, he was all ready to watch a good show, but it turned out that he was the one featured in the show instead. Life was truly unpredictable.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai fury all faded and he put on a smile, “Good, let’s do that. After you open the portal, I won’t flee since there’s no chance of success. There’s only one World Spring, and those people are obviously not united. Once they’re inside, they’ll certainly backstab one another. When they start fighting, I’ll seize the chance to escape. Moreover, they won’t really kill me. Just like you, they’ll probably try to make me ascend to the Seventh Order before snatching the World Spring. No matter the outcome, I won’t die.”
While staring at her with a grim expression, he went on to say, “On the other hand, your aura is weak and you’re clearly injured. I bet those people will take the chance to kill you. All of you have been hiding in the Shattered Heaven for many years, so some grudges must have formed between you. I believe that the old woman we came across some time ago wouldn’t miss the chance to deal a fatal blow to you.”
Xia Lin Lang snorted, “Do you think they’re as easy-going as I am? Do you think they’re as patient as I am? There’s only one World Spring. If none of them can get it, they’ll not let it fall into other people’s hands. You won’t have a chance to survive then. Don’t worry, no one will help bury your corpse after you die!”
Yang Kai waved his hand, “Good, neither of us is young and ignorant anymore, so let’s stop trying to frighten each other.”
“Are you calling me old?” Xia Lin Lang rolled her eyes, then tucked her hair behind her ear and straightened her back, “I’m in my prime years!”
Yang Kai pursed his lips, “In any case, we’re now grasshoppers on the same rope, so our fates are tied to one another.”
After a moment of silence, Xia Lin Lang nodded, “You’ve finally said something sensible after such a long time.”
Unwilling to argue with her over this, Yang Kai said, “How many High-Rank Masters are there?”
Although he was now a half-owner of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, the world in the picture scroll had nothing to do with him. Only Xia Lin Lang was aware of what was going on in the outside world.
“There are four of them,” she replied, “You’ve met them all before.”
It was just what Yang Kai had expected. While he was outside of the Universe Cave Heaven back then, other than Xia Lin Lang, he had also come across an old woman with grey hair, a middle-aged man, a woman, and a young boy with a ponytail.
The five of them all charged into that Universe Cave Heaven and got into a fight, which was why the place fell apart.
“How powerful are they compared to you?”
“We’re equally matched. There’s not much difference between us really. In the Seventh Order, none of us are at the top nor at the bottom,” Xia Lin Lang laughed at herself a bit self-deprecatingly.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai asked, “If you open the portal now, how likely, do you think, are we to successfully flee while they’re off guard?”
Xia Lin Lang gazed at him with a weird look, “I should be asking you this question instead. Aren’t you supposed to be adept at fleeing since you’ve mastered the Dao of Space?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “It would be possible if I was at full strength; however, given the state I’m in, there’s no chance of success. Moreover, since they’re aware of my capabilities, they might have made some preparations already.”
Xia Lin Lang sighed, “This portal can’t persist for long. This place was already damaged after our fight earlier. Now that they’re bombarding it with their full strength, it’ll only take them half a day to break open the portal.”
As they spoke, the turmoil in the world in the picture scroll intensified like a rising tide.
Xia Lin Lang immediately made a decision, “Come with me.”
Without hesitation, Yang Kai nodded his head.
Xia Lin Lang performed a hand seal and pointed forward. A ripple spread across the Void and revealed a portal that led back to Pear Flower Cave Heaven.
Following that, the two of them passed through the portal.
They were initially at each other’s throats and were trying to kill one another, but at this moment, they were forced to become allies, which was quite ironic.
However, Yang Kai needed to rely on her Seventh-Order strength while Xia Lin Lang had to make use of his mastery of the Dao of Space. Moreover, Yang Kai had showcased incredible power during their battle. By joining forces with him, she would stand a greater chance of survival.
Both of them were sensible people. They knew that this kind of temporary union would only bring them benefits, which was why they stopped trying to hack each other to death. Nevertheless, after they escaped this calamity, it didn’t mean they wouldn’t resume their life-and-death struggle.
Upon returning to Pear Flower Cave Heaven, they directly appeared in front of Pear Flower Palace.
When Qin Fen and the others, who had been waiting in this place, saw the two of them, they quickly flew over. Upon seeing Xia Lin Lang was battered and her clothes were soaked in blood, they were shocked and glowered at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai ignored them.
Xia Lin Lang turned to look at him, “The portal on the outside is an artifact, so after they shatter it, they still can’t enter this place. They’ll also have to break the World Barrier here. It will only take them ten days to half a month to do that.”
Yang Kai nodded gently, “We’ll have ample time to restore our strength then. By the time they barge in, we’ll be able to deal with them since we’re the co-owners of this place.”
Xia Lin Lang slowly shook her head, “I won’t fight with them here.”
Yang Kai frowned, “Why?”
By fighting against their enemies in Pear Flower Cave Heaven, both of them would have an advantage; after all, they were the co-owners of this place, so they could make use of the World Force of this Universe Cave Heaven.
Xia Lin Lang explained, “More than 10 million people are living here. If we engage in a battle here, regardless of whether we win or lose, this place will be severely damaged. By then, countless people will lose their lives. Therefore, the moment they shatter the World Barrier, we’ll have to break through the siege. Whether we survive or not will be left up to the Heavens then.”
Yang Kai gazed at her with a shocked expression.
In a dispassionate tone, Xia Lin Lang asked, “What’s wrong? Do you think I’m too soft-hearted? Fine, I’m indeed such a person. If you don’t agree with my decision, you can leave now. I won’t stop you.”
Yang Kai shook his head, “That’s not what I meant. I was just surprised.”
He had never expected that this woman would be concerned about the life or death of the millions of residents of Pear Flower Cave Heaven. She was even willing to give up a strategic advantage in a life-and-death fight against her enemies to preserve this place.
It had to be noted that this decision was unwise. Anyone who had weighed the pros and cons of this matter wouldn’t have made such a decision.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai found this woman to be less despicable.
Xia Lin Lang frowned, “Why are you looking at me like this? Do you think I’m showing too much womanly compassion just because I’m concerned about the people living in this place?”
Yang Kai grinned, “It is said that we may know a person for a long time without understanding their true nature. Moreover, I’m not familiar with you, so I don’t know what kind of a person you really are. However, it’s clearly not a bad thing that the people here are ruled over by someone like you, who is concerned about their safety.”
Xia Lin Lang snorted.
Yang Kai went on to say, “If you trust me, I have a way to solve this problem.”
A doubtful Xia Lin Lang stared at him, “What’s your solution?”
With a smile, Yang Kai shook his head, “You’ll find out soon enough. But before that, I need the Array Jade of the Pear Flower Palace.”
As he spoke, he extended his hand.
Xia Lin Lang furrowed her brows, but she didn’t hesitate for long. She soon passed back the Array Jade she had retrieved from him some time ago.
“Thanks.” Yang Kai put on a smile, “I’ll go somewhere to restore my energy now, and you should do the same. We’ll have a tough battle soon.”
He then disappeared into the distance.
Qin Fen and the others were dumbfounded. They initially thought that their Palace Master had captured Yang Kai, but they soon realised it wasn’t the case upon hearing their conversation. Something serious seemed to have happened while the two of them were not around.
“What’s going on, Palace Master?” Qin Fen gazed doubtfully at her.
Xia Lin Lang replied, “I was tailed while I was outside some time ago, so the location of this place has been exposed. Some powerful cultivators are trying to invade now. I need to recuperate immediately. You all should enter Lin Lang Palace and prepare yourselves.”
“Yes,” Qin Fen and the others replied respectfully.
Yang Kai hadn’t suffered serious injuries in the battle against Xia Lin Lang; he was just exhausted, so it only took him a few days before he managed to restore most of his energy.
During this period of time, some tremors could be felt taking place in Pear Flower Cave Heaven. It was apparent that the High-Rank Masters had shattered the portal of the picture scroll, and they were now trying to break through the World Barrier of this place.
Once they formed a crack, they could pass through it and invade.
Since four High-Rank Masters had joined forces, it was a force to be reckoned with. Even though Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang had decided to work together, they couldn’t possibly defeat these four.
Xia Lin Lang was concerned about the millions of lives in Pear Flower Cave Heaven, so she wasn’t willing to start a fight in this place. Therefore, Yang Kai had to come up with a solution to free her of this concern so that they could make use of Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s power to confront their enemies.
Apparently, Xia Lin Lang didn’t intend to keep the millions of lives inside her Small Universe even though she was able to do so.
The Small Universe of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had materialised, so it could easily accommodate millions of ordinary lives. Furthermore, by raising living beings in one’s Small Universe, one could strengthen their heritage as living beings would nourish the World and generate World Force all on their own. As time passed, it could save a cultivator much time and effort.
However, if Xia Lin Lang really did that, it would be a disaster for those living here. Once she got into a fight with powerful enemies, most of those living here would be killed as a result of the turmoil in her Small Universe.
Yang Kai initially intended to put all those living in Pear Flower Cave Heaven inside his Small Universe. Although he was just a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, his Small Universe had the protection of the World Spring; therefore, the living beings in his Small Universe would not be harmed regardless of what happened.
Nevertheless, if he really did that, the secret that his Small Universe had materialised would be exposed.
Even though Xia Lin Lang appeared to be concerned about the living beings in this place, she might not have the same sympathy for Yang Kai. If she found out about his secret, she might develop some ill intentions.
After giving it a thought, Yang Kai knew that he had to act secretly.
The reason he got the jade back from Xia Lin Lang some time ago was to make some preparations for this.
Once he was done healing, Yang Kai appeared above a certain mountain range. Looking down, he could see that the mountain range spanned several tens of thousands of kilometres, like a long, sleeping Dragon.
Following that, he fished out the jade and pinched it between the tips of his fingers. As he communicated with the jade, he manipulated the local Space Principles. The next moment, the World Force in Pear Flower Cave Heaven trembled as a region several hundred thousand kilometres wide began to shake.
Although he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it was hard for him to achieve what he was doing by relying only on his own power. However, since he was a co-owner of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, it was now much easier for him.
Of course, the other half-owner of this place could detect such violent movements.
A moment later, Xia Lin Lang, who was initially meditating in Pear Flower Palace, appeared before Yang Kai with a dark expression as she bellowed, “Yang Kai, what are you doing?!”
She could sense that Yang Kai was trying to split off a big piece of territory that spanned several hundred thousand kilometres from Pear Flower Cave Heaven.
This kind of separation was immensely damaging to Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s foundation. Once Yang Kai succeeded, the heritage of Pear Flower Cave Heaven would be reduced by 20 to 30%.
That was the reason Xia Lin Lang was incensed.
On the other hand, Yang Kai wasn’t surprised by her arrival. Since they were the co-owners of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, they could easily detect the slightest changes happening in this place.
However, he wasn’t flustered at all. While continuing to split off this chunk of land, he explained, “You’re not willing to fight with the enemies in Pear Flower Cave Heaven because you’re worried that those living here will be affected, but if we can move them to a safe place, you will no longer have such a concern. Back when I was still young and weak, I obtained a special storage artifact. Just like your picture scroll, it was a Sealed World that could accommodate living beings. However, that storage artifact was damaged. Given my current capabilities though, it’s not hard for me to make a similar storage artifact.”
When he was still in the Star Boundary in the past, Yang Kai had refined a number of World Beads, which were similar to the Sealed World Bead. During the great battle between the Humans and Demons, every Army Commander had a World Bead, which was used to easily mobilise their soldiers.
Since Yang Kai already had this experience, it wouldn’t be hard for him to make something similar to the Sealed World Bead.
Once Xia Lin Lang realised his intentions, her expression turned milder, “Do you plan to move all those that live here to that new artifact?”
“That’s right.” Yang Kai nodded, “Only by doing so can we go all out against the enemy in this place.”
A myriad of expressions came over Xia Lin Lang as she knitted her brows.
Yang Kai scoffed, “Why even hesitate? I know you’re concerned about the millions of lives in this place, and you’re planning to break through the siege when the World Barrier is shattered; however, without your protection, these innocents would still be affected since those High-Rank Masters would definitely be furious. By then, you won’t be able to ensure their safety. In that case, why don’t we move them to somewhere safe in advance?”
Xia Lin Lang soon stopped hesitating and nodded, “Do you need any help?”
Yang Kai nodded, “If you want to help, please gather all those living in this place together now so that I’ll have ample time to transfer them to another place.”
After giving it a thought, Xia Lin Lang said, “I can put them inside my Small Universe first. When your artifact is ready, I can move them over.”
“Sounds good.”
Xia Lin Lang then left. There were people living all over Pear Flower Cave Heaven, so it would take her some time to put all of them inside her Small Universe.
Space Principles continued undulating around Yang Kai. With Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s support, he spent half a day splitting the territory of several hundred thousand kilometres that he had selected.
The heritage of Pear Flower Cave Heaven instantly fell by 30%. As a result, the sky paled and the ground shook. It was as though it was the end of the world.
Yang Kai activated his Divine Sense and engulfed the split-off territory with Space Principles without caring about his consumption of energy. As his World Force undulated, he performed different hand seals and cast rays of light through his fingers.
Three days later, the territory of several hundred thousand kilometres disappeared and was replaced by a bead the size of a longan.
By infusing his Divine Sense into it, Yang Kai could see that the territory of several hundred thousand kilometres he had split from Pear Flower Cave Heaven was now inside the bead.
Just like the Sealed World Bead, the bead was an Independent World of its own.
Right then, Xia Lin Lang returned and gazed at the pale Yang Kai as she asked, “Is it done?”
Yang Kai tossed the bead at her. After taking the bead, Xia Lin Lang inspected it while looking conflicted. A long time later, she said in a quiet voice, “Thank you.”
Following that, Yang Kai sat down on the ground with his legs crossed and swallowed down many Open Heaven Pills. While smiling, he asked, “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you clearly.”
Xia Lin Lang glared at him, “Don’t reach out for a yard after taking an inch!”
In response, Yang Kai chuckled. It was apparent that it wasn’t that Xia Lin Lang wanted to thank him, she was only expressing gratitude on behalf of the millions of people living under her rule.
It wasn’t until this moment that Yang Kai had a feeling that this woman really just wanted to obtain the World Spring without killing him. Given her actions so far, it was apparent she would have waited for him to ascend to the Seventh Order and then cut off a bit of territory to move the World Spring out of his Small Universe.
For those in the Open Heaven Realm, those below their realm were no different from ants.
However, there were some Open Heaven Realm Masters in the world who couldn’t really regard people as mere insects.
Xia Lin Lang put the bead inside her Small Universe. When she moved the bead out a moment later, all those within had been moved into the artifact.
Certainly, the migration would cause these millions of people to feel uneasy, but it was better than watching them lose their lives.
All of a sudden, Xia Lin Lang tossed the bead back at Yang Kai, who took it and stared at her in confusion.
Xia Lin Lang said, “I’ve witnessed your ability to flee before. Although you’re weaker than I am overall, if only one of us survives this, it will definitely be you, not me. Keep the bead for me. You can pass it back to me if both of us survive. I’ve promised them that I’ll give them a safe place to live after all.”
Yang Kai snorted, “After the food is eaten, it’ll become something else when it comes out of the body. Will you still want it by then?”
Xia Lin Lang snapped, “Nothing good will ever come out of your foul mouth!”
Yang Kai pursed his lips.
Then, Xia Lin Lang looked up at the sky and said, “We have three days left at most. Get some rest now.”
Upon finishing her words, she turned around and left.
After she was gone, Yang Kai looked down at the bead. As a thought flashed through his mind, he directly put it inside his Small Universe.
In fact, he had always had his eyes on these millions of lives. With the World Spring in his possession, he wouldn’t have to worry that those living here would be harmed while they inhabited his Small Universe. He was only in the Sixth Order, and he wasn’t even certain how long it would take him to make it to the Eighth Order, but with those living beings residing in his Small Universe, he could shorten the time of achieving his goal.
However, he had never expected that he would obtain living beings in such a way.
Xia Lin Lang believed that she was no match for Yang Kai when it came to the ability to flee, which was why she let him keep the bead.
Nevertheless, just like Yang Kai had said, once food was eaten, it could not be given away. Since Xia Lin Lang had passed those people to him, she would never be able to get them back.
No place in the world was safer than his Small Universe right now. Even if he accidentally lost his life, his Small Universe would still remain intact with the World Spring’s presence.
In just a few days, those living in Pear Flower Cave Heaven had experienced three great migrations. First, they were moved into Xia Lin Lang’s Small Universe from Pear Flower Cave Heaven, then they were moved into the bead. Following that, they were transferred to Yang Kai’s Small Universe.
Although they didn’t have to exert any effort, the migrations naturally made them feel anxious.
When Yang Kai released them from the bead and settled them down in his Small Universe, those millions of people, regardless of their gender and age, all appeared pale and terrified.
Yang Kai had never raised other living beings before, but he knew that they needed houses to live in and food to eat.
There were some people who had cultivated before among these living beings, and there were even a dozen or so Emperor Realm Masters. However, none of them were in the Open Heaven Realm.
It wasn’t hard to raise some Emperor Realm Masters in his body, but Yang Kai would definitely chase the Open Heaven Realm Masters out if there were any.
As a thought flashed through his mind, he secretly spoke to those Emperor Realm Masters, who were shocked at first, but they soon became at ease.
Following that, the most powerful Emperor Realm Master among them placated the crowd and the commotion slowly subsided.
As the ground shook, the World Barrier of Pear Flower Cave Heaven was shattered.
A huge crack appeared in the sky as four figures stood in line. They looked like four ferocious Dragons that stuck their heads out of the clouds.
In the square in front of Pear Flower Palace, Yang Kai looked up and swept a glance over them.
He had come into contact with the old woman with grey hair once. Xia Lin Lang said that the woman called herself Grandma Jiu. She was a ruthless and cruel person. No one knew of her background. In the entire Shattered Heaven, she was one of the oldest who chose to go into hiding in this place. At the very least, when Xia Lin Lang came here to live a reclusive life back then, Grandma Jiu was a famous figure.
The middle-aged man was named Zong Zheng. He seemed to have something to do with a particular Sect in Green Frost Territory, but no one could prove it.
The beautiful woman was named Zhu Ling Shan, who was a licentious person with countless lovers. She was infamous throughout the entire Shattered Heaven; however, since she was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, no one would dare to underestimate her.
It wasn’t certain what kind of Evil Art that Purple Night Boy, who had a ponytail, had cultivated, but the more profound his cultivation was, the younger he looked. Although he looked as innocent and delicate as a young boy, he apparently loved eating Human livers, especially those of women. People who offended him would end up in a horrible state. He had countless ways to make his enemies watch as he ate their livers. In the end, they were in so much pain that they would beg him to kill them.
There was no law or order in the Shattered Heaven. It was all about power. This place was filled with the most ruthless people. It was as though all sorts of thugs in the 3,000 Worlds had gathered together in this place.
Xu Wang, who was from Bright King Cave Heaven, once told Yang Kai that the waters in the Shattered Heaven were muddier than he imagined. At that time, Yang Kai still didn’t understand what he meant, but now he had personally experienced it, and everything he saw was just the tip of the iceberg. What would the whole picture of the Shattered Heaven look like?
Upon barging into Pear Flower Cave Heaven, the four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters instantly locked their gazes on Yang Kai. Their eyes appeared fervent, so it was obvious that they were aware that Yang Kai had refined the World Spring. The one who could capture him would stand a chance to be the owner of the World Spring.
There were rarely any precious treasures in the world that could make High-Rank Masters feel tempted, and the things that could make them risk their lives were even rarer. One of the Four Universe Pillars, the World Spring, was definitely one of them though.
As long as they could obtain the World Spring, they would be at a huge advantage when fighting against their enemies or raising living beings inside their Small Universe. If it weren’t because of the allure of the World Spring, the four High-Rank Masters, who were not really united, wouldn’t have joined forces and arrived at this place together.
Yang Kai stomped his foot on the ground and grinned, “We have some guests. Let’s send them a gift!”
A buzzing sound was then heard ringing throughout Pear Flower Palace. Following that, the World Force of Pear Flower Cave Heaven madly streamed into the palace. At that instant, Pear Flower Palace, which was a mobile palace artifact, as well as the command centre of the entire Pear Flower Cave Heaven, seemed to have turned into a bottomless pit.
Inside Pear Flower Cave Heaven, all the plants withered instantly and the sky turned grey.
All the World Force in Pear Flower Cave Heaven had streamed into Pear Flower Palace in just three breaths, which caused the originally vibrant Universe Cave Heaven to turn into a dead place.
As Spear Intent surged, Pear Flower Palace rose into the air and shot towards the four unwelcome guests.
The four of them had just broken the World Barrier of Pear Flower Cave Heaven and seen Yang Kai, who was their target, but just when they were excited, this turn of events suddenly took place.
Although they were in the High-Rank Open Heaven Realm, it was still hard for them to react instantly.
The colour drained from Zhu Ling Shan’s face as she exclaimed, “Are you out of your mind, Xia Lin Lang!?”
At the same time, the expressions of Grandma Jiu, Zong Zheng, and Purple Night Boy changed drastically as their pleasant surprise turned into shock and fear.
This couldn’t be helped. Although they had envisioned what the battle would look like, the scenario before their eyes had never crossed their minds. Xia Lin Lang had truly gone all out with this attack, which had condensed all the World Force in Pear Flower Cave Heaven into a single attack.
Pear Flower Cave Heaven was a Universe Cave Heaven left behind by a cultivator who was at least in the Eighth Order. Given Xia Lin Lang’s capabilities, even though she could mobilise the World Force of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, which made it easier for her to deal with her enemies here, she couldn’t fully make use of this advantage.
That was because she knew nothing about the Spear Dao.
The previous owner of Pear Flower Cave Heaven was a Master of the Spear Dao, so he had left behind a lot of Spear Dao Essence after his death. Since she couldn’t comprehend it, Xia Lin Lang naturally couldn’t obtain his inheritance.
If Pear Flower Cave Heaven was compared to a sword, Xia Lin Lang could certainly hold it and wield it like a club to deal with her enemies, but she would be unable to unsheathe sword, which would naturally make it less effective.
However, things were different with Yang Kai’s assistance. Previously, he had fully absorbed the Dao Essence of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, and although he hadn’t fully digested it yet, he was able to unsheathe the blade, which was Pear Flower Palace.
The two of them had worked together to cast an attack that had condensed all the power from Pear Flower Cave Heaven into one spot. Although the attack was less powerful than what the previous owner could cast, it was definitely more powerful than what a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master could launch.
It was the one and only attack that had been infused with all the power of Pear Flower Cave Heaven. They wouldn’t be able to launch such an attack again.
Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang were originally split over this issue. She believed that since they were already at an advantage in this place, they didn’t have to bet everything on a single roll of the dice; after all, if the attack proved to be ineffective, their advantage would be gone for good. Therefore, she believed that they should deal with their enemies in Pear Flower Cave Heaven so that they would stand a chance to gain the upper hand and ward off their enemies.
Naturally, Yang Kai didn’t agree with her. The argument between them was so fierce that they almost broke out into another fight. Qin Fen and the others were horrified as they watched from the side. While they were shocked by Yang Kai’s audacity, they were also puzzled by their Palace Master’s concession.
Yang Kai’s reasoning was that, while Xia Lin Lang could deal with one enemy and Yang Kai could make use of the advantage of being the co-owner to fight against another Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master with the help of Pear Flower Palace, as well as Qin Fen and the others, since they were faced with four enemies, who would deal with the remaining two?
As the battle dragged on, the heritage of Pear Flower Cave Heaven would be depleted if they couldn’t defeat their enemies, and once the depletion reached a certain critical point, their advantage would turn into a disadvantage, and they would have no choice but to flee.
Hence, he believed that they should bet everything on a single attack. Since Xia Lin Lang wasn’t willing to do this, their enemies would naturally not consider this possibility either, and they would be caught off guard. If the two of them were lucky, they could directly kill one or two of their enemies.
Once they succeeded, the rest of the enemies would hesitate to make a move again.
Back then, in Pear Flower Palace, Yang Kai said in a sincere manner, “I know you’re unwilling to let go of this place, but those millions of lives have settled down in a safe place, so there’s no more concern for you. Moreover, the location of this place has been exposed. Even if you’re able to beat back your enemies this time, more will come knocking on your door in the future. You can’t possibly keep this place safe.”
Certainly, Xia Lin Lang knew that he was right. There were two things that were most important when it came to hiding in the Shattered Heaven. First, a powerful cultivation, and second, a secure hideout.
After she arrived in the Shattered Heaven in the past, it took her 1,000 years before she was lucky enough to find Pear Flower Cave Heaven and become its owner.
Grandma Jiu, Zong Zheng, Zhu Ling Shan, and Purple Night Boy all had their own hideouts, which remained secrets that outsiders could never find out about.
The cultivators outside the Shattered Heaven could never imagine the lengths these people had to go to to keep their hideouts hidden. Once their hideouts were exposed, other than their enemies in the Shattered Heaven, those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises would also hunt them down.
It wasn’t unprecedented. In the past, some High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had suffered such a setback. Their hideouts were found out by those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises and in the end, teams of High-Rank Masters from the Cave Heavens and Paradises came over and directly shattered the World Barriers before capturing these people who had been hiding.
Xia Lin Lang believed that she was already careful enough the last time she went out, but she was still tailed by someone, which was why this place was now under siege.
Fortunately, she wasn’t an inflexible person. Since Yang Kai managed to change her mind, she directly agreed to his plan.
Pear Flower Palace radiated a dazzling glow as Spear Intent filled the entire World. The palace artifact seemed to have turned into an all-conquering spear as it pierced towards the four unsuspecting enemies.
They were targeted by the attack that had condensed all the power and aura of Pear Flower Cave Heaven.
The expressions of the four of them were transformed by horror as they intended to flee, but were unable to do so. They secretly cursed at Xia Lin Lang while Zong Zheng bellowed, “Act together if you want to live!”
He had never expected that Xia Lin Lang would act so decisively. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have listened to Grandma Jiu and come over to have a hand in this mess. This was a disaster he didn’t ask for.
As he spoke, he fully activated all his World Force and made his move.
Grandma Jiu, Zhu Ling Shan, and Purple Night Boy also knew that it wasn’t the time to hold back; therefore, after Zong Zheng spoke, they also activated their powers without hesitation.
At that instant, seven robust defensive artifacts had been summoned as they hovered in front of the group of four. Behind the artifacts, some defensive Secret Techniques were also activated. A glow flickered in front of them as though there was a thick layer of wall defending them.
There was a long tail of light behind Pear Flower Palace, which made it look like a ferocious Dragon.
It was a palace artifact that had many powerful functions, and at this moment, it had condensed all the World Force of Pear Flower Cave Heaven. Certainly, such an attack could be described as terrifying.
Looking down, they could see that Pear Flower Palace had been engulfed in an aura. Presently, Yang Kai was standing on the square in front of the palace. The Spear Dao Essence he hadn’t managed to fully digest now resonated with the palace.
Be it Pear Flower Palace or the Spear Dao Essence, they originally belonged to the original owner of Pear Flower Cave Heaven, so it wasn’t surprising that they resonated with each other.
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai made a grabbing gesture as though he was holding a spear. Even if there were millions of enemies in front of him, he could destroy them with his thrust.
An exuberant Yang Kai filled his lungs before roaring, “Kill!”
As the attack struck, the seven artifacts were shredded like paper. The Secret Techniques behind the artifacts were also instantly shattered.
The four enemies were sent flying away as they all sprayed out mouthfuls of blood, their auras significantly weakened.
Pear Flower Palace directly formed a huge crack in the World Barrier and disappeared into the distance.
The heritage of Pear Flower Cave Heaven had been sucked dry, so the entire place had become dead. Even the command centre, Pear Flower Palace, had left; therefore, following the violent upheaval, the Universe Cave Heaven crumbled and exploded.
In the void, shattered Spirit Provinces of different sizes appeared from out of nowhere and shot forward in all directions.
At the same time, four battered and injured figures emerged. They appeared to still be reeling from the shock. Zong Zheng was the most severely injured among them as he was covered in terrible wounds. One could even see his squirming organs through the gashes in his flesh.
It wasn’t that Zong Zheng was weaker than the rest of them, he was just unlucky to have borne the brunt of the horrifying attack.
It was an attack that had exhausted all of Pear Flower Cave Heaven’s power, so although it wasn’t as powerful as an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master’s strike, the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters couldn’t easily parry it.
The excruciating pain caused Zong Zheng’s face to contort as he covered his wounds with his power to stop the bleeding. He also fished out lots of precious pills from his Small Universe and gulped them down.
All of a sudden, he felt a sharp pain in his chest as a stream of dangerous World Force had locked onto him from behind.
He instantly froze on the spot, and when he looked down, he saw a child’s hand sticking out of his gut.
With widened eyes, he bellowed, “Purple Night Old Ghost!”
Behind him, Purple Night Boy stuck close to him like a shadow as he grinned, “Since you’re so badly injured, you won’t stand a chance to survive. I’ll send you on your way now, no need to thank me!”
“You dare?!” Zong Zheng roared. However, he was attacked by Purple Night while he had lowered his guard, and he was now horribly injured, so there was no way he could resist.
The next moment, Purple Night Boy surged his World Force, which rushed into the other man’s body and destroyed his vitality.
Purple Night then pulled a bloody liver from Zong Zheng’s body and started gnawing at it. His expression was as casual as someone who was having a cold drink in the hot summer.
In a nearby place, Grandma Jiu and Zhu Ling Shan watched the incident unfold with impassive expressions.
In a place like the Shattered Heaven, people could turn hostile to each other at any moment. If one of them had been badly injured instead of Zong Zheng, such a calamity would’ve befallen them as well.
Since Zong Zheng was severely wounded, there was no way he could keep fighting. That was the reason Purple Night Boy seized the chance to kill him. Even if Purple Night hadn’t done that, the other two would’ve developed some ill intentions.
A Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was killed just like that.
However, unlike a Mid-Rank Master, Zong Zheng’s Small Universe didn’t instantly collapse after his death. Instead, it contracted and sucked the corpse into it before disappearing into the Void.
Since time immemorial, this was how Universe Paradises and Universe Cave Heavens had come about after the death of High-Rank Masters. As long as the Small Universe didn’t suffer from any violent impact or irreversible damage, there was a decent chance of it remaining after the owner’s death.
There was no doubt that Zong Zheng had left behind a Universe Paradise after he passed away.
The liver of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was immensely beneficial to Purple Night Boy, so he rapidly swallowed it down. As he wiped the blood off his mouth, his initially listless aura stabilised.
He then turned to look in the direction Pear Flower Palace had disappeared and said, “Even with the help of Lin Lang Palace, Xia Lin Lang must be in a terrible state after forcefully mobilizing the power of the entire Universe Cave Heaven. There won’t be such a chance again if we let it slip through our fingers. I’m going after her. What do the two of you think?”
Grandma Jiu and Zhu Ling Shan exchanged glances before nodding lightly. A moment later, the three of them shot forward.
Certainly, the Universe Paradise left behind by Zong Zheng was precious as well. By breaking the World Barrier, one could obtain all the possessions Zong Zheng had left behind in his Small Universe. Nevertheless, regardless how many precious items he had, they paled when compared to the World Spring.
After weighing the pros and cons, they certainly wanted to obtain the World Spring instead of searching the new Universe Paradise.
With that said, they had memorised the location of this Universe Paradise, so they would come over to loot it when there was a chance in the future.
Inside Pear Flower Palace, blood streamed out of Yang Kai’s nose and mouth while Xia Lin Lang was pale-faced.
Just like Purple Night Boy had said, it was extremely taxing to forcefully activate the power of the entire Pear Flower Cave Heaven. If Xia Lin Lang had done it on her own, she would’ve lost all power to fight by now.
Fortunately, Yang Kai was there to share the burden with her, so she was less exhausted than her pursuers anticipated. Nevertheless, since she had to recuperate, Pear Flower Palace was temporarily controlled by Yang Kai.
At this moment, Yang Kai felt fortunate that he had decided to absorb all of the Spear Dao Essence in Pear Flower Cave Heaven; otherwise, it would’ve been wasted by now. After all, Pear Flower Cave Heaven had collapsed and broken apart.
Although they had fled from Pear Flower Cave Heaven, they couldn’t let their guard down. The World Spring was extremely attractive, so the four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters wouldn’t easily give up on it. On the other hand, they couldn’t stay in the Shattered Heaven forever.
While controlling Pear Flower Palace, Yang Kai sat down with his legs crossed to recuperate. He also infused his Divine Sense into his Small Universe to check on those living inside it.
Although it had only been a few days since the over 10 million people entered the Small Universe, they had become at ease following the Emperor Realm Masters placating them. They had also been divided into dozens of groups with some of them remaining in the same place, harvesting wood and stone in order to build houses. Some of them had moved across a long distance to look for suitable places to live.
These groups of people ranged from several tens of thousands to several hundreds of thousands, and each one was respectively led by an Emperor Realm Master.
This was what Yang Kai had told the Emperor Realm Masters to do; after all, development would be obstructed if more than ten million people gathered in a single place. Therefore, after putting them inside his Small Universe, Yang Kai ordered the Emperor Realm Masters to lead the people to live in different places.
Now, it seemed that the Emperor Realm Masters had done a great job.
The migration was definitely taxing. Many of them were old people and young children. There were also a lot of families. That was the reason they were moving slowly. As a thought flashed through Yang Kai’s mind, he swept his World Force across them and instantly sent them to suitable places to stay.
It was his own Small Universe, so it wasn’t hard for him to do this.
After the initial shock, the Emperor Realm Masters soon came to their senses. They looked up at the sky and cupped their fists to express their gratitude, then started settling the people down.
Following a moment of observation, Yang Kai was elated.
In the future, several dozen cities of different sizes that were filled with people would form in his Small Universe. When these people settled down, they would certainly bring some transformation to his Small Universe.
Furthermore, his Small Universe was far more habitable compared to others because he had refined the Immortal Tree, which was a High-Rank Wood Element. Hence, the environment in his Small Universe was vibrant and full of vitality. All forms of vegetation could grow very strong inside it. On top of that, even the frail old people radiated a healthy glow upon entering his Small Universe.
A Great Sun was hanging in the sky in his Small Universe, and at dusk, the Sun fell beyond the horizon while the Moon leaped into the sky.
This kind of phenomenon was non-existent in other Small Universes. Perhaps there was only one such Small Universe in the entire 3,000 Worlds.
As the Moonlight spilled over the world, Yang Kai suddenly recalled something and fell into his thoughts.
He seemed to have fallen into a state of abstrusity and enlightenment as all sorts of ideas clashed and formed sparkles in his mind.
It felt as though he had finally noticed a key aspect he had accidentally ignored in the past, but he was unable to fully grasp it. It was as if a thin piece of paper had been placed in front of him. He should be able to break it with a poke of his finger, but he seemed incapable of doing so.
At that moment, he felt as if there was an itch he couldn’t scratch.
“What are you doing?” Just then, someone called out to him, which made him snap back from that ethereal state.
Apart from him, Xia Lin Lang, Qin Fen, and the other Open Heaven Realm Masters were also inside Pear Flower Palace.
Upon seeing how their Palace Master and Yang Kai worked together, the others wouldn’t dare to provoke Yang Kai again. Since this guy was not even afraid of Xia Lin Lang, he certainly wouldn’t have any regard for them.
Therefore, the person who dared to interrupt him could be none other than Xia Lin Lang.
Yang Kai was full of grievances after his state of enlightenment was interrupted by Xia Lin Lang. Although he hadn’t figured out the idea that almost became clear in his mind, he was certain that it was extremely important.
While suppressing his fury, he jerked his head to the side, only to see the woman glowering at him, “Where are you bringing me to?”
She had let Yang Kai control Pear Flower Palace since she had to recuperate; however, she had never expected that this guy would drive the palace out of the Shattered Heaven, which was why she was incensed.
Yang Kai frowned, but he soon realised why the woman was infuriated, so he explained, “The existence of the World Spring has been exposed, so we can’t stay in the Shattered Heaven any longer. Moreover, Pear Flower Cave Heaven is destroyed, and you have nowhere to go. There’s no point for you to stay here. I have a place in Void Territory that is very safe. I can assure you that no one will have their eyes on you when you reach there, and you won’t have to remain hidden.”
“Pfft,” Xia Lin Lang sneered, “How are you going to assure me?”
“Action speaks louder than words. You’ll find out by then. If you trust me, come with me.”
Xia Lin Lang snapped, “It’s not about whether I trust you or not, it’s that you have no idea about the situation we’re in! If I leave the Shattered Heaven, those from the Cave Heavens and Paradises will come to capture me. Can you ward them off by then?”
Yang Kai knit his brows, “How did all of you offend the people from the Cave Heavens and Paradises?”
Xia Lin Lang roared, “How should I know!? I’ve never fallen into any conflicts with the Cave Heavens and Paradises since I started cultivating; however, after I ascended to the Seventh Order, they came knocking on my door without ever telling me what they wanted. I was powerless to resist them since they were so formidable. Left with no choice, I went into hiding in the Shattered Heaven. Now, thanks to you, I’ve lost my home, and here you are trying to send me to the lion’s den! Go to Void Territory if you want, but don’t count me in!”
Upon finishing her words, Xia Lin Lang took control of Pear Flower Palace and drove it in a different direction.
It would be extremely risky if they turned around, for Grandma Jiu and the others must be racing after them. By doing so, they would fall into a fierce battle against their enemies.
After a moment of hesitation, Yang Kai got up and said, “In that case, we should part ways here.”
Since they had gotten out of the woods, he could make use of Space Principles to get rid of the four High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters.
Xia Lin Lang snorted. “My hideout has been destroyed because of you, and I have nowhere to go in Shattered Heaven. Now you want to leave just like this? There’s no way I’ll allow that to happen.”
Yang Kai questioned dispassionately, “What do you want, then?”
While staring resentfully at him, Xia Lin Lang said through clenched teeth, “Aren’t you an expert in the Dao of Space? There are countless Universe Cave Heavens and Universe Paradises that remain hidden in Shattered Heaven. You can only leave when you manage to help me find a new hideout!”
Yang Kai shook his head. “Although I’m adept in the Dao of Space, it’s still hard for me to find any hidden Universe Cave Heaven or Universe Paradise. Those that are easy to find have all been discovered. Moreover, I’m the target of Grandma Jiu and the others. You’ll also benefit if we part ways. As long as I can leave Shattered Heaven, they wouldn’t dare to run after me. Why would you object to this win-win solution?”
With that said, he knew that Xia Lin Lang still coveted his World Spring. As long as she hadn’t snatched the World Spring from him, she would never willingly let him go. She had suffered immense losses this time. Not only was Pear Flower Cave Heaven destroyed, but she was also being pursued by her enemies. If she could obtain the World Spring, it could make up for the losses.
“I don’t care.” Xia Lin Lang was determined to make him stay. “If you insist on leaving, don’t blame me for falling out with you.”
“What an unreasonable person!” Yang Kai roared.
Xia Lin Lang put on a smile and looked provokingly at him. “So what if I’m unreasonable?”
Yang Kai had the urge to punch her in the face. After they glared at each other for a moment, he had no choice but to back down as he said, “Fine then, I’ll help you find a new hideout before leaving. If you still stop me from leaving by then, I’ll make you suffer even if both of us will be severely injured.”
Before Xia Lin Lang could reply to him, her expression changed as she turned to look in a particular direction. “They’ve come so soon!”
She could detect three rays of light that were rapidly approaching them in the Void. Although they were still far away, it was apparent to her that they were Grandma Jiu and the others. Before they even arrived, they started casting their Divine Abilities from a distance.
Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang exchanged glances before activating their own powers. Although they hadn’t had any discussion before, one of them tacitly took control of Pear Flower Palace and fled while the other took charge of the Grand Array to fend off the Divine Abilities.
As the light barrier flickered, Pear Flower Palace shook violently. The palace then turned into a beam of light and shot into the depths of Shattered Heaven. Meanwhile, Grandma Jiu and the others continued pursuing them.
Yang Kai snapped, “If you hadn’t changed directions, they wouldn’t have reached us so soon!”
Xia Lin Lang snorted. “It was you who decided to leave Shattered Heaven without having a discussion with me, but here you are blaming it all on me. As a man, shouldn’t you take responsibility?”
Yang Kai clenched his teeth and fell silent. Although Pear Flower Palace could move pretty fast, it was hard to get rid of Grandma Jiu and the others.
The pursuit went on for the following month as they moved across several million kilometres in Shattered Heaven.
During this period of time, a piece of news spread across the entire Shattered Heaven and caused a commotion.
One of the Four Universe Pillars, the World Spring, had emerged, and it was obtained by a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Presently, this person was in Xia Lin Lang’s hands as they were trying to escape the pursuit somewhere in Shattered Heaven.
The news sent a shockwave across the entire Shattered Heaven.
The Four Universe Pillars were extremely precious items in the world. Although they were not the most precious treasures, they were very important in the hearts of the Open Heaven Realm Masters.
The last time one of the Four Universe Pillars appeared was three thousand years ago. At that time, it was the Profound Fish that had appeared. In order to snatch the Profound Fish, the entire Shattered Heaven had fallen into an uproar. Countless hidden High-Rank Masters came into the spotlight to snatch the item. The entire process spanned across a hundred years, and the Profound Fish had changed ownerships several times. In the end, it was an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master who obtained it, and the dust slowly settled. During the one hundred years of upheaval, about ten High-Rank Masters in Shattered Heaven had lost their lives.
Therefore, when word got out that the World Spring had appeared, the old people who had experienced the calamity three thousand years ago were worried. Would history repeat itself?
With someone deliberately spreading the news, everyone in Shattered Heaven soon became aware of it. The portals of those Universe Cave Heavens and Universe Paradises opened up as the powerful High-Rank Masters stepped out of their hideouts. Like the pythons on the mountains and the Dragons in the lakes, they plunged into Shattered Heaven and caused a disturbance.
In Pear Flower Palace, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang sported dark expressions.
They initially thought that they would be safe after getting rid of Grandma Jiu and the others. Shattered Heaven was pretty vast, so they could just find a place and go into hiding. By then, Grandma Jiu and the others wouldn’t be able to find them regardless of how powerful they were.
After dozens of years to a hundred years, Grandma Jiu and the others would run out of patience, and everything would be fine. By then, the two of them could show up again.
In fact, they had indeed gotten rid of Grandma Jiu and the others after spending half a month dealing with them. Presently, Pear Flower Palace was hidden on a shattered Spirit Province as it went with the flow and moved towards the depths of Shattered Heaven.
Nevertheless, barely ten days later, a High-Rank Master appeared out of nowhere and directly launched an attack on Pear Flower Palace.
Since the person was on his own, he naturally couldn’t get the upper hand. However, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang were forced to keep fleeing.
After that, they seemed to have become the targets of detestation in Shattered Heaven as they would be attacked wherever they went. The most important thing was that many of the attackers were in the Seventh Order.
At this moment, three people were racing after Pear Flower Palace at full speed.
Xia Lin Lang was furious. Pear Flower Palace was initially charging forward, but it soon turned around and crashed into the three of them. They were tailing the palace from a distance when they saw that. As their expressions changed drastically, they turned into rays of light and fled in different directions.
The three of them were only in the Fifth Order, so they naturally wouldn’t dare to stay when faced with the ferocious-looking Pear Flower Palace. In order to increase their chance of survival, they even decided to part ways.
However, a strange force engulfed them the next instant. They froze on the same spots as though the space around them had solidified.
As Pear Flower Palace crashed into them, they instantly turned into blood mists.
Xia Lin Lang said through clenched teeth, “How did three Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters have the nerve to come over and embarrass themselves? How ridiculous!”
“After they’re killed, the powerful cultivator behind them will be coming. Let’s keep running!” Yang Kai yelled.
Pear Flower Palace then turned around and left at the speed of lightning.
A moment later, a figure arrived from a distance and stopped in the spot where the three people were killed. With a livid expression, he continued dashing forward.
The three of them were his disciples. Even though Fifth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters were not powerful, it was hard to nurture them. Since they were all killed, he was expected to be furious.
However, if he could obtain the World Spring, it would be worth it even if all his disciples were killed, let alone three people.
“Grandma Jiu and the others must have spread the news since they’ve failed in their attempt to capture us. We’ve come across seven to eight High-Rank Masters along the way, and they’re all eager to destroy us. If this drags on, we’ll be doomed, “Yang Kai grimly said.
Xia Lin Lang’s chest heaved as she let out a breath. “I never expected that they’d do such a thing.”
In fact, Yang Kai had been worried that Grandma Jiu and the others might spread the news about the World Spring. However, Xia Lin Lang believe that in order to obtain the World Spring, they would hide the secret instead of exposing it to others.
What surprised her was that they had really done such a thing, which was why the two of them were in a perilous situation. They were now pursued by practically all the top cultivators in Shattered Heaven.
It had come to such a point that Yang Kai couldn’t leave Shattered Heaven, as some Heaven Covering Webs might just be waiting for him. By staying close to Xia Lin Lang, he could make use of the power of Pear Flower Palace and fend off the enemies. However, if he fell into a trap set up by any High-Rank Master, he might not be able to flee despite being an expert in the Dao of Space.
Several million kilometres away, Grandma Jiu and the others, who were still running after their targets, all wore livid expressions. They had personally experienced the turbulence going on in Shattered Heaven recently. The old farts who rarely showed up had suddenly stepped out of their homes and started moving in the same direction. Additionally, those old farts had also sent their disciples out like fishermen throwing nets into the sea.
It had been thousands of years since the last upheaval took place in Shattered Heaven.
Someone seemed to have dropped a rock into the muddy waters that made it even muddier.
While running after their targets, they exchanged glances. All of them appeared to be doubtful.
Grandma Jiu snorted. “Stop looking at me like this. I’ve always been on my own. Even if I wanted to spread the news, I didn’t have a way to do so. Therefore, it’s not me who spread the news about the World Spring. On the other hand, you two…”
Purple Night Boy scoffed, “It’s not me either. I can’t even contain the urge to kill you both, so why would I spread the news to others?” Upon finishing his words, he shot Zhu Ling Shan a grim look. “Big Sister Zhu, I heard that you’re pretty close to Ku Yan, the Dull Flame Divine Monarch.”
Ku Yan, the Dull Flame Divine Monarch that he had mentioned was one of the small number of Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in Shattered Heaven. Although everyone could claim to be a Divine Monarch, Ku Yan deserved his title. He was also one of the acknowledged Great Experts in Shattered Heaven. Therefore, at the mention of the Dull Flame Divine Monarch, there was a sense of horror on Grandma Jiu’s wrinkled face.
Zhu Ling Shan was a licentious woman who had countless lovers. She was indeed beautiful, and her figure was curvy. Everyone in Shattered Heaven said that this woman was in an ambiguous relationship with the Dull Flame Divine Monarch. No one could prove it so far while Zhu Ling Shan and Ku Yan had never admitted to it.
To people like Zhu Ling Shan and Ku Yan, by remaining silent about it, they had actually acknowledged it to be true; therefore, in the Shattered Heaven, by leveraging on the Ku Yan Divine Monarch’s status, Zhu Ling Shan was an important figure despite not being in the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm.
“Zong Zheng!” Zhu Ling Shan suddenly snorted.
Grandma Jiu and Purple Night Boy became startled for a moment.
“I heard that Zong Zheng obtained a precious item in the past that could take a mortal blow for him in his stead. Now, it seems that the rumours were true.”
They were the only people who were aware that the World Spring had appeared. Xia Lin Lang and the Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm brat wouldn’t invite trouble to themselves by exposing such a secret while the three of them had never revealed it to anyone. The only possibility was that Zong Zheng hadn’t lost his life, and he was the one who had caused such a turbulence in the Shattered Heaven.
Although he had a precious item that could act as a substitute for him in case he received a critical injury, allowing him to escape from death’s door following Purple Night Boy’s sneak attack, he must still be horribly injured, and he had no more strength left to snatch the World Spring. Therefore, he decided to spread the news. Since he was unable to obtain the World Spring, he certainly wouldn’t let Purple Night Boy and the others have it either.
At that instant, Purple Night Boy’s expression turned awkward while Grandma Jiu looked gleefully at him.
It wasn’t fun to have offended a powerful cultivator in the same Order, especially when it was a blood feud. If Zong Zheng really hadn’t lost his life, Purple Night Boy would have to keep his guard up all the time from now on, for the former might retaliate against him at any moment.
Grandma Jiu was indeed on her own, so she wouldn’t get any benefits by exposing the secret. On the other hand, Zhu Ling Shan and Ku Yan were in a relationship, so if she wanted to tell him this secret, she could’ve looked for a chance and informed him about it in secret instead of spreading it to everyone in the Shattered Heaven.
Therefore, Zhu Ling Shan’s speculation could very well be true. Zong Zheng was still alive, and he was the one who had spread the news about the World Spring.
Purple Night Boy, who appeared like a young boy, felt his head aching. At that time, he was eager to chase after Xia Lin Lang and her Sixth-Order ally, so he hadn’t had time to check on the Universe Paradise that Zong Zheng had left behind. If he had done that, he could’ve found out whether Zong Zheng was really dead or not.
Nevertheless, it was no use crying over spilled milk. Since he had offended Zong Zheng, it wasn’t like he could just apologise to him when they met again. In any case, both of them were in the Seventh Order, so he was not afraid of Zong Zheng. They would just fight a pointless life-or-death battle when the time came.
While they were charging forward, Zhu Ling Shan stopped in her tracks all of a sudden.
Seeing that, Grandma Jiu and Purple Night Boy turned to look at her.
Zhu Ling Shan tucked her hair behind her ear and said, “Since the secret about the World Spring has been exposed, and everyone in the Shattered Heaven is aware of it, it’s pointless for us to work together any longer. Why don’t we part ways now? By doing so we’ll stand a greater chance to get the World Spring. Farewell!”
Upon finishing her words, she turned around and dashed off.
Grandma Jiu and Purple Night Boy stared at her in silence without the intention to stop her.
A moment later, Purple Night Boy scoffed, “She must be going to look for her lover.”
Grandma Jiu replied impassively, “It’s understandable. She initially wanted to get the World Spring for herself, which was why she never told Ku Yan about it; however, since the news has been spread, Ku Yan must be aware of it by now. She knows that even if she manages to obtain the World Spring, it’ll fall into Ku Yan’s hands in the end. That’s why she parted ways with us.”
“What now, Grandma?” Purple Night Boy turned to look at her.
Grandma Jiu replied with a smile, “I’m old enough to have enjoyed all the pleasures in life, and I have no more regrets. Of course, I have to fight for a treasure like the World Spring. Even though I won’t have a chance to make it to the Eighth Order, I’ll be able to live for a while longer and enjoy the view of the Shattered Heaven if I can get it.”
Following a nod, Purple Night Boy said with a smile, “You’re pretty sanguine, Grandma. In that case, I’ll accompany you. Let’s join forces. If we can obtain the World Spring, we’ll decide who will get it after that.”
“Good!”
After they came to an agreement, they continued forward.
In the depths of the Shattered Heaven, there was an intense battle going on. The glow of those Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques expanded. As World Forces swept across the void, Pear Flower Palace staggered while the glow around it flickered.
While trying to flee, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang had encountered quite a number of powerful opponents; however, with the help of Pear Flower Palace, they could even ward off a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master and continue fleeing.
Nevertheless, they were unlucky this time, for three High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters had been looking for them in a nearby place. While they were held up by one of them, the other two soon arrived at the scene.
That was how this great battle was ignited.
The Grand Array around Pear Flower Palace was damaged, and its defence power had plunged significantly. When they finally broke through the siege and fled, Pear Flower Palace was all tattered and on the brink of collapsing.
Xia Lin Lang felt so heartbroken that her face turned red, then white. It might also have something to do with the fact that she had consumed a lot of energy.
On the other hand, Qin Fen and the others were equally horrified and saddened. They grew up and cultivated in Pear Flower Cave Heaven, and they had rarely stepped out of that place. That was why they had never come across such a perilous situation prior to this. None of them had expected that they’d be pursued by all the top cultivators in the Shattered Heaven one day.
“Pear Flower Palace can’t persevere any longer.” Yang Kai on the other hand appeared calm and collected; after all, it wasn’t the first time he experienced such dangers. Since he started cultivating, he had encountered countless battles and there were times when he almost lost his life. Just some time ago, he was put in a tight spot following the pursuit of Xia Lin Lang and the others. Therefore, he was more experienced than anyone else when it came to dealing with situations like these.
Yang Kai continued, “Pear Flower Palace will be destroyed if it’s struck hard one more time. Since it’s a mobile palace artifact as well as an inheritance of Pear Flower Divine Monarch, you’d better store it for now.”
Presently, Xia Lin Lang was seated with her legs crossed while trying to restore her strength. Upon hearing his words, she nodded.
The reason she had been driving Pear Flower Palace to flee was that Qin Fen and the others were around. With the Pear Flower Palace, they would have a layer of defence to protect them; however, without the palace, Qin Fen and the others would be powerless to counterattack when faced with powerful enemies.
She then summoned Qin Fen and the others before whispering something to them. While appearing to be vexed, Qin Fen still clenched his teeth and nodded.
Following that, she put them as well as Pear Flower Palace inside her Small Universe.
“The people behind us will soon catch up. Don’t resist it. I’ll bring you to leave this place,” Yang Kai said and activated his power to engulf the woman.
Xia Lin Lang stiffened as she was apparently worried.
Yang Kai sneered, “Given the situation we’re in, we’ll stand a greater chance of fleeing by joining forces. Do you think I’ll make a move on you now?”
Upon hearing that, Xia Lin Lang fell silent. Although she still kept her guard up, she did her best to relax.
As Space Principles undulated, the two of them disappeared the next moment.
Yang Kai went on to use Instantaneous Movement several times, and when he finally stopped, they were already millions of kilometres away. Upon stabilising himself, he secretly cursed, for he saw an artifact that looked like a ship wandering around in the void not far away.
Needless to say, the people in the ship must have heard about the World Spring, which was why they were moving around the Shattered Heaven in an attempt to look for Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang.
It just so happened that Yang Kai used Instantaneous Movement and arrived at this exact place. It wasn’t that he was careless, but rather that they had opponents everywhere in the Shattered Heaven now. He was just unlucky this time.
Just when he was preparing to escape with Xia Lin Lang by using Instantaneous Movement again, a figure on the deck suddenly looked in their direction. While appearing to be pleasantly surprised, the person called out, “Lin Lang!”
At the same time, the person left the ship and shot forward. His expression was that of a person who had chanced upon an old friend.
Xia Lin Lang looked in that direction and frowned.
Turning his head, Yang Kai asked, “Do you know him?”
After a moment of hesitation, Xia Lin Lang nodded her head.
The person from the ship didn’t come too close, for he was aware of Xia Lin Lang’s situation. To prevent any misunderstandings from arising, he stopped at a spot that was still pretty far away from them. While appearing guilty, he said in a gentle voice, “Lin Lang, I’m sorry for being late.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai arched his brow and darted his gaze between Xia Lin Lang and that person as he fell into his thoughts.
In a dispassionate tone, Xia Lin Lang asked, “What do you want?”
The person replied, “I rushed over as soon as I heard that you were in trouble. Unfortunately, I had no idea where you were, so I had to keep looking around. It seems that I was lucky enough today to have come across you here.”
An impatient Xia Lin Lang said, “Just cut to the chase. I’m in a rush.”
The person contained his excitement and slowly said, “Lin Lang, everyone in the Shattered Heaven is now aware of the World Spring’s appearance, and many of the Seventh-Order and even Eighth-Order Masters have started making a move. There’s no way you can keep it.”
Xia Lin Lang sneered, “Are you here to snatch the World Spring as well?”
With an aggrieved expression, the person replied, “Lin Lang, I’m saddened by the way you look at me. Others might not know what I, Zhao Yi, want, but don’t you know it very well?”
Without directly answering his question, Xia Lin Lang asked, “Why did you call out to me if the World Spring is not what you’re after? Don’t tell me you want me to seek refuge in your place.”
There was a helpless smile on Zhao Yi’s face as he said, “I do want that to happen, but I know you won’t come with me.”
Those Seventh-Order and Eighth-Order Masters had occupied Universe Cave Heavens and Universe Paradises left behind by fallen ancient Masters. In their respective territories, they could use a power that far exceeded their own.
It was the case for both Xia Lin Lang and Zhao Yi.
Therefore, if she really followed him to his territory, she would be susceptible to his control. Although Zhao Yi appeared to be deeply in love with Xia Lin Lang, she had no idea what was really on his mind; hence, she had to be cautious.
That was the reason Zhao Yi knew that she wouldn’t follow him back to his hideout, and he wouldn’t even dare to have that wish.
“What do you want, then?” Xia Lin Lang frowned.
With a solemn expression, Zhao Yi replied, “I’ve come to an agreement with Cheng Yang. As long as you pass the World Spring to him, he’ll ensure your safety. Additionally, he’ll give you a Universe Paradise as compensation.”
“Bright Flame Divine Monarch!?” Xia Lin Lang’s expression changed upon hearing that.
Judging from her expression, Yang Kai realized that this Cheng Yang must be an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
It had only been a short time since he arrived in the Shattered Heaven, so he knew little about this place; however, he had heard from Xu Wang that there were Eighth-Order Masters residing in this place, though there were only a small number of them.
A person who could make Xia Lin Lang look so apprehensive must be an Eighth-Order Master.
Zhao Yi looked gently at Xia Lin Lang and said, “Although Bright Flame Divine Monarch is an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he’s a righteous man who has never oppressed anyone weaker than him before. I’m sure you’re aware of this as well. When I arrived at the Shattered Heaven back then, I was hunted down by the top cultivators from Luo Sheng Cave Heaven, and I had nowhere to go. It was Cheng Yang who offered me shelter; otherwise, I would’ve ceased to exist.”
“Is that why you looked for him?” Xia Lin Lang stared coldly at him.
Following a sigh, Zhao Yi said, “Other than the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, anyone in the Shattered Heaven will only invite trouble to themselves by trying to obtain the World Spring. I’m doing this for your own good.”
“I’ll have to thank you, then,” Xia Lin Lang said through clenched teeth.
Zhao Yi shook his head, “Lin Lang, I know you’ll blame me, but this matter has to be settled in such a way. You arrived at the Shattered Heaven later than I did, so you didn’t experience the carnage that happened 3,000 years ago. I saw it with my eyes. After the Profound Fish appeared at that time, more than ten Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters lost their lives. Just like you’re trying to do, they had all attempted to snatch the Profound Fish. Even if one of them could get the Profound Fish, they couldn’t ensure their own safety. I don’t want you to make the same mistake. Even if you hate me and blame me, I’ll still have to do it!”
Xia Lin Lang pressed her lips together, then said impassively, “Are you done talking?”
Zhao Yi became startled for a moment, then nodded, “Yes.”
After letting out a breath, Xia Lin Lang stared at him, “I understand what you think, and I know you might really be doing it for my own good.”
Thinking that the woman had changed her mind, Zhao Yi appeared elated; however, his joy vanished the next moment.
“Regardless, I’ll not give the World Spring to anyone,” Xia Lin Lang said with determination, “Give way if you still treasure our friendship; otherwise, there is no need for it to exist anymore.”
There was a heartbroken expression on Zhao Yi’s face. He parted his lips, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
Just then, two figures dashed out of Zhao Yi’s ship and pounced on Yang Kai.
They were a man and a woman, who both had Sixth-Order strength. One of them was a handsome young man who was clad in all-white clothes while the other was an innocent-looking woman with a peach blossom branch in her hand.
Before they even arrived, their Divine Abilities landed on Yang Kai.
Yang Kai started becoming restless even before they attacked, and in an instant, his frustration from a long time of fleeing turned into endless murderous intent.
The transformation even startled himself.
Looking up, he became surprised as he had met this man and woman, who were trying to attack him, twice before.
He first came across them in the Shattered Heaven Star City. After he watched Wu Kuang leave, Yang Kai had sat on the second floor of the teahouse on his own while drinking. That was when he saw these two moving along the street.
After that, he chanced upon the man and the woman outside of the Universe Cave Heaven where the World Spring was located. Nevertheless, after the appearance of Xia Lin Lang and the other High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters, the onlookers soon left the place. Following the incident of Yang Kai working with a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master from Bright King Cave Heaven to capture Blood Crow, the man and the woman were nowhere to be seen.
Yang Kai could never forget about them, especially the white-robed youth.
That was because during their encounters, he was instinctively repulsed by this man, as though there was an innate blood feud between them.
This time was worse as the white-robed youth directly made a move against him. Yang Kai’s murderous intent was instantly ignited as he appeared ferocious and ready to fight back.
He could even feel that his Dragon Vein was pulsating.
There were no signs of them attempting to make a move beforehand, so it was obviously a sneak attack.
A furious Xia Lin Lang roared, “Impudence!”
She then raised her hand and pushed out her palm towards them. Although both of them appeared to be in the Sixth Order, and their combined attack was indeed powerful, they were still significantly weaker than a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master. Faced with the attack, both of them instantly froze.
Zhao Yi’s expression changed as he exclaimed, “No!”
He then stood in Xia Lin Lang’s way and parried the attack.
Space shook as World Forces clashed. Zhao Yi was forced to move backwards a long distance while Xia Lin Lang staggered slightly.
It wasn’t that Zhao Yi was weaker than her. If they were in a life-and-death battle, they would be equally matched. Perhaps Zhao Yi would even get the upper hand.
However, since he made a move in a hurry, and he wouldn’t dare to exert too much force as he was concerned about Xia Lin Lang, he suffered a setback as a result.
“Are you going to stop me, Zhao Yi?” Xia Lin Lang snapped.
There was a bitter expression on Zhao Yi’s face as he suppressed the tremors in his Small Universe and said, “Lin Lang, you can’t kill them because they’re with Bright Flame Divine Monarch!”
Xia Lin Lang became startled for a moment. It was then she realised why these two Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters dared to be so impudent in front of her when Zhao Yi hadn’t made a move, for they were Bright Flame Divine Monarch’s people. With an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master as their backer, it was expected that they had no regard for anyone in the Shattered Heaven.
“Moreover, the young man seems to have something to do with a certain great force in the Shattered Ruins.” Zhao Yi secretly spoke.
Upon hearing that, Xia Lin Lang was surprised.
The Shattered Ruins was the deepest part of the Shattered Heaven as well as a Forbidden Zone. Even Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters like Bright Flame Divine Monarch wouldn’t dare to rashly step into it. Even though it had been over 2,000 years since Xia Lin Lang arrived at the Shattered Heaven, she had never once approached the Shattered Ruins. In fact, the idea had never even crossed her mind. That was because not only was the environment in the Shattered Ruins extremely hostile, it was said that some formidable existences also resided there.
It wouldn’t have mattered if the white-robed youth was just a subordinate of Cheng Yang, but if he really had something to do with a great force from the Shattered Ruins, they all had to be wary of him.
As they spoke, Yang Kai had gotten into an intense battle with the man and the woman. Despite the fact that they were in the same Order, and that he was battling against two people on his own, he wasn’t at a disadvantage. The Spear Intent of his Azure Dragon Spear surged as his mastery over the Spear Dao was on the level of Transcending the Mundane. His Word Force burst forth and ensured that his opponents couldn’t approach him.
Zhao Yi was dumbfounded upon seeing that.
He wasn’t familiar with the man and the woman as he was only in a temporary cooperation with them; however, he knew that even though the man was only in the Sixth-Order, he was the strongest Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master he had ever seen.
Supposedly, it would only take this man an incense stick to kill an opponent in the same Order if he wanted to.
Although the woman was inferior to the man, she was already much stronger than average Sixth-Order Masters.
Initially, Zhao Yi believed that they could easily capture Yang Kai since they had joined forces, but it turned out that both parties were equally matched.
[I can’t believe there’s such a freak in this world!] Zhao Yi fell into a dazed state.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Xia Lin Lang charging towards the battlefield. With his expression changed drastically, he attempted to stop her and persuaded her by saying, “Stop being obstinate, Lin Lang. I’ve reasoned with you, so you’d better listen to me; otherwise, I’ll have to stop you even if you’ll start hating me!”
“Scram!” Xia Lin Lang forcefully pushed out her palm.
With a bitter expression, Zhao Yi had no choice but to parry the attack.
In an instant, two battles erupted.
On one hand, Zhao Yi and Xia Lin Lang were equally matched. Although they were in an intense battle, anyone could see that Zhao Yi had been accommodating the woman’s bombardment of attacks. However, it was impossible for Xia Lin Lang to get rid of him, for both of them were in the Seventh Order. If Zhao Yi insisted on stopping her, there was no way she could move past him.
Moreover, she had put Qin Fen and the others inside her Small Universe earlier, so it was troublesome for her to fight with her opponents as her use of power had been slightly affected by the burdens she was carrying.
On the other hand, the battle between Yang Kai and the duo was far fiercer. Both parties didn’t hold back their powers as they seemed determined to hack each other to death.
While the man and the woman were shocked by this result, Yang Kai was equally astounded.
He had rarely come across any cultivators in the same Order who could exchange moves with him for a long time, except for the Old Monster Blood Crow, who had been reborn after occupying someone else’s body. If he insisted on killing a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, Yang Kai was confident he could achieve it in fewer than twenty breaths.
Nevertheless, this man and woman gave him a huge surprise.
While the woman was slightly weaker, the man was indeed incredible. He would still be able to match Yang Kai even if he was on his own.
The Azure Dragon Spear felt scorching hot during the intense battle. Every time Yang Kai pushed out his spear, a deafening Dragon Roar could be heard.
This had never happened to him before.
Other than the anomaly with his Azure Dragon Spear, Yang Kai also realised that the Dragon Vein in his body was pulsating with such intensity that he was unable to suppress his murderous intent. His eyes had even turned bloodshot.
It was the same case for the man opposite him.
Just then, Yang Kai detected a very strange aura from the other man’s body. It was then he realised that, just like himself, the white-robed youth had a Divine Spirit’s bloodline.
However, unlike himself, this person had never refined a Divine Spirit Source, which meant he had to have been born with a Divine Spirit’s bloodline.
The reason they held such grudges against one another was that their bloodlines clashed.
The blossoming Pear Flowers were intertwined with peach blossoms.
As a Golden Crow was heard cawing, a Great Sun leaped into existence. The sea of flowers shattered while Yang Kai pushed out his spear.
The woman, who was charging towards Yang Kai with a peach blossom branch in her hand, instantly felt cold all over her body. She could see the Great Sun expanding rapidly and almost engulfing her.
Since she had been targeted specifically at such close range, there was no way she could dodge the attack. Following a shout, she extended her peach blossom branch.
The Great Sun instantly melted the peach blossom branch away. Seeing that the woman was about to be killed by the Azure Dragon Spear, the white-robed youth dashed forward and extended two fingers towards Yang Kai’s heart.
He reckoned that he could only save the woman by launching an attack on their opponent.
Without hesitation, Yang Kai swept his spear across the youth instead.
The spear directly struck the white-robed youth at his waist. As a violent force burst forth, the white-robed youth sprayed out a mouthful of blood mist, which covered Yang Kai.
The blood mist was extremely eerie, and even though Yang Kai had immediately pushed his World Force to protect himself, he was still contaminated by it. The blood instantly melted into his body.
A large Dragon Head abruptly appeared behind Yang Kai as it roared and shook the Nine Heavens.
The woman, who had just escaped from death’s door, appeared beside the white-robed youth and supported his weight. Appearing to be concerned, she called out, “Young Master!”
The white-robed youth shook his head and choked down the blood in his mouth. While staring fixedly at Yang Kai, he curved his lips into a smile.
Yang Kai furrowed his brows as he felt immensely hot. While he staggered, he had the urge to transform into a Half-Dragon.
Upon realising that something was off, Xia Lin Lang bolted towards him and clenched his arm before shouting, “Let’s go!”
Suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, Yang Kai looked intently at the white-robed youth. Although he wanted to kill him ruthlessly, he knew that they couldn’t stay in this place any longer, for they had made quite some noise. If there were other people nearby, they would’ve detected it by now. He then manipulated Space Principles and engulfed Xia Lin Lang with them before disappearing into the distance.
By the time the white-robed youth pushed out his fist, he realised that Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang were nowhere to be found.
As Space Principles undulated, two figures shot towards the depths of the Shattered Heaven. They were none other than Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang. Although he was far away from the previous battlefield, he still couldn’t suppress his murderous intent and pulsating Dragon Vein.
After he was infiltrated by the white-robed youth’s blood mist, Yang Kai felt an immense force charging around in his body. As a result, he was unable to control the power of his Dragon Vein and he constantly had the urge to transform into a Half-Dragon.
While suppressing this urge, Yang Kai pushed his World Force in an attempt to get rid of the strange power which had infiltrated his body. However, the power seemed to have spirituality of its own as it streamed towards his shoulder. The next instant, he felt an excruciating pain on his left shoulder as though it had been seared with a piece of heated iron.
This caused Yang Kai to grunt.
Fortunately, his weltering murderous intent and pulsating Dragon Vein finally subsided following the incident.
“What happened?” Xia Lin Lang turned her head and asked. She already realised that something was wrong with Yang Kai the moment the white-robed youth appeared. Given the state he was in, he would’ve tried to hack the other party to death if she hadn’t dragged him away.
Certainly, given the power Yang Kai had showcased, the white-robed youth couldn’t defeat him despite having a helper. Nevertheless, with Zhao Yi around, he wouldn’t let Yang Kai just kill the white-robed youth.
“That guy was interesting,” Yang Kai snorted. He then pulled down his clothes and took a glance at his left shoulder, only to see a bird-shaped mark on his skin.
At first glance, the mark seemed to be alive as the bird expanded its wings. There was a tinge of derision behind its eyes.
“What’s this?” Xia Lin Lang exclaimed.
Without responding to her, Yang Kai directly sliced the bit of his skin off his shoulder. The bird-shaped mark was instantly removed, and as he activated his power, the mark turned into dust.
The flesh around his wound squirmed as it was the manifestation of the restorative power of his Dragon Vein and Wood Element Power. In just more than ten breaths of time, the flesh in his wound was restored.
However, the bird-shaped mark, which was supposed to have been destroyed, appeared on his shoulder again, as though it was determined to follow him forever.
Yang Kai snorted. Although he had already expected this outcome, he still felt displeased when he saw it.
There was a dark expression on Xia Lin Lang’s face as she asked, “Are you being tracked?”
Yang Kai nodded and turned to look at her, “I’m in a perilous situation, so I suggest that you part ways with me now. Their target is the World Spring, so you don’t have to stick close to me. By fleeing on your own, you’ll stand a greater chance of survival.”
Xia Lin Lang shook her head, “It’s useless even if we part ways now. Everyone in the Shattered Heaven is now aware that we’re together. Just like you, I’m also their target.” She then put on a bitter smile, “Just like you’ve said, we’re riding the same boat now.”
Although her hideout was previously invaded by Grandma Jiu and the others, the situation wasn’t so terrible; however, she had never expected that in just half a year, they had become the target of the entire the Shattered Heaven. Regardless of how expansive this place was, there was nowhere they could settle down safely.
“Now, one of the options for us is to turn around and try to break through the siege. As long as we can leave the Shattered Heaven, we’ll be safe. However, the chances are slim. If we turn around now, we’ll go through countless battles. It wouldn’t have mattered if our opponents were just in the Seventh Order, but presently, even the Eighth-Order Masters are looking for us. If we come across them, we won’t be able to fight back.”
Upon hearing that, Xia Lin Lang sighed and nodded, “One of the Four Universe Pillars is tempting enough for them to act.”
Yang Kai turned to look at her, “So, we have to go to a place that is difficult even for those in the Eighth Order to reach. I’m not familiar with the Shattered Heaven. Do you have any suggestions?”
The bird-shaped mark on his shoulder was used for tracking, so even though he had no idea about the limit of the distance it could be followed, Yang Kai had to plan for the worst.
The white-robed youth had the support of Bright Flame Divine Monarch, Cheng Yang, so it was unrealistic for them to hide somewhere as their opponents would find them sooner or later.
“If we can find a Universe Paradise or Universe Cave Heaven that hasn’t been discovered…”
Before she even finished speaking, Yang Kai raised his hand to interrupt her, “The chances are very slim. To be honest, I’ve been paying attention to the surroundings along the way this whole time, but I’ve never discovered anything.”
Xia Lin Lang pressed her lips together while appearing to be hesitant.
With a frown, Yang Kai said, “Nothing can be worse than the situation we’re in now. Perhaps we’ll be able to escape this calamity by taking a huge risk. If you have somewhere to go, tell me right away.”
“The Shattered Ruins!” Xia Lin Lang lifted her head and replied. Aware that Yang Kai knew nothing about this place, she took the initiative to offer an explanation, “The Shattered Ruins is in the deepest part of the Shattered Heaven. It’s rumoured that it was the final battlefield of the great war in ancient times. Countless High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Masters lost their lives there; therefore, many Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques left behind by the ancient Great Experts still linger in the void. As a result, the environment is beyond horrible. Even the Seventh-Order and Eighth-Order Masters in the Shattered Heaven don’t dare to step into it, and it’s not just because of the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques, there are also a lot of Spirit Arrays and artifacts lurking in the dark. No one can be certain to escape unscathed if they accidentally trigger one of them. Also…”
“Go on,” Yang Kai urged.
“There are said to be many Divine Spirits who reside in the Shattered Ruins, so it has become a Forbidden Zone for Human cultivators like us.”
“Divine Spirits!” Yang Kai arched his brow, “Are there any members of the Dragon Clan?”
Xia Lin Lang shook her head, “I have no idea. Although I’ve been living in the Shattered Heaven for many years, I’ve never come across any Dragon Clan members before. Why are you looking for them?”
Certainly, Yang Kai wouldn’t tell her that he had a Dragon Clan bloodline, so he replied in a perfunctory manner, “I’m just curious. It’s said that Dragons and Phoenixes are the leaders of all Divine Spirits. I’ve always admired them, but I haven’t had the chance to meet one before.”
Xia Lin Lang burst into laughter, “The Dragon Clan is extremely arrogant. If we really run into them, we’ll have to worry about being get killed for no reason.”
“We’ll head to the Shattered Ruins, then,” Yang Kai directly made a decision.
Although Xia Lin Lang was hesitant, she knew that they had nowhere else to go in the Shattered Heaven other than the Shattered Ruins. She thus nodded and led the way for him.
On their way, she told him what she knew about the Shattered Ruins. Although she had been living in the Shattered Heaven for thousands of years, she knew little about this Forbidden Zone. She only knew that it was a dangerous place with a myriad of Divine Spirits. If they really broke into it, they would probably lose their lives.
If it weren’t because they had no other choice, she wouldn’t even have thought about entering the Shattered Ruins.
More than ten days later, the pair finally came close to the Shattered Ruins. Xia Lin Lang was evidently nervous as her entire figure stiffened. It was as though she believed she would be killed at any moment.
Just when Yang Kai wanted to placate her, his expression suddenly changed as he stopped in his tracks.
This couldn’t be helped though, as a stream of ferocious Divine Sense had travelled across millions of kilometres and locked onto him like invisible chains.
Upon noticing it, Xia Lin Lang turned her head, and the colour instantly drained from her face, “It’s Cheng Yang!”
They could see a ray of light rapidly approaching them from the distance. The speed at which it moved was outrageously fast and the light that was initially dim, in the blink of an eye, became extremely bright.
“Run!” Yang Kai yelled as he grabbed the woman’s arm and attempted to manipulated Space Principles; however, before he could make a move, the Divine Sense that had locked onto him surged.
Yang Kai, whose figure had started to fade, instantly reappeared as his use of Instantaneous Movement was interrupted at the most critical moment. As a result, he sprayed out a mouthful of blood.
Seeing that, Xia Lin Lang quickly activated her power and engulfed him in it before dashing forward.
Right then, a loud voice was heard shouting, “Both of you had better stop running if you want to keep your lives; otherwise, this Monarch will make life a living Hell for you if I have to capture you!”
Xia Lin Lang directly ignored him. Even though Zhao Yi had said that Cheng Yang was a righteous man who had never oppressed those weaker than him, from their brief contact just now, that was obviously a lie. Cheng Yang’s first act was to target them, and his second was the threaten them, so how were they supposed to trust him?
A moment later, a towering figure flashed past where the pair previously stood. He was none other than one of the small number of Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shattered Heaven, Bright Flame Divine Monarch, Cheng Yang.
He was able to reach this place by relying on the tracking mark left on Yang Kai’s body by the white-robed youth. At this moment, there was a mark, which was identical to the one on Yang Kai’s shoulder, on the back of Cheng Yan’s hand. It was apparently the white-robed youth’s doing.
Since the two marks were made by the same person, and they were connected by a bloodline link, they could find each other regardless of the distance. That was the reason Cheng Yang could accurately tail Yang Kai.
It wasn’t that Yang Kai didn’t want to get rid of the mark. In fact, he had tried many methods before, but all of his attempts had failed. Moreover, since they were on the run, he didn’t have any time to sit and focus on removing this mark.
The three figures charged forward at the speed of lightning.
However, the distance between both parties was clearly shortening. Since an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master had made a move while Yang Kai was unable to use Instantaneous Movement, it was expected that they couldn’t get rid of him.
Half a day later, Yang Kai lifted his head and saw a large area where lights of different colours glowed. They looked like clouds of Stars hovering in the void as they spanned across billions of kilometres.
Despite the extreme distance, Yang Kai still felt horrified, as a very dangerous aura wafted from the multi-coloured lights.
“That’s the Shattered Ruins.” Xia Lin Lang fell into a dazed state as well, “Those lights are supposedly Divine Abilities left behind by the ancient Great Experts.”
As she spoke, she felt her lips drying as she gazed at Yang Kai and asked, “Are we really going in?”
She felt a great sense of danger before even approaching the Shattered Ruins, so who knew what would befall them if they really got into it?
“Do we have a choice now?” Yang Kai snorted. While looking forward, his gaze was firm and determined.
Xia Lin Lang put on a bitter smile. Cheng Yang was getting close, and unless they were willing to let Cheng Yang have the final say on their life or death, they would have to keep moving forward.
Upon realising their intention, Cheng Yang wore a dark expression as he used his power to amplify his voice, “The environment in the Shattered Ruins is extremely hostile. Even this Monarch can’t be certain he will be able to enter and exit it alive, let alone you two. If you go into the Shattered Ruins, death will be certain!”
Upon seeing that Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang didn’t stop, Cheng Yang appeared furious as he snapped, “Pointless obstinance!”
He then raised his hand and made a grabbing gesture. As his Word Force surged, a huge green illusory hand appeared in the void and covered Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang like a Heaven Shrouding Palm.
The huge hand spanned a vast area, so they were unable to flee. In an instant, they were captured by the hand. As the hand tightened its grip, they felt a restrictive power coming at them from all directions.
Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang instantly felt their bones dislocating. At that moment, they were unable to see or hear anything, as though they were trapped inside a dark cage.
Just then, a Golden Crow was heard cawing while a Great Sun leapt into existence. With the Azure Dragon Spear in his hands, Yang Kai pushed it out and tore the darkness apart. In the meantime, a Divine Ability from Xia Lin Lang burst forth.
Although Cheng Yang was an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he had made a hurried move from a long distance; therefore, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang were able to break through it by joining forces.
The huge illusory hand fell apart while two battered figures shot out of it.
Cheng Yang knew that he couldn’t stop them with that attack; however, his move had successfully delayed them and allowed him to shorten the distance between them significantly.
While he continued charging forward, he balled up his fist and pushed it out.
The power of this attack broke through the barriers of space and a violent force swept out like a tsunami.
Yang Kai felt a crawling sensation on his scalp as all his muscles uncontrollably tightened. He then turned around in a hurry as his Azure Dragon Spear turned into countless spear shadows.
Although Xia Lin Lang was more powerful than him by one Order, she didn’t have as much experience in life-and-death battles against vastly stronger foes as he did; therefore, her reactions were slightly sluggish. Fortunately, following an attack from her partner, she hurriedly summoned a round defensive artifact to protect them.
The attack powered by the World Force of an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master shot forward and shattered all the spear shadows. Xia Lin Lang’s defensive artifact also turned dim as much of its spirituality was instantly lost.
As though a mountain had crashed into them, the two of them were sent flying away while spraying out a mouthful of blood.
“Hang on!” Yang Kai choked down the searing blood in his throat and grabbed the woman’s arm. By making use of the opponent’s force, he plunged into the Shattered Ruins.
A moment later, Bright Flame Divine Monarch appeared in front of the boundary to the Shattered Ruins. With a solemn expression, he looked up at the multi-coloured lights. Despite his hesitation, he still stepped forward to pursue them.
Although the Shattered Ruins was dangerous, the World Spring was so alluring to him that it was worth taking a risk. However, as soon as he stepped into the Shattered Ruins, he saw a violent Divine Ability coming at him. With widened eyes, he pushed out his fist. The Divine Ability that was equivalent to the full-force attack of a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was shattered. Without stopping, Cheng Yang continued forward.
What surprised him was that as he moved forward, countless Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques came at him from all directions. Even though every attack was equivalent to a strike from a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, which wouldn’t kill him, they were dense and continuous, making them annoying to deal with.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang, who were ahead of him, were horrified as well.
Before they even entered the Shattered Ruins, they already felt a very dangerous aura wafting from it, but it wasn’t until they actually entered that they got a real taste of it.
They couldn’t help wondering just how many Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques had been left behind in this damned place.
Just like the Astral Wind Divine Ability that Yang Kai had come across in the past, these eerie Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques had existed for countless years. Although they were not as terrifying as the Astral Wind Divine Ability, there seemed to be an infinite number of them.
Before their entry, these Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques had remained dormant. Nevertheless, as they moved forward, they seemed to have been triggered by their life auras and attacked.
These Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques had come to life following a long time of stillness, and every one was equivalent to an all-out attack from an average Sixth-Order Master.
They were still so powerful even though countless years had passed, so it was imaginable that they were even more destructive when they were at the peak of their powers in the past. These attacks probably had the force of an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master when they were first created.
The two of them seemed to have fallen into a place full of traps, and wherever they went, they would trigger these traps.
They wouldn’t dare to stop, nor could they do so. Once they did, they would be doomed.
Fortunately, there was a short delay before these Divine Abilities sprung to life; hence, there was some time for them to keep fleeing.
Bright Sun Divine Monarch, who was chasing after them, suffered in their stead. The Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques triggered by Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang actually all came right at him instead. He was basically cleaning up the mess for the two of them, and upon realizing this, Cheng Yang became increasingly incensed.
If he hadn’t barged into this place, these Divine Abilities would have targeted Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang; however, since he wasn’t willing to give up on the World Spring, he had followed them and was now being peppered with the attacks meant for the ones he was pursuing.
Although it wasn’t hard for him to deal with Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques that were equivalent to attacks from Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters, he was certainly annoyed by them. As he charged forward, he wielded his fists madly and shattered all those Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques.
Tremors could be felt coming from behind and Yang Kai certainly knew that those were the noises that Cheng Yang was making. At this moment, he wasn’t in the mood to take pleasure in the other party’s misfortune though. Instead, he was growing more and more apprehensive.
He had heard from Xia Lin Lang that the Shattered Ruins was extremely dangerous, but it wasn’t until he barged into this place that he understood just what she meant.
It never crossed his mind that the inside of the Shattered Ruins would look like this.
While Cheng Yang was in a dilemma, it was the same case for Xia Lin Lang and Yang Kai. They didn’t dare to stop for an instant, for if they did, all the nearby Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques would fly at them.
Bright Flame Divine Monarch was powerful, so he could easily deal with this barrage of Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques, but Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang definitely couldn’t do that; after all, they were injured after they were attacked by Cheng Yang earlier.
“Do Divine Spirits really live here?” Yang Kai was doubtful. Although the Divine Spirits were formidable, with every mature Divine Spirit being as powerful as a High-Rank Open Heaven Realm Master, they shouldn’t be able to survive in such a hostile environment.
“It’s just a rumour. I’ve never come here before,” Xia Lin Lang shook her head.
Then, Yang Kai stopped thinking about it. Regardless of whether there were any Divine Spirits in this place, the lives of Xia Lin Lang and him were truly hanging by a thread.
“Yang Kai, if I pass away, Qin Fen and the others…”
Before she could finish speaking, Yang Kai cut her off by saying, “If you die, do you think I’ll be able to survive?”
Xia Lin Lang was lost for words. After giving it a thought, she realised that if she, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, was killed, there was no way Yang Kai could keep his life. Space Principles were not useful in a place like this, for if he used Instantaneous Movement, he might directly fall into some kind of mortal danger.
“Stop thinking about it. I’ve experienced countless life-and-death moments like this since I began cultivating, and I’ve nearly lost my life many times. Although the situation now is terrible, it’s not without hope. We can survive this as long as we don’t give up.”
“I hope so,” Xia Lin Lang replied in a dejected manner.
They continued moving forward, but although they had already fled before most of the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques could attack them, there were still a small number they were unable to dodge.
In times like these, they could only parry the attacks, and as time passed, they consumed more and more energy.
A few days later, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang both sported solemn expressions.
That was because as they went deeper into the Shattered Ruins, the dormant Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques became increasingly powerful.
Half a day ago, they triggered a Divine Ability that was equivalent to the full-powered attack of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, and as time passed, they encountered more and more Divine Abilities of such strength.
As they went further, the Divine Abilities became more formidable.
When the Divine Abilities struck at them from time to time, they had no choice but to resolve them. As a result, they felt immensely pressured.
After another half a day, all the Divine Abilities they came across were now basically on par with Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm attacks. Xia Lin Lang had to exert her full strength now to deal with them. Fortunately, Yang Kai wasn’t an ordinary Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, so by working together, they could temporarily ensure their own safety.
At this moment, Yang Kai felt fortunate that after the Divine Abilities were triggered, they still had some time to flee; otherwise, they would’ve lost their lives from exhaustion within an hour at most.
Instead of subsiding, however, the noise behind them became louder and nearer. It was apparent that Cheng Yang was still relentlessly chasing them.
Yang Kai couldn’t help but admire the man’s determination and the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master’s power. While he and Xia Lin Lang only had to deal with a few Divine Abilities from time to time, Cheng Yang basically ploughed through a full barrage to get to them. The Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques that had been triggered by them were all resolved by him.
However, Cheng Yang was surely in a terrible state despite being an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
A few ants meant nothing to an elephant, but a million of them could bite an elephant to death. Similarly, Bright Sun Divine Monarch must have exerted significantly more force than the two of them in order to resolve all the Divine Abilities they triggered and left behind.
That was indeed the case. Presently, Cheng Yang was slightly pale, which was a clear sign of overconsumption. Nevertheless, he didn’t even have time to take a breath. If he had hesitated for a moment now, he would be submerged in Divine Abilities.
In fact, he had thought about backing down several times; however, he had endured so much hardship already that there was no way he could resign himself to giving up.
While being frustrated, he swore that if he could capture the brat that had obtained the World Spring, he would rip his corpse into countless pieces. This was the biggest setback and embarrassment he had suffered in his life since he started cultivating.
A few days later, Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang were battered and covered in blood.
Although they only had to deal with the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques sometimes and could work together to share the burden, there were still times when they were accidentally hurt under such prolonged pressure. Earlier, a Sword Qi Divine Ability almost cut Yang Kai in half while there was a long cut on Xia Lin Lang’s abdomen. The flesh around her wound had rolled up.
They were almost killed during that incident.
At this point, Yang Kai could feel that some of the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques they had triggered were equivalent to the attacks of Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters. Although there were only a small number of them, this was truly terrible news for them.
Given their strength and current states, they would be doomed if they were struck by any Divine Ability that was as powerful as an attack from an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The only good news was that even though the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques left behind in this place were becoming increasingly powerful, there were fewer of them in total now; otherwise, they wouldn’t stand a chance to flee.
As they moved forward, Yang Kai began seeing countless strangely-shaped ancient artifacts. Many of the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques that had been triggered came from those artifacts. Although innumerable years had passed, they hadn’t lost their spirituality completely.
The Shattered Ruins weren’t just filled with danger; they were also full of treasures. Unfortunately, even the Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters might not be able to obtain those treasures while they were here.
“Watch out!” Xia Lin Lang suddenly exclaimed.
Yang Kai’s expression instantly turned solemn. When he looked up, he saw a purple light that danced around like a snake. The light contained an aura that frightened them out of their wits.
There was no doubt that it was a Divine Ability that was equivalent to an attack from an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master.
The purple light that was supposed to be dormant in the depths of the Shattered Ruins was triggered by their life auras and became active, its ferocious aura soon locking onto them.
The expressions of Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang changed drastically.
What they were most afraid of had finally happened. It was just like what usually happened on a battlefield; if a person was most afraid of death, he would definitely be killed. Since the aura of this Divine Ability had targeted them, they had no way to get rid of it other than through force.
If they were still at the peak of their strength, they might stand a chance to deal with such a Divine Ability; however, given their state, there was no way they could resolve it.
“Run!” Yang Kai roared and shot forward, dragging Xia Lin Lang along with him,
The purple light seemed to have come alive as it shot forward and relentlessly pursued them like a cat that caught a whiff of a fishy smell.
Although they were trying to flee from Cheng Yang earlier, they did their best to not trigger the dormant Divine Abilities around them. Now though, since they were being pursued by the purple light, the two of them were flustered and didn’t have time to spare attention to observe their surroundings. If they hesitated for even a moment, they would die.
As they charged forward, more Divine Abilities were triggered as they targeted their life auras.
Within an incense stick of time, the purple light was not the only Divine Ability that was chasing after them. Behind them were lights of different colours, and every Divine Ability was equivalent to the full force of a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master at the very least.
Yang Kai felt a cold chill creeping up his spine while Xia Lin Lang’s face was as pale as a sheet.
The situation was exacerbated as they moved forward. There seemed to be a tail of multi-coloured light behind them, and even though the sight was magnificent, their situation was beyond perilous.
“Yang Kai, I’m afraid this is it.” While running for her life, Xia Lin Lang put on a bitter smile. At this moment, she was regretful of the decision she had made. If she had known she would be faced with such a calamity in the Shattered Ruins, she would’ve chosen to leave the Shattered Heaven with Yang Kai.
She would rather be captured by the Cave Heavens and Paradises than feel helpless while death crept closer to her.
“Shut up!” Yang Kai roared.
“Can’t I even grumble a little since we’re dying?” There was an aggrieved look on Xia Lin Lang’s face.
Yang Kai didn’t bother to respond to her. Just then, he detected something and turned to look in a particular direction.
He could feel violent fluctuations of Space Principles coming from that direction. Since he was an expert in the Dao of Space, he was sensitive to this kind of power. The fluctuations of Space Principles were as conspicuous to him as a candlelight in the darkness.
“This way!” Yang Kai said and changed his direction.
Although he had no idea what was ahead of them, he understood that these Space Principles fluctuations were unusually strong. Things couldn’t get worse anyway as they were basically trying to claw their way out from death’s door. They might stand a chance to survive if they went over, which was better than waiting for certain death here.
Another incense stick later, even more Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques had been triggered by the fleeing pair, and the tail of multi-coloured light behind them had only grown more intense.
Suddenly, there came a moment when Yang Kai narrowed his eyes and looked dazedly forward. In the meantime, Xia Lin Lang covered her lips with her hands.
There were no colourful lights in the void in front of them; however, the area did look just like a broken mirror as fragments of space floated about in a disorderly manner. Among the fragments was a particularly conspicuous Void Crack that exuded the strong aura of nothingness.
The traces of this Space Technique made Yang Kai’s eyes brighten.
When he detected the dormant Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques in the Shattered Ruins earlier, Yang Kai considered the possibility of there being Space Secret Techniques hidden among them; however, he hadn’t come across any along the way, which made him feel disappointed.
It never crossed his mind that there was really a Space Secret Technique that was hidden in the deepest part of the Shattered Ruins.
Nonetheless, judging from the sight before his eyes, Yang Kai knew that this shattered space was indeed caused by an ancient Space Secret Technique, and one that had already fully exploded. The shattered Void was the best proof of this.
The emotions in Yang Kai’s heart undulated. There was someone in ancient times who had also been an expert in the Dao of Space, and that Master’s mastery of it was far greater than his own.
That was because the damage caused by the Space Secret Technique still hadn’t been repaired by the local World Principles. The Void still looked like a broken mirror.
Therefore, the danger that was ahead of them in the Void wasn’t the Space Secret Technique that was left behind, but the shattered Void caused by the Divine Ability.
If they were not careful, they would fall into a Void Crack upon entering it and never be able to find their way out.
Usually, Yang Kai wouldn’t take such a huge risk. At the very least, he would observe it from the outside and try to comprehend the secrets of the Space Secret Technique that had been left behind.
However, at this moment, they were pursued by a barrage of Divine Abilities powerful enough to vaporize them, so there wasn’t enough time for him to comprehend anything. He didn’t even have time to hesitate as he took Xia Lin Lang’s hand and plunged into the nearest space fragment.
Xia Lin Lang instinctively tried to resist as she was apparently aware of the danger ahead; however, she soon calmed down and let Yang Kai drag her away.
The next instant, they entered the nearest space fragment together.
A slight tremor could be felt coming at them and it suddenly felt as though they had moved through a Space Array. When Yang Kai came to his senses, he realised that he was in the deepest part of a space fragment. What shocked him was that Xia Lin Lang was no longer beside him.
The turn of events astounded him.
All this time, as they were fleeing, the two of them had tied their auras together to ensure they weren’t separated, and they were even holding hands just a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, Xia Lin Lang had vanished from his side.
Yang Kai then hurriedly looked around and soon found her in a space fragment that was several hundred kilometres away.
It was obvious that she could see him as well, though she appeared quite helpless.
Before Yang Kai could say anything to her, they turned their heads at the same time and looked in the same direction.
In that direction, the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques of different colours had formed into a torrent that gushed towards them. Yang Kai could instantly recognise that the torrent consisted of the Divine Abilities that had locked onto their life auras and followed him to this place.
The torrent soon streamed into a familiar-looking space fragment and disappeared.
Yang Kai batted his eyes as he could recognise that the space fragment was the one that he and Xia Lin Lang had initially passed through. For some reason though, upon entering that space fragment, all the Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques were sent to different space fragments. It seemed that was also the reason he and Xia Lin Lang were separated.
Before he could figure out what exactly had transpired, Yang Kai saw the various Divine Abilities exploding in the space fragments around him. The multi-coloured lights appeared and disappeared in the space fragments repeatedly.
The sight of it caused Yang Kai to be drenched in a cold sweat.
He couldn’t really feel the explosive powers of those Divine Abilities since they were exploding in separate spaces; however, by judging from what he could see, Yang Kai was certain that there would have been nothing left of him and Xia Lin Lang if had they been struck by them.
Fortunately, just a moment later, the lights of these Divine Abilities slowly subsided and disappeared.
The crisis was resolved just like that; however, they fell into an even more complicated crisis the next instant.
Xia Lin Lang apparently wanted to return to Yang Kai’s side; after all, she felt insecure since she was all alone in this shattered space. Nevertheless, as soon as she moved, she disappeared from the space fragment she was in, and when she reappeared, she was already in a totally different space fragment that was even further away.
This caused her to fall into a dazed state.
“Stop moving!” Yang Kai shouted in all directions with his Divine Sense, and fortunately, it seemed to reach her.
Xia Lin Lang nodded gently and remained unmoving in the same spot.
Yang Kai then looked around. He still hadn’t realised it while he was outside earlier, but upon entering this place, he could finally see that the space in this area was severely shattered, and a huge amount of space fragments had been formed. He could see that there were more than 10,000 space fragments in his immediate surroundings, and he was certain there were even more in the distance he could not perceive.
As he recalled the sight of the Divine Abilities exploding and what happened to Xia Lin Lang earlier, Yang Kai formed a speculation in his mind.
He then took a step forward and realised that nothing was wrong, and it was the same case for his second step. It wasn’t until he took the third step forward that he felt slightly dizzy again. It was the same feeling as when he passed through a Space Array.
The world spun around him, and the next moment, he appeared in a different space fragment.
He looked around and realised that Xia Lin Lang was nowhere to be seen. Although he had no idea where he was, he reckoned that he was still within the area affected by the ancient Space Secret Technique. That was because he could still see countless space fragments around him, just like he had encountered a moment ago.
After his first experiment, Yang Kai became bolder.
A moment later, he disappeared from the space fragment he was in and was sent to a different place. Seeing that Xia Lin Lang was still nowhere in sight, he made a move again.
After seven or eight tries, he finally saw Xia Lin Lang in a fragment that was just a dozen kilometres away.
At this moment, the woman was clearly both confused and helpless. Yang Kai’s disappearance just now made her feel uneasy; however, from her previous experience and in accordance with Yang Kai’s advice, she didn’t dare to move around randomly.
It wasn’t until she saw Yang Kai again that she let out a breath of relief and pulled herself together.
“Have you discovered anything?” Xia Lin Lang called out via Divine Sense.
“I have a speculation, but you should see it for yourself,” Upon finishing his word, Yang Kai flicked an Open Heaven Pill forward.
Xia Lin Lang looked fixedly at the Open Heaven Pill, which moved for one metre before it disappeared.
In the meantime, the Open Heaven Pill abruptly appeared in a space fragment that was several dozen kilometres away from Yang Kai.
Upon realising something, Xia Lin Lang said, “Teleportation!”
Yang Kai nodded, “Keep watching.”
This time, he flicked more than 100 Open Heaven Pills forward. Just like what had happened earlier, the pills slowly drifted ahead and soon disappeared.
However, there were no regular patterns to speak of when they reappeared. About a dozen Open Heaven Pills appeared in the space fragments around them, but the rest had gone missing.
Xia Lin Lang fell into her thoughts for a moment, then said, “Is the teleportation random?”
“I think so.” Yang Kai nodded. If it wasn’t random, the more than 100 Open Heaven Pills that he had flicked out would’ve appeared in the same place. However, the reality was that they only saw some pills in the fragments around them, and the rest of them were sent to places that were out of their sight.
A realisation finally dawned upon Xia Lin Lang. That explained why after the torrent of Divine Abilities entered this place, they flickered and exploded in the fragments around them.
Since the teleportation effect was random, the Divine Abilities were sent to different fragments while their powers were slowly exhausted until they disappeared.
Upon that realisation, Xia Lin Lang felt a chill running down her spine. It seemed that she and Yang Kai were pretty lucky. If those Divine Abilities were sent to the fragments they were in, they would’ve been killed.
“The space in this place is in chaos, and we can’t judge it using common sense. Although we might appear to be close to each other, we may actually be hundreds of thousands of kilometres apart, or even further.”
Xia Lin Lang’s expression changed slightly, then she asked with hesitation, “Can you come here? Or should I go over?”
Yang Kai shook his head, “There are probably millions of space fragments in this place. Since the space is in chaos, I can’t control the direction of the teleportation. Even if you remain perfectly still, I might not even reach you after a few hundred or even 1,000 years.”
Upon hearing that, Xia Lin Lang put on a bitter smile, “Does it mean we’re trapped here now?”
Yang Kai grinned, “It’s better than our previous situation. At the very least, we’re not in danger now.”
“You have a point.” Xia Lin Lang appeared slightly relieved.
Suddenly recalling something, Yang Kai turned to look in a particular direction, “I almost forgot that someone was still chasing after us.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall figure abruptly came into sight. The person was none other than Bright Flame Divine Monarch, Cheng Yang, who had been relentlessly pursuing them all this time.
At this moment, Cheng Yang, who was one of the few Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Masters in the Shattered Heaven, appeared quite battered as his clothes had become tattered. His hair was in a mess as it hung loose over his shoulders.
He was engulfed in rage, which made him look like a volcano that was about to erupt.
His encounters along the way were truly frustrating, which was why he was so infuriated. Supposedly, given his Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivation, he could easily capture a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master; however, since he entered the Shattered Ruins, he had actually been forced to clean up the mess Yang Kai left behind.
Countless Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques had been resolved by him along the way.
Just like what happened to Yang Kai and Xia Lin Lang earlier, Cheng Yang was pursued by a torrent of Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques.
Moreover, the torrent behind him was far greater than the one that had followed the two of them.
Yang Kai was amazed and couldn’t help thinking that the heritage of an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master was indeed incredible. If he and Xia Lin Lang were faced with the same situation, they wouldn’t have escaped.
Even though Cheng Yang appeared battered, he still seemed able to deal with the situation.
Upon reaching this place, Cheng Yang soon saw Yang Kai as he roared, “I’ll shred your corpse into 10,000 pieces, you brat!”
After he finished speaking, he directly pounced towards Yang Kai, who appeared completely unfazed.
The next moment, Cheng Yang abruptly disappeared from the spot and the torrent that was close behind him directly crashed into the nearest space fragment.
Yang Kai shouted, “Defend yourself!”
At the same time, he activated his World Force and summoned the Azure Dragon Spear while keeping his guard up.
Although the teleportation among these space fragments was random, no one could guarantee that he wouldn’t be struck by one of those Divine Abilities and Secret Techniques.
The moment the Divine Abilities came into contact with the first space fragment, they abruptly disappeared.
The next instant, fireworks seemed to have been ignited as lights of different colours exploded in a brilliant displacement among the various space fragments.
Just then, a ray of light appeared out of thin air right in front of Yang Kai, who had fortunately been on guard. Without hesitation, he pushed out his spear with the Great Sun he had summoned on its tip.
Violent fluctuations were felt coming at him as he was sent flying away. When he reappeared, he was already in a different fragment. At the same time, his spear-holding arm became limp while his purlicue was covered in blood.
At that moment, he was still reeling from the impact. If it weren’t because the space in this place was in chaos, he would’ve suffered a more serious injury. The disorderly space made sure that the power of the Divine Ability couldn’t fully expand, which allowed Yang Kai to flee.
Not daring to be negligent, he grabbed the Azure Dragon Spear with his other hand and stayed vigilant.
He could see that the Divine Abilities of different colours were still rampaging about.
Fortunately, no Divine Ability was sent to him again. A cup of tea’s time later, the powers of those Divine Abilities became exhausted and disappeared.
After letting out a breath, Yang Kai put his Azure Dragon Spear away and fixed his dislocated arm. Looking around, he couldn’t see Xia Lin Lang or Cheng Yang.
He then went on to travel across the space fragments for half a day before he finally found Xia Lin Lang.
She remained in the same space fragment. It seemed that she was lucky enough to not be struck by any Divine Abilities. She also remembered Yang Kai’s advice, which was why she remained in the same spot and waited for him to find her.
Upon meeting her, Yang Kai nodded, “We’re safe for now. Let’s restore our energy first and think about how to leave this place later.”
Certainly, Xia Lin Lang wouldn’t object to it. Even an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master like Bright Flame Divine Monarch wouldn’t be able to easily leave this damned place, not to mention that she was just a Seventh-Order Master.
Only Yang Kai, who was an expert in the Dao of Space, had a chance to find a way out of here. If she wanted to escape, she had to rely on him.
They then sat down with their legs crossed and gulped down some Spirit Pills.
Just a moment later, the towering figure of Cheng Yang appeared in a fragment that wasn’t far away. When he saw Yang Kai, he put on a grin; however, since he had suffered a setback earlier, and he had realised the strangeness of this place, he didn’t immediately rush over like he had done moments ago. Instead, he stared fixedly at Yang Kai with a pair of cold-looking eyes.
Noticing the other man’s presence, Yang Kai opened his eyes and sneered, “It seems that you’re eager to eat me alive, Divine Monarch.”
Cheng Yang snorted, “If you had the guts to speak to me like this outside, you would’ve been dead by now.”
Yang Kai picked his ear and replied with a smile, “I’m glad you know we’re not outside, Divine Monarch. If I had come across you outside of this place, I would’ve run as far away as possible. That was what happened before. If it weren’t because of you, I wouldn’t have been trapped in this place. Unfortunately, you’ve also fallen into this place. It won’t be easy to leave here, and I’m worried that we’ll have to stay here forever.” He shook his head as though he felt sorry for the other man.
Cheng Yang said, “Although this place is strange and constantly changing, it might not necessarily be able to trap me. After I comprehend the abstrusity of this place, I’ll make life a living Hell for you.”
Yang Kai cupped his fist, “Please work hard then, Divine Monarch. I’ll wait for you here.”
Cheng Yang snorted and stopped bickering with him. He then sat down with his legs crossed. While restoring his energy, he gazed at Xia Lin Lang and said, “Xia Girl, even though you’re a Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, you’re incapable of keeping the World Spring. Zhao Yi had offered you a way out, but you turned down his kindness. All his efforts have been wasted.”
Xia Lin Lang pressed her lips together for a moment, then replied, “This Mistress is eternally grateful to Zhao Yi for lending me a hand in the past; however, I have my own considerations when it comes to the World Spring.”
Cheng Yang said, “It’s not easy to keep a low profile and remain hidden in the Shattered Heaven. Even if you manage to survive this calamity, you’ll never have any peaceful days again. I heard that your Universe Cave Heaven has been destroyed.”
Xia Lin Lang fell silent.
“If you can help this Monarch obtain the World Spring, I am willing to forget everything that has happened. Additionally, I’ll ensure your safety in the Shattered Heaven.”
Xia Lin Lang shook her head, “The World Spring is not with me. I’m afraid I’m unable to help you.”
Cheng Yang didn’t force her, but while staring fixedly at her, he still said, “That’s all I have to say. Consider my offer.” He then closed his eyes and focused on recuperating.
On the other hand, even though Yang Kai was aware that they were having a conversation, he couldn’t find out what they were talking about in this strange place.
Upon seeing that, Xia Lin Lang put on a helpless smile. She wasn’t an inexperienced young girl, so she knew that by deliberately persuading her, Cheng Yang was trying to plant a seed of doubt in Yang Kai’s mind. Since Yang Kai had no idea what they were talking about, he might grow suspicious of her.
However, it was pointless to explain anything at this point as it might lead to the opposite of the desired outcome, so she chose to remain silent.
At that moment, while staying in their respective space fragments, the trio did their best to restore their strength.
Nevertheless, just like Yang Kai had said, even though they seemed to be near each other, they might actually be separated by a distance of hundreds of thousands of kilometres as the space around here was in chaos.
They had to rely on Yang Kai’s mastery over the Dao of Space in order to leave this place. If Yang Kai could figure out the secrets of the Divine Ability that had caused this environment to form, he may be able to find some kind of order in this chaos which could allow them to escape.
A few days later, Cheng Yang was the first to recover and he soon disappeared from the space fragment he was occupying. It was apparent that he was trying to survey the area in order to look for a way to leave this place.
It actually took Cheng Yang half a month before he reappeared in one of the nearby space fragments, and there was a gloomy expression on his face.
Obviously, he hadn’t found any clues at all. Despite being an Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he was unable to force his way out of here. The space in this place was in complete chaos, and regardless of what he tried, all his attacks would be randomly sent to other space fragments. Just like the Divine Abilities that had run after him some time ago, they would move around the fragments and flicker until they eventually dispersed.
While he couldn’t shatter this place with brute force, he also hadn’t found any regular patterns to the teleportation that was occurring. Regardless of how powerful he was, he could only accept the fact that he was trapped.
In the meantime, Yang Kai was recuperating while observing what was going on in his Small Universe.
Just after leaving Pear Flower Cave Heaven, he had examined his own Small Universe and comprehended something. There seemed to be an idea that was within his grasp, but before he could fully understand it, he was interrupted by Xia Lin Lang. After that, all his efforts were put into fleeing, so he didn’t have time to ponder on this issue. Although he was trapped now, it was also a chance for him to calm his mind and tend to other matters.
In his Small Universe, Yang Kai’s Divine Sense manifested and formed into a lifelike figure. While hovering in the sky, he looked down at the migration of people, the building of cities, the cycle of life, and the rise and fall of the Sun, Moon, and Stars.
As time passed, his gaze increasingly brightened.
There came a moment when an order spread across the entire place, “Within my Small Universe, I now command the Dao of Space and Time!”
At that instant, the millions of residents in the Small Universe seemed to have detected something as they looked up at the sky. The Emperor Realm Masters were especially sensitive to this change, but when they tried to feel what it was, they realised that they couldn’t discover anything. The world seemed to have gone through some kind of transformation, but it was also as though nothing had changed, leaving them puzzled.
Following a moment of flux, the world returned to its original state.
Hovering in the sky, Yang Kai grinned while resisting the urge to laugh out loud.
Although the millions of residents didn’t know what happened, it didn’t mean there was no change in his Small Universe. In fact, the transformation was so drastic that Yang Kai was astounded.
The passing of time in his Small Universe was now twice as fast compared to the outside world.
Xu Ling Gong once said that there were two shortcuts to cultivation in this world. Other than training in a Small Source World, Temporal Rivers were the other option. The flowing of time in a Temporal River was different from that of the outside world. A year might pass in the outside world, but 100 years, 1,000 years, or even 10,000 years might have gone by in the Temporal River.
Yang Kai had entered a Small Source World once, but had only heard about Temporal Rivers. Although he was eager to find out what a legendary Temporal River really looked like, he hadn’t had such a chance.
Presently, with the blessing of Time Principles and Space Principles, Yang Kai had replicated the effects of a Temporal River in his Small Universe.
Although it was far less powerful than a true Temporal River, the passage of time in his Small Universe was now two times faster than in the outside world.
In other words, one day in the outside world would be equivalent to two days in his Small Universe, while one year in the outside world would be two years in his Small Universe.
This kind of transformation wouldn’t affect him much, but it had a huge impact on the residents living in his Small Universe.
The accelerated flow of time wouldn’t shorten the lives of the people in the Small Universe because their perception of time had not changed. It was only different when compared to the outside world.
The purpose of raising living beings in a cultivator’s Small Universe was to help with their cultivation. It took an Open Heaven Realm Master a painfully long time to make it to the next Order, but the growth and multiplication of living beings in their Small Universe would nurture Auspicious Spirit Essence and continuously increase their heritage. Even if the Open Heaven Realm Master never cultivated, this increase wouldn’t stop.
Since the passage of time had accelerated in Yang Kai’s Small Universe, it meant that he would get even more benefits in the future.
He just decided to give it a try, so it surprised him greatly that he actually succeeded. It could be said to be a pleasant surprise. However, this could only be achieved once a cultivator reached a certain level of mastery in the Dao of Time, which was touted to be a power that was even harder to cultivate than the Dao of Space. Rarely anyone in the world could make it to the Sixth Level of Mastery in the Dao of Time like what Yang Kai had done.
Yang Kai reckoned that Yang Xiao and Yang Xue would be able to achieve this in the future; after all, they were the Legacy Disciples of Flowing Time Great Emperor.
Unfortunately, given his mastery over the Dao of Time now, he could only make the passage of time in his Small Universe two times faster than the outside world.
Perhaps when he had a better understanding of the Dao of Time in the future, he would be able to accelerate this further.
Yang Kai would gain immense benefits by doing so, and with his mastery over the Dao of Time, there seemed to not be any price to pay.
In that case, not only could he gain some benefits through the living beings in his body, but the residents could also grow faster by having their cultivation time halved compared to the outside world.
Yang Kai then went on to observe his Small Universe for ten more days. Upon making sure that the acceleration of the passage of time wouldn’t affect the residents in any negative way, he returned his focus to the outside world.
Looking up, he saw a bored Xia Lin Lang darting her gaze around. As their eyes met, they nodded at each other. Presently, Cheng Yang was seated with his legs crossed, as though he was trying to figure out the abstrusity in this place. A myriad of expressions came over him.
Yang Kai sneered at the sight. Given Bright Sun Divine Monarch’s powerful Eighth-Order Open Heaven Realm cultivation, he would be treated as an Honourable Ancestor in the outside world if he were from one of the Cave Heavens and Paradises. However, since he knew nothing about the Dao of Space, he wouldn’t be able to comprehend anything here even if he spent thousands of years trying to do so.
However, his thinking was right.
The space in this place was in chaos, and there were no regular patterns to speak of. Since it was caused by a Secret Technique from an ancient Great Expert, they would only stand a chance to leave this place by figuring out the secret behind that Secret Technique and understanding the connection between the space fragments.
It was hard for Yang Kai to imagine the level of mastery the ancient Great Expert, who had cast this Divine Ability, had reached in the Dao of Space. Even though countless years had passed, the effects caused by this Divine Ability could still resist the self-repair of the World Principles.
After spending 20 years in the Universe Temples trying to figure out the secret behind the Grand Array there, Yang Kai managed to reach the Eighth Level of Mastery in the Dao of Space; however, he knew he couldn’t achieve what he saw before his eyes.
Perhaps only by reaching the final level, Shocking History and Amazing the Present, in his mastery over the Dao of Space, coupled with the power of the Ninth-Order Open Heaven Realm would he stand a chance to be as powerful as the Great Expert who did this in ancient times.
Yang Kai thus sat down with his legs crossed and emptied his mind in an attempt to comprehend the secret of the Space Secret Technique left behind in this place.
In the blink of an eye, 10 years, 20 years, and then 30 years had gone by.
Yang Kai initially thought that it would only take him a few years before he could leave this place; however, in reality, 30 years had passed, but he still hadn’t fully understood the connection between the space fragments. Although he wasn’t completely clueless like before, he was still far from being able to leave this place.
As he had a better understanding of it now, he increasingly felt that the Great Expert who had cast this Space Secret Technique was truly amazing. Fortunately, even though 30 years seemed like a long time, it was just a blink of an eye for an Open Heaven Realm Master given their extremely long lifespan.
Yang Kai, Xia Lin Lang, and Cheng Yang were all calm and collected as they were not in a rush at all. This was especially true for Cheng Yang. Since he started attempting to comprehend the secret in this place, he had remained seated there with his legs crossed without moving a muscle. It was as though he was dead.
On the other hand, Xia Lin Lang knew that she could only pin her hopes on Yang Kai, so she stopped wasting time trying to escape and simply spent her time cultivating. Sometimes, she would move around the space fragments in the hope of discovering something; however, it wasn’t certain when she would return every time since she had no control over the direction she would be heading.
When she was lucky sometimes, she would reappear in Yang Kai’s sight a few days later. However, when she was unlucky, she would disappear for a few months.
With that said, while she was unable to leave this place, there wasn’t really any danger lurking in the dark.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai’s Divine Sense manifested in his Small Universe again.
In the past 30 years, he hadn’t only attempted to comprehend the secrets of this place. If that was everything he did, he would’ve exhausted himself and possibly even made errors in judgement and understanding. He believed that he should get some rest from time to time.
The best way for him to have some rest was to appear in his Small Universe through the manifestation of his Divine Sense and wander around.
While 30 years had passed in the outside world, 60 years had gone by in his Small Universe, which was equivalent to a couple generations of mortal lives.
His Small Universe had gone through some drastic changes over the past 60 years. If the Small Universe was filled with silence in the past, it was now full of vibrant vitality.
After more than 10 million people moved into his Small Universe in the past, some of the population inevitably died; after all, sudden changes in the environment could not be adapted to by all people. The population plunged from 10 million to about 8 million within the first few years.
Now that 60 years had passed though, not only was the population restored to its original figure, but there was even some increase. As for the exact figure of the increase, Yang Kai had no idea. Although he could easily find out about all the information in his Small Universe, he didn’t do so and instead tried to look at the place and witness all the changes from a local perspective.
Through his travels in his Small Universe over the past years, he gained a lot of insights.
The reproduction of the living continued to provide Auspicious Spirit Essence and increase the heritage of his Small Universe in the past 60 years even though he had not cultivated at all during this period of time.
Now, millions of lives were scattered all around his Small Universe as there were dozens of cities of different sizes. There were also countless smaller towns and villages. It could be said that his Small Universe was now full of life.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai appeared outside of a certain town while two petite figures were seated on his shoulders. They were only the size of a palm, as though they were young girls who had significantly shrunk in size. While they looked adorable, both of them were clad in green clothes, one of them sported a ponytail while the other had tied her hair into a bun.
The two petite figures were none other than Mu Zhu and Mu Lu, who were from the Wood Spirit Clan.
Since Yang Kai brought Mu Zhu and Mu Lu out of the Eastern Territory while he was in the Star Boundary in the past, they had been living in the medicine garden in the Small Sealed World. They were responsible for helping Yang Kai to take care of the spirit flowers in his medicine garden.
Wood Spirit Clan members were born with an unrivalled innate talent to grow and manage all types of plants. At the same time, they were pleased with spending time with the plants; therefore, even though they had never come into contact with the outside world over the years as they spent most of their time taking care of the medicine garden, they still felt content.
When Yang Kai ascended to the Open Heaven Realm, he merged his Small Universe with the Small Sealed World, which included the medicine garden; hence, these two petite Wood Spirit Clan members had been living in his Small Universe over the years.
While they were pleased to have the plants as their companions, they couldn’t help but feel lonely sometimes, especially when Yang Kai didn’t have much time to keep them company.
However, it all changed when many people moved into the Small Universe.
Whenever Yang Kai travelled across his Small Universe, he would always bring these little Wood Spirits with him. The little ones were passionate about it as they would always experience fun activities and enjoy scrumptious food whenever they travelled with Yang Kai.
“Many things have changed indeed.” Yang Kai looked up at the arch where the words ‘Seven Stars Town’ were carved.
On his left shoulder was the more sedate Mu Zhu who said, “You’re right. The last time we visited this place, it was still a small village. Only five or six years have passed, but this place has already turned into a town.”
As a thought flashed through Yang Kai’s mind, he soon realised what had happened as he replied, “A new Sect has settled down in a nearby place. That’s why many people have moved into this town.”
The Sect was named Seven Stars Sect, so it was apparent that the town was named after the Sect.
The reserved and bashful Mu Lu was seated on his right shoulder. While twiddling her thumbs, she asked pitifully, “Will we still have a chance to have the sweet rice dumplings made by Grandma?”
Mu Zhu shot her a displeased look, “All you think about is eating! Do you know that you’ve put on weight?”
An astounded Mu Lu looked down at her figure and asked in an apprehensive tone, “Really? Have I really gained weight?”
Mu Zhu glanced at her and snorted, “Haven’t you realised that your chest has grown bigger? How did you have the nerve to ask others about it?”
With a reddened face, Mu Lu refuted, “It’s always been… big.”
Mu Zhu looked down at her own chest with a furious expression.
Yang Kai guffawed and placated her by saying, “Don’t fret. Mu Zhu is just trying to scare you. You’re still fit and healthy, Mu Lu. En, Grandma is still around. It seems that she has set up a stall over there. Let’s go.”
“En en!” Mu Lu nodded repeatedly.
Upon entering the town, they realised that the place was indeed full of people. Even though it wasn’t as busy as the big cities, it was already not bad for a town of this scale.
Yang Kai was clad in clothes that were commonly seen in Seven Stars Town, so no one actually paid any attention to him.
Although the two little Wood Spirits were seated on his shoulders while Mu Lu swung her legs and joyfully looked around, the passers-by didn’t seem to notice them.
After all, Yang Kai was the Master of this World, so he could easily hide the Wood Spirits from everyone’s sight.
They then headed straight to a particular place in the town where there was a roadside stall. At that moment, an old woman with grey hair was busy attending to her customers. The stall was small as there were only two tables, each lined with four stools. Presently, the tables had been fully occupied while there were some people who squatted down on the side as they drank the soup from the bowls and munched on the roasted sweet rice dumplings.
The last time Yang Kai arrived at this place with the Wood Spirits, they stayed the night in Grandma’s house. Grandma was single with no children of her own. At that time, she served them two sweet rice dumplings.
Mu Lu was fond of the taste of the sweet rice dumplings, and she had never forgotten about it over the years.
Many years had passed, and while the village had turned into a town, Grandma had also set up a stall here.
After they waited for a moment, it was then Yang Kai’s turn.
“The soup costs one coin a bowl, and the dumplings are also one coin each. What do you want, young lad?” Grandma asked.
“I’ll have one bowl of soup and ten dumplings,” Yang Kai replied with a smile.
Grandma took a glance at him, “I suppose you’re a big eater, young lad. Are you sure you can finish ten dumplings? They’re made from glutinous rice, so you’ll get really full.”
Yang Kai patted his stomach with a smile, “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’m indeed a big eater.”
Grandma nodded. While she was busy preparing the order, she asked, “Have I seen you before, young lad? You look familiar to me.”
Yang Kai went over to help her with preparing the food and said with a grin, “Have you forgotten about me, Grandma? When I arrived at this place six years ago, it was you who let me stay in your house and made two dumplings for me.”
Upon recalling the memory, Grandma replied, “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I do remember you.”
“Yes, it’s me.” Yang Kai nodded repeatedly, “Your dumplings were delicious. I’ve always remembered the taste over the years. Since I was passing by this place, I decided to look for you.”
Grandma teased him by saying, “It seems that you didn’t have enough food that night.”
Yang Kai replied with a grin, “My appetite has grown bigger in recent years.”
Grandma shook her head and fell silent. Despite her sluggishness, she meticulously roasted the sweet rice dumplings. Catching a whiff of the fragrant smell, Mu Lu batted her eyes and drooled over the food.
“Your dumplings are not only big and affordable, but they’re also quite flavourful. You should sell them for three coins each,” Yang Kai said with a smile.
Grandma shook her head, “Everything I have is thanks to the Lord for having mercy on me. I should have passed away more than 10 years ago, so I’m already content that I’ve lived to this day. Moreover, I don’t have any children, so what’s the point of having more money? The crop yields have been excellent in recent years, and everything is going well for me. I have no other wishes. I just hope that before I pass away, I’ll let more people have a taste of the food I prepare.”
The ‘Lord’ she was talking about was Yang Kai.
The people in this place might not know that they were actually living inside the Small Universe of an Open Heaven Realm Master, but they were aware that there was a Lord that ruled over everything in this World.
It had been decades since they moved from Pear Flower Cave Heaven to this place, and everything had been going well. Grandma, who was already old and frail, even managed to live longer than she was supposed to.
That was because the vitality in the Small Universe was so ample, which helped lengthen the lives of ordinary people.
They might not know the reason behind it, but the continuous appearance of people who could live for a longer time proved that this place was more habitable than Pear Flower Cave Heaven where they originally came from.
More than ten years ago, Grandma accidentally tripped and broke her hip. She was already old and frail, so how was she supposed to endure such an injury? She thought that she would pass away just like that, but it never crossed her mind that after half a month of recuperation in her bed, she stopped feeling any pain. Two months later, she could even get out of bed and start walking.
Now, she was already more than 100 years old.
This was unimaginable in the past; however, more than 10 people in the small Seven Stars Town alone were over 100 years old.
Given the fact that they were ordinary mortals who had never cultivated, they had really enjoyed a long life.
Soon, 10 sweet rice dumplings were ready and Yang Kai got himself a bowl of soup.
Just then, someone yelled, “The Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect has started!”
The people on the street immediately streamed in the same direction where Seven Stars Sect was located. The originally busy stall became empty in an instant.
An unperturbed Yang Kai directly took a seat by the table, then he drank the soup while eating the roasted sweet rice dumplings.
Grandma cleaned up the mess and wiped her hands before taking a seat beside him. In a caring manner, she asked, “Young lad, I suppose you’ve ventured into many places over the years, but why haven’t you found yourself a wife?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Actually, I have several wives, and they’re all wonderful women.”
“Really? That’s quite surprising.” Grandma was genuinely shocked, “Since you have several wives, why do you still wander around on your own? A woman relies on her man for her entire life. Only when a man gains a footing will his wife have a place to settle down in peace. It’s not that I want to nag you, but you should spend more time with your wives instead of venturing into the outside world on your own.”
Yang Kai lied to her by saying, “Well, I heard that Seven Stars Sect is recruiting new disciples. That’s why I came here to have a look. I’d already settled everything at home before I left.”
Grandma nodded, “I see. If you manage to become a disciple of Seven Stars Sect, you’ll have a bright future. But young lad, it seems that you’re pretty mature now. Those from Seven Stars Sect are very strict when it comes to recruiting disciples. They only accept people who are really young.”
Yang Kai replied, “It’s fine. I’ll just give it a try.”
“I’m glad you don’t pin all your hopes on it. But don’t worry, even if you can’t get into Seven Stars Sect, you can still come to my place. The business at my stall is pretty good, and I’m busy most of the time. Since I’m on my own, it’ll be wonderful if you can come over and help me out. My days are numbered anyway. When I pass away, you can take over this stall. Even though the business won’t make you very rich, you’ll always have enough food on the table. You have to provide food for your wives, don’t you? By then, you can bring them all to this place.”
Yang Kai stared fixedly at her. He just randomly came up with an excuse, but now he wasn’t sure how he could keep lying. Given his vision, he naturally could see that Grandma was being completely sincere. Just like she had said, her days were numbered. She had never cultivated after all, and her vitality was starting to become exhausted. Perhaps she was aware of it.
“Grandma!” A gentle voice suddenly called out. When Yang Kai turned his head, he saw a woman, who was clad in simple clothes, standing not far away from him. The woman looked like she was in her early twenties, and her hair had been tied into a neat bun. Nevertheless, her face was a little sallow.
Despite her rather rough skin, she was actually a beauty. The simple clothes didn’t weaken her charm one bit; instead, the clothes gave her a free and refreshing look.
The woman hung her head low. She seemed to notice that Yang Kai was staring at her, so she was slightly anxious.
What attracted Yang Kai wasn’t her face though, but her belly.
The woman was apparently pregnant. Yang Kai didn’t have to scan her to know there was a faint vitality wafting from her belly.
While he stared fixedly at her bulging belly, he seemed to have sensed something at that moment.
His stare made the woman feel increasingly uneasy though.
Upon that realisation, Yang Kai hurriedly retracted his gaze and chugged down the soup in front of him.
“You’re here, little girl. Wait a moment,” Grandma apparently knew this young woman. As she got up with difficulty, she picked up a bag from the side and passed it to her.
There were about seven to eight sweet rice dumplings inside the bag.
The woman hurriedly waved her hands, “I don’t need so many sweet rice dumplings.”
Ignoring her protest, Grandma stuffed the bag into her hands and patted the back of her hands, “Just take it. Don’t be overly polite with me. Moreover, everyone has gone to Seven Stars Sect, so I can’t sell all the dumplings anyways. They’ll turn sour after one night. Since you’re pregnant, you’re supposed to have more food so that your child will grow to be healthy.”
The woman hung her head low and pressed her lips together while her eyes turned slightly red. Eventually, she simply bowed to the older woman and thanked her before leaving in a hurry.
Watching her leave, Grandma let out a sigh, “She’s such a poor girl.”
Pretending to be nonchalant, Yang Kai asked, “Are there still people who don’t have enough food on the table now?”
Grandma took a seat and replied, “Not really. You’re still young, so you might not know what had happened in the past. This continent is already much better than the previous one us older people resided in once. As long as one is able-bodied, they won’t find it hard to get enough to eat. Initially, she and her husband had a restaurant, and their business was booming; however, a few months ago, he got drunk and fell down the stairs. He passed away just like that. Since she’s pregnant, it’s hard for her to work. She has also used up her savings, which is why she can’t get enough food for herself.”
Yang Kai nodded, “You’re indeed a kind-hearted person, Grandma.”
Grandma put on a smile, “Since we live in the same town, we’re supposed to help each other out. I initially wanted her to come to my place, but you’ve seen her face. It’s not suitable for her to do business like me. Her beauty might attract some unwanted attention.”
“There are indeed some ill-intentioned people out there.” Yang Kai fully understood that.
After finishing his soup, Yang Kai put down eleven coins and said, “I’m going to Seven Stars Sect now, Grandma.”
“Go ahead. I suppose the Disciple Recruitment has started. There must be a lot of people over there. If I were only 70 or 80 years younger, I would’ve gone over to take a look.” Grandma waved her hand, then gave him some advice, “Don’t feel too dejected even if you’re not accepted. Things are really different now. As long as you’re hardworking, you won’t starve to death.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “If I’m not accepted, I’ll help you sell rice dumplings here.”
“That’s great. I can pass on all my skills to you. Of course, it’d be wonderful if you’re accepted. Your life will be more valuable than ordinary people like us if you have a right to cultivate.”
There were indeed many people who had taken part in the Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect as the area outside the entrance was crammed. Their requirements for accepting disciples were neither strict nor loose; however, they were adamant about accepting only young people.
Yang Kai decided to take part in the recruitment for fun, and as expected, he was knocked out during the registration process. This couldn’t be helped, as he was too old to be accepted. The device used to examine the age of his bones revealed that he was already 27 years old. With that said, if he had powerful cultivation, those from the Seven Stars Sect might still take him on; however, the cultivation he had showcased was only in the True Element Boundary.
Certainly, those from Seven Stars Sect wouldn’t take on a person who was relatively old and weak.
In the evening, Yang Kai returned to the town. Grandma wasn’t surprised one bit when she saw him as she consoled him by saying that he wouldn’t starve to death as long as he worked hard. He just had to help her out with selling rice dumplings and pass on her craft to future generations.
In response, Yang Kai nodded repeatedly.
As the sun sunk over the horizon, Yang Kai pushed the cart, which had all the tools needed to make rice dumplings, and shuffled towards the East of the town alongside Grandma.
This was where the old village was located, but it had been merged with the town following an expansion project. However, this place appeared to be in a dilapidated state, so it looked somewhat like a slum outside Seven Stars Town.
Yang Kai then took out all the things from the cart before getting some clean water from the well to wash them up.
To the side, Grandma looked smilingly at him and said, “You’ll always have enough food since you’re a good worker.”
Since that day, a young man had started helping out with selling sweet rice dumplings at a particular stall in Seven Stars Town. In the morning, Yang Kai would push the cart to the stall to sell affordable soup and rice dumplings alongside Grandma. In the evening, she would teach him how to make these simple foods. Their business was doing well as they could earn a profit of 20 to 30 coins per day.
The pregnant woman lived in a house that wasn’t far from Grandma’s place. Sometimes, Grandma would tell him to send the unsold rice dumplings to her in the evening.
When Yang Kai knocked on her door for the first time, the woman didn’t dare to open it. Left with no choice, he put down the bag full of rice dumplings just outside and left.
After a few times, the young woman became less wary of Yang Kai, especially when she saw the man selling rice dumplings alongside Grandma; however, she still wouldn’t dare to talk to him.
Every time Yang Kai arrived at her place, she would cautiously take the bag and thank him.
He heard from Grandma that the woman was named Yu Lu.
The reason Yang Kai turned his Divine Sense into an avatar and travelled across his Small Universe was to relax and unwind. Usually, he would return to the outside world after ten days to half a month.
However, when he came across Yu Lu, he had to change his plan.
His Divine Sense Avatar was never retracted, but his true body had not been complacent either. He was still trying to comprehend the secrets of the shattered space. Nevertheless, his progress had been slow over the past 30 years, so he wasn’t even sure how long it would take him to fully comprehend the secrets of the Space Secret Technique.
He wasn’t in a hurry though as he wouldn’t run into any danger in the shattered space. The matter in his Small Universe required his attention as well.
It could be said that Yu Lu came as a pleasant surprise to him.
However, in that case, while his true body became focused on comprehending the mysteries of the shattered space, his Divine Sense Avatar in the Small Universe would fall into a dazed state, as though his soul had left his body. Every time Grandma saw him in such a state, she thought that he was struck with some kind of illness. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for such a young man who had suffered from a mental condition.
As time passed, Yu Lu’s belly grew bigger. A worried Grandma would check on her almost every day. On the other hand, Yang Kai would catch some fish from a river outside of the town so that Grandma could prepare some fish soup and send it to her.
At that, Grandma teased him by saying, “Brat, do you have your eyes on her?”
Naturally, Yang Kai denied the charge.
It wasn’t certain whether Grandma believed him or not, but she stopped asking about it eventually. If Yang Kai wasn’t married, and he didn’t mind the fact that the woman was a widow who was pregnant with a child, Grandma would be more than happy to see them getting together.
After living with Yang Kai for a few months, Grandma grew increasingly fond of him. He was a quick-witted, hardworking, and conscientious. Although a woman wouldn’t become wealthy by marrying him, she wouldn’t suffer from any hardship either.
The only thing was that Yang Kai would fall into a daze from time to time, but it wasn’t really a big deal.
Unfortunately, he had said that he had several wives, so he wasn’t suited for Yu Lu.
One night, a sudden rainstorm hit the town.
Yang Kai, who was spacing out in his room, detected something as a thought flashed through his mind. When he came to his senses, he heard someone rapidly knocking on the door.
Grandma, who was in the main room, was heard getting up.
Yang Kai hurriedly got to his feet and opened the door, only to see Yu Lu holding an umbrella. However, some parts of her clothes were damp and stuck close to her body, which outlined her curvy figure.
“What’s wrong?” Yang Kai asked.
A pale Yu Lu replied in a shivering voice, “Half of my house has collapsed. I wouldn’t dare to stay there.”
Yang Kai looked into the darkness and saw that the roof of Yu Lu’s house had indeed fallen in. Her house was old and dilapidated, so the reason such a disaster befell her was that rain was pouring heavily tonight.
Instantly, Yang Kai was drenched in a cold sweat. It was fortunate that she wasn’t hurt when the accident happened; otherwise, the consequences would’ve been dreadful.
It surprised him to see that the rain was torrential on this day. Earlier, his true body was at a critical moment of comprehension, and coupled with the fact that it was now the middle of the night, he hadn’t paid any attention to what was going on in his Small Universe. It wasn’t until Yu Lu knocked on the door that he was alerted.
“Come in first,” Yang Kai hurriedly stepped aside.
Grandma put on a coat and shuffled out of her room with an oil lamp in her hand, where she was astonished to see Yu Lu.
After Yang Kai informed her about the situation, she simply nodded, “It’s fortunate that you’re fine. I’ll tell Yang Boy to help repair your house when the sun comes up. Before that, you can live with me.”
“Many thanks, Grandma. Many thanks, Big Brother Yang,” Yu Lu expressed her gratitude with reddened eyes. It was apparent that she was still reeling from the shock.
Yang Kai suddenly sniffled and asked, “Are you hurt?”
Yu Lu shook her head, “No.”
“Why is there the smell of blood then?” Yang Kai frowned.
Realising something, Grandma went over and touched Yu Lu’s pants, which felt damp and sticky. She then took a glance at her own palm and saw that it was covered in blood.
“You’re about to give birth!” Grandma declared confidently.
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai widened his mouth in disbelief while Yu Lu was also dumbfounded.
Grandma was an experienced woman, however, so she soon came to her senses, “The due date is not for another ten days. I guess the little one is eager to come out after sensing the fright you just went through. Yang Boy, go to the West of the town and tell the midwife to come over. I already told her about it some time ago. Just say that it’s me who invited her to come. Remember to give her a red envelope.”
“En,” Yang Kai replied and turned around before dashing into the rain.
Yu Lu yelled from behind, “Umbrella!”
However, Yang Kai was already nowhere to be seen.
“You’d better come into the room and lie down.” Grandma supported Yu Lu’s weight as they shuffled into the room. After Yu Lu was settled down, she started appearing to be in pain. It was apparent that her belly was aching.
After placating her in a gentle voice, Grandma hurriedly left to boil some water and get the things needed to deliver a child ready.
In the West of the town, Yang Kai arrived at a house and rapidly knocked on the door. He was both anxious and flustered.
Since he started cultivating, he had encountered countless life-and-death battles, but he had always managed to pull through even if his life was hanging by a thread. However, he had never witnessed a woman give birth before.
He was adept at killing, but he was a complete novice when it came to the birth of a new life. Although he had accidentally hatched Yang Xiao out of a Dragon Egg, he knew that it was very different from childbirth.
If Grandma had not been there to give him instructions, he wouldn’t have known what to do.
Given the fact that he was the owner of this Small Universe, and that he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, it wasn’t hard for Yang Kai to help a woman deliver a child in this place. However, he reckoned that a woman and a man who were not married were not supposed to come into such close contact. Furthermore, he came to realise that Yu Lu took her modesty and virtue seriously, so she definitely wouldn’t want that to happen. Hence, after receiving the order from Grandma, he rushed over to the West of the town without hesitation.
After Yang Kai knocked on the door for a long time, he finally heard some noises coming from the house. Given his hearing ability, he was aware that the person inside the house was cursing.
When the door was opened, a middle-aged woman stuck out her head. With a pair of sleepy eyes, she frowned at Yang Kai and yawned, “What’s wrong? Why did you knock on my door in the middle of the night?”
Yang Kai took a step back and cupped his fist, “I’m sorry, Madame. Lady Yu is about to give birth, so Grandma wants you to come over.”
“Lady Yu?” For a moment, the midwife didn’t remember who the person was, but she soon recalled it, “The woman from the East of the town?”
“Exactly.” Yang Kai hurriedly nodded.
The midwife nodded, “Grandma Zhou already told me about it. Isn’t her due date still a few days away? Why is she going to give birth tonight?”
“The rain is torrential tonight, and something happened to Lady Yu’s house. Perhaps she was too frightened, which is why the baby is coming earlier than expected.”
The midwife didn’t seem to be concerned as she was experienced in delivering babies. She then waved her hand and said, “Got it. You can go back now.”
“Aren’t you coming with me?” Yang Kai was shocked.
The midwife replied with a smile, “The child won’t come out so soon as she has just started showing signs of giving birth. Even if I go over now, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll attend to her in the morning.”
Upon finishing her words, she was ready to close the door.
Yang Kai immediately took a step forward and grabbed the door before saying anxiously, “Lady Yu had already started bleeding before I left. I’m worried that you can’t wait until morning!”
The midwife examined him and curled up her lips, “Why are you so concerned about the young lady? Are you the child’s Father?”
Yang Kai wasn’t in the mood to talk about such nonsense with her. Recalling the instructions given by Grandma Zhou, he fished out a packet of money and passed it to her, “Please lend her your assistance, Madame.”
The midwife took the packet and weighed it with her hand before putting it inside her pocket. She then said impatiently, “Just listen to me. I’m experienced in delivering babies. It won’t be too late when I go over in the morning. I’ll take up the responsibility if anything happens to her. Moreover, the rain is pouring right now, so how am I supposed to head over there? I’ll fall sick before I even reach her place.”
Yang Kai furrowed his brows, “Do you mean you’ll come if there’s no rain?”
The midwife scoffed, “What’s wrong? Do you think you can stop… the rain…?”
When she said the last word, the smile on her face disappeared and was replaced by shock. That was because the pouring rain stopped in an abrupt manner. Besides that, the dark clouds soon dissipated and revealed a bright Moon, which cast its glow down on the world.
The midwife looked up at the sky in confusion and puzzlement.
“Madame, a life is at stake!” Yang Kai stared fixedly at her while persuading her to come with him.
Both astounded and doubtful, the midwife gazed at him. Suddenly thinking of something, she shuddered and said in a flustered manner, “Wait a moment. I’ll get ready now.”
Yang Kai nodded.
Soon after, the midwife, who had now put on some proper clothing, rushed towards the East of the town alongside Yang Kai.
When they arrived at Grandma’s house, they could hear a shriek breaking through the darkness. Upon entering the place, Yang Kai yelled, “The midwife is here, Grandma!”
Grandma said, “Come in quickly!”
Yang Kai took a glance at the midwife, who shivered under his gaze, and dashed into the room as though she was afraid of him.
He could almost feel Yu Lu’s pain when he heard her wailing.
It never crossed his mind that a woman had to go through so much agony to give birth to a child, which made him realise the fragility of life and how hard it was to bring a new life into the world.
“Yang Boy, boil some water!” Grandma Zhou ordered from the back of the house.
Yang Kai grunted in response and went to the kitchen to boil some water.
An incense stick later, Grandma repeatedly took out a basin of bloodied water from the room and poured it into the ditch. On the other hand, Yu Lu’s voice gradually weakened.
Just then, the midwife was heard saying, “There’s nothing else I can do, Grandma Zhou. For a pregnant woman, it’s no different from heading towards death’s door when she’s having difficulty giving birth and bleeding excessively, yet Lady Yu is struck with both. Even a deity can’t save her now.”
“Can’t you think of anything else to help her?” Grandma asked anxiously.
The midwife replied, “What else can I do? Lady Yu might stand a chance to survive if we can invite a great expert from Seven Stars Sect over, but now… all I can say is that I can only try my best to save the child.”
“Seven Stars Sect is too far from here. There isn’t enough time.” Grandma shook her head inside the room. Her turbid eyes appeared dejected.
“Save… save my child…” Yu Lu’s voice was intermittent.
Outside the room, Yang Kai ordered in a small voice, “Mu Zhu, Mu Lu, go in to help her and stabilise her vitality.”
Upon hearing that, the two worried Wood Spirits, who had been sitting on his shoulders, instantly flapped their wings and dashed into the room in silence.
As a thought flashed through Yang Kai’s mind, a large amount of vitality in the Small Universe streamed into the room.
An hour later, a baby was heard crying so loudly that it was as though everyone in the world could hear it. In the meantime, a strange phenomenon took place in the sky as the Moonlight converged and beamed into Yu Lu’s room. The entire World seemed to be shaking.
However, with the interference from Yang Kai, no one else could notice the strange phenomenon other than himself.
“She successfully gave birth to the child!” The midwife sounded pleasantly surprised while Grandma let out a breath of relief.
Right then, Mu Lu flew out of the room in silence. Her reddened eyes suggested that she was deeply moved by the incident inside the room. She nodded at Yang Kai to mean that everything was fine, then returned to the room.
The people inside the room were still very busy. A moment later, the midwife shuffled out while giving some instructions to Grandma Zhou, “Don’t let her come into contact with water and wind for a month. She’s lucky enough to have escaped from death once, but if she doesn’t take good care of herself, she might be struck with health concerns.”
Grandma replied with a smile, “Although I’ve never given birth to a child before, I’m aware of the precautions we should take. Many thanks for saving her.”
The midwife initially wanted to get more money from her, but when she saw Yang Kai standing outside the room, she shuddered and hurriedly said, “Don’t mention it. It’s my job.”
Grandma looked up at Yang Kai and ordered, “Yang Boy, prepare another red envelope for her.”
A ready Yang Kai fished out a packet of money and passed it to her with both hands, “Many thanks, Madame.”
The midwife hurriedly waved her hands, “There’s no need for that. I’ve already taken a red envelope before, so I can’t take another one now.”
Upon finishing her words, she dashed out without turning her head.
Watching her leave, Grandma praised her by saying, “She’s indeed adept at delivering children. Lady Yu was about to leave this plane, but she was able to pull her through in the end. Not only was she fine, but her child has also been safely delivered. We can’t be stingy with this. You have to send her a red envelope later. She has saved two lives after all.”
“Alright, Grandma. Don’t worry, I’ll send it to her tomorrow.” Yang Kai quickly nodded, then said in a small voice, “Grandma, is it a boy or a girl?”
“It’s a boy.” Grandma put on a smile, “In that case, Lady Yu has given birth to a descendant for the Zhao Family. I’ll take care of her. You should get some rest since you were busy for the entire night.”
“You should get some rest as well, Grandma,” Yang Kai said caringly.
The next morning, Yang Kai went over to the midwife’s place and kept persuading her to accept the red envelope. Then, he left the town to catch some fish from the river.
When he returned, he saw Grandma leaving the house with the child as she said, “Lady Yu said it’s thanks to you who endured the pouring rain and invited the midwife over that she and her child were safe. She has no idea how to thank you, so she wants you to have a look at the child.”
Yang Kai hurriedly put down the fish and wiped his hands dry before carefully taking the child.
Perhaps the child was full, so he was presently sound asleep. There was no doubt that he was adorable.
While holding him in his arms, Yang Kai could clearly feel that the Space Dao Essence of his Small Universe perfectly matched the child’s aura. It was even slowly streaming into his little body.
Yang Kai had already realised it when the little one was still in his Mother’s womb; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so concerned about Yu Lu.
Grandma Zhou thought that he had his eyes on the young woman, but he was actually interested in her child the whole time; however, it was hard for him to explain such things.
[I’ve finally found a successor!] That was the idea that suddenly sprang into Yang Kai’s mind.
He had never expected he would gain such a benefit one day by raising living beings in his Small Universe. Given the fact that the child’s aura perfectly matched the Space Dao Essence, he definitely had the right to become Yang Kai’s Legacy Disciple. If the boy was talented and hardworking, he would one day stand on par with Yang Kai when it came to mastery over the Dao of Space.
Since Yang Kai was still young, he wasn’t in a rush to look for a Legacy Disciple; therefore, he had never thought about it before.
However, since a suitable successor had appeared, he wouldn’t mind spending some time to train him.
The child was born the day before, so his skin was still rather wrinkled. Yang Kai had never held such a petite baby in his arms before, so despite being a powerful Sixth-Order Open Heaven Master, he was presently quite flustered. He was worried that he might harm the child if he exerted a little more force.
To his side, Grandma Zhou instructed him on the correct way to carry a child, which made Yang Kai feel quite embarrassed.
“If you’re fine with it, you should give the child a name,” Grandma Zhou suddenly said.
A surprised Yang Kai asked, “Is it alright for me to do that?”
Although he intended to take on this child to be his Disciple, they were not related in any way after all. Hence, he didn’t think he had a right to name him.
Grandma Zhou pointed at the back room and explained, “It’s Lady Yu’s idea. She doesn’t know how to name a child, nor do I. The child’s Father suddenly passed away in an accident, and he hadn’t said anything about it before his death. So, you’ll have to do it. It seems that you did go to school before. Just help her out with it.”
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai stopped turning her down. After giving it a thought, he said, “The child was born at the break of dawn while the Sun was rising from the East. Why don’t I name him Ye Bai? Since his surname is Zhao, he’ll be Zhao Ye Bai!”
He spoke in a loud voice so that Yu Lu could hear him in the room.
Grandma nodded her head, “The break of dawn signifies the end of hardship. It’s an auspicious name. What do you think, Lady Yu?”
Yu Lu’s weakened voice was heard saying, “It’s decided, then. Many thanks, Big Brother Yang.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “It’s not really a good name. I hope he won’t blame me for that when he grows up.”
Yu Lu said, “I’m sure he won’t.”
Grandma took the child from Yang Kai, “The child is still young, so he can’t stay outside of the house for too long. I’ll take him back to the room.”
“I’ll cook the fish, then.” Yang Kai then picked up his catch and walked to the kitchen.
Following several years of development, Seven Stars Town had expanded significantly. With the presence of Seven Stars Sect, the town had attracted a lot of people to move in and settle down.
A group of kids were messing around at the moment. A boy and a girl, who were about seven or eight years old, were running at the front while they were being pursued by four to five kids. The kid leading the pursuing pack was furious as he hurled sand balls at the boy in front of him, he yelled, “Stop right there, Zhao Ye Bai!”
The angry boy was several years older, so not only was he stronger, but he could also throw things at his target accurately. A sandball the size of a fist struck the back of Zhao Ye Bai, who gasped in pain and almost fell to the ground.
While never stopping in his tracks though, he held the hand of the young girl beside him and charged forward. After he made a turn, he dashed towards a stall that sold sweet rice dumplings and snuck beneath the cart.
It was apparent that it wasn’t the first time he had done this.
When the older kids arrived, Zhao Ye Bai was nowhere to be seen. After searching around, they could only leave this place since their target wasn’t around.
“Come out,” Yang Kai, who had worked for half a day, wiped the grease off his hands and landed a gentle kick on the cart.
Two petite figures crawled out from beneath the cart. A bruised Zhao Ye Bai flashed a silly smile at Yang Kai.
The young girl looked at Zhao Ye Bai with reddened eyes and touched his bruises. In a choking voice, she asked, “Does it hurt, Big Brother Ye Bai?”
Zhao Ye Bai grimaced in pain, but he still replied steadfastly, “No, not at all.”
Hearing that, Yang Kai extended his hand and forcefully pinched the young boy’s face.
“Ouch! It hurts!” Zhao Ye Bai hurriedly begged for mercy. Then, he was worried that the young girl beside him would be concerned, so he patted his chest, “Don’t worry, Xiao Ya. I’ll be fine after a night’s sleep.”
In response, Zhao Ya nodded.
Seeing the young boy pretending to be tough in front of a girl, Yang Kai pursed his lips to stop himself from laughing.
Nevertheless, both Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya believed what the former said to be true. That was because regardless of how badly Zhao Ye Bai became bruised over the years, all his wounds would disappear after he had a night’s rest.
This fact amazed Yu Lu and Grandma Zhou as they thought that the young kid might possess some kind of extraordinary physique.
“How did you offend those guys?” Yang Kai asked while giving them a sweet rice dumpling each.
Zhao Ye Bai took the smaller one and munched on it while replying in a muffled voice, “I didn’t offend them. It was Miao Fei Ping and the others who wanted to bully Xiao Ya. They were being unreasonable!”
“And then you were beaten up?” Yang Kai gazed at him with a faint smile.
Zhao Ye Bai started flushing as he said in a bashful manner, “Mother told me that I couldn’t get into a fight, so I didn’t fight back. I ran away instead.”
“What if there’s no way you can run away one day?” Yang Kai questioned.
Zhao Ye Bai became startled for a moment, then put on a silly smile, “I don’t think that will ever happen. I’m a fast runner, and no one can catch me. Moreover, the Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect will begin in a few months. I’ll give it a try then. Mother said that if I manage to become a disciple of Seven Stars Sect, I’ll be able to cultivate, and I’ll become a cultivator!” He then balled up his fist and flashed a smile at Zhao Ya, “I’ll always protect you, Little Sister Ya.”
Zhao Ya put on a sweet smile and nodded.
All of a sudden, Zhao Ye Bai looked fervently at three passers-by, “Look, they’re from Seven Stars Sect!”
There were three people, one man and two women, who were passing by. While the man was handsome, the women were alluring. All of them were clad in white clothing that suggested that they were from Seven Stars Sect. They looked like pure snow lotuses.
Admiration and yearning were written all over Zhao Ye Bai’s face, “When I become a disciple of Seven Stars Sect, I can wear such clothing as well.” He then said to Zhao Ya, “You’ll be just as beautiful as them when you grow up, Xiao Ya.”
While munching on the sweet rice dumpling, Zhao Ya gently nodded, “When I grow up, I’ll marry you, Big Brother Ye Bai.”
Hearing that, Zhao Ye Bai started coughing violently as the sweet rice dumpling got stuck in his throat. He almost suffocated as a result. He then extended his hand and sought help from Yang Kai, “Give me some soup, Uncle Yang!”
“Take it slow.” Yang Kai was torn between tears and laughter. After passing the young boy a bowl of soup, he patted the latter’s back.
After the two little ones were done with the food, Yang Kai stroked the young boy’s head and said, “It’s getting late, so you should head home now. Don’t worry your Mother.”
“En.” Zhao Ye Bai rose from the chair and beckoned to Zhao Ya. The little ones then snuck into the crowd and disappeared.
A short while later, Yang Kai cleaned up the stall and wheeled his cart home.
Since two years ago, he started selling sweet rice dumplings on his own. Grandma Zhou was old after all, so she couldn’t really work too hard. That was the reason Yang Kai told her to stay home and let him handle the stall.
However, what made Grandma Zhou feel odd was that as time passed, she felt more energetic than before instead of getting weaker. She initially thought that her end would soon come, but it now seemed that she could live for another ten years with ease.
On the other hand, Grandma Zhou was very pleased with Yang Kai. The only complaint she had was that Yang Kai had never returned to his own home over the past few years. She was concerned about the wives he had in his hometown.
After all, many things could happen when a Husband was not around for such a long time.
Initially, Grandma Zhou would persuade Yang Kai to go home to have a look. If he wasn’t willing to leave his Wives there, he could bring them over. Seven Stars Town was bustling with people, and their sweet rice dumpling business was doing well. He could definitely provide for all his Wives; however, since Yang Kai wouldn’t listen to her no matter how many times she brought the issue up, she stopped persuading him.
Subconsciously, she thought that Yang Kai was just lying back then when he said that he had several Wives. Otherwise, a man couldn’t possibly leave his women in his hometown and ignore them. He didn’t seem like an irresponsible man after all.
When Yang Kai returned home, Grandma had already prepared a meal for him. She also took out a pot of fish soup and said, “Send it to Lady Yu. The kids are still growing, and it’s hard enough for her to raise them.”
“En,” Yang Kai replied and took the fish soup before sauntering towards Yu Lu’s house.
Her house was pretty close to Grandma Zhou’s place, which was the reason she looked for Grandma back then when the rain was pouring that night.
As soon as Yang Kai arrived at the front door, Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya rushed out of the house. The young boy took the soup and turned his head to shout, “Uncle Yang is here, Mother!”
A woman clad in simple clothes soon walked out of the house. She was none other than Yu Lu. From the looks of it, she was preparing a meal as there was a bit of ash on her fair face. A piece of cloth had been wrapped around her head as she said bashfully, “You’re here, Big Brother Yang.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Grandma prepared some fish soup and wanted me to send it to you.”
Yu Lu replied gratefully, “It’s you and Grandma Zhou who have been taking care of us over the years. I can’t say enough how grateful I am.”
Yang Kai said with a smile, “We’re neighbours, so stop being overly polite with us. Good, you should continue preparing your meal. I’ll head back now.”
All of a sudden, Yu Lu lifted her head and called out, “Big Brother Yang.”
Hearing that, Yang Kai turned around and gazed at her.
Yu Lu clenched her clothes as though she was trying to summon her courage. She then asked, “Why don’t you stay here to have a meal with us?”
Yang Kai waved his hand with a smile, “Next time, perhaps. Grandma has already prepared dinner for us.”
As Yu Lu watched the man leave, she let out a sigh. In fact, her intention was simple; she just wanted to treat her Big Brother Yang, who had helped her a lot over the years, to a meal that she had prepared. However, a widow could easily draw criticism for her actions, so she wouldn’t dare to make him stay in the past. Although she had made a request this time, she still didn’t have the courage to insist on it.
“It’d be wonderful if Uncle Yang was my Father,” Zhao Ye Bai suddenly said.
Yu Lu started blushing as she landed a knock on her son’s head, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
She had been the centre of gossip among the neighbours over the years. If others heard what her son had said, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name.
Zhao Ye Bai stuck out his tongue and pulled a face at his mother.
After taking the fish soup from her son, Yu Lu said, “Uncle Yang has always been good to you both. In fact, he gave you your names. Both of you must return his favour when you grow up. Understood?”
The kids nodded at the same time.
“Wash your hands before having your meal,” Yu Lu ordered. The kids instantly dashed into the house. She took one more look in the direction Yang Kai had left before shuffling into the house.
Yu Lu had never expected that she would have two kids, a son and a daughter, one day.
Zhao Ye Bai was her biological son. Although many years had passed, she had never forgotten about the night with torrential rain when she almost lost her life. Just when she was about to give up all hope, a warm force streamed into her body and ensured that she and her son remained safe.
One month after Zhao Ye Bai was born, Yu Lu heard a baby crying outside the house. Upon opening the door, she saw that an infant had been left there.
The infant was none other than Zhao Ya.
In fact, Yu Lu had never hidden the fact that Zhao Ya was adopted. Fortunately, the young girl was kind-hearted and understanding, so she never complained about her fate. Although she had experienced a lot of hardship with her adoptive Mother, she remained sanguine.
What Yu Lu wasn’t aware of was that Zhao Ya was sent to her by Yang Kai.
In fact, the young girl’s parents were still alive, but they preferred a boy to a girl. Barely after a few days Zhao Ya was born, and her Father secretly dumped her on a mountain.
The infant was mercilessly discarded before she could even see the world clearly.
As the owner of the Small Universe, Yang Kai inadvertently saw the sight when he was travelling nearby. Naturally, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to it.
Since Yu Lu had given birth to a child not long ago, he decided to put the infant down in front of her door. It wouldn’t make a difference to raise one more kid anyway. In that case, Zhao Ye Bai could have a companion.
Since the kids were raised together from birth, they could be said to be childhood sweethearts.
Meanwhile, in a house where the candlelight was flickering, Yang Kai was having dinner with Grandma Zhou.
Grandma appeared hesitant, but she couldn’t bring herself to say anything.
Seeing that, Yang Kai asked with a smile, “Is there anything you want to say, Grandma?”
In response, Grandma dipped her head, “Yes, but I’m not sure if I should say it.”
Yang Kai replied, “There’s nothing you can’t tell me, Grandma. Please speak your mind.”
“I’ll go ahead, then.” Grandma put down the chopsticks and stared seriously at him, “How do you find Lady Yu?”
With a solemn expression, Yang Kai replied, “She’s a demure, considerate, and kind-hearted woman. It’s just that life has been unkind to her.”
“Yes, she has suffered a lot over the years.” Suddenly recalling something, Grandma let out a sigh, “It’s said that men are most afraid of taking up the wrong careers while women are most worried of marrying the wrong men. In fact, Lady Yu’s previous man was not bad, but he passed away just like that after falling down the stairs. She has been a widow for years, and there’s no man to take care of her. She has even adopted a young girl. It makes it even harder for her to put food on the table.”
“If you don’t mind it, I’ll ask a matchmaker to come tomorrow.” Grandma Zhou gazed at Yang Kai with a caring expression, “You’re no longer a young boy, so you should build a family of your own.”
As they had spent many years together, she now believed that Yang Kai wasn’t serious when he said that he had several Wives. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have made such a suggestion.
Yang Kai didn’t intend to explain anything as he said, “Grandma, if a matchmaker really goes knocking on the door, Lady Yu will definitely chase her away. You probably shouldn’t bother.”
Upon hearing that, Grandma became startled for a moment, then sighed, “You’re right. Lady Yu… is a little obstinate.”
In fact, she had indirectly probed Yu Lu about it before. Yu Lu had been a single mother for years. She was naturally grateful to Yang Kai for taking care of them, especially when he treated Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya like his own kids; however, she was married once and had given birth to a child after all.
She wouldn’t have so many worries if she were just a single young lady. Now, she just wanted to focus on raising Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya. She wouldn’t dare to ask for anything else.
After they were done with dinner, Yang Kai cleaned up the mess while Grandma returned to her room to get some rest.
In the middle of the night, Yang Kai got to his feet and stepped out of the side room.
As a Second Class great force in the Void Continent, Seven Stars Sect had been doing well in recent years. That was because the Sect Master had chosen a very good location to build the Sect in the past. There were no proper great forces within a radius of 1,000 kilometres that could compete with them; therefore, the young children with excellent aptitudes around the area would all stream into Seven Stars Sect.
In the Void Continent, only great forces with Emperor Realm Masters assuming command could be called First Class. Seven Stars Sect didn’t have their own Emperor Realm Masters as the most powerful people were only in the Dao Source Realm. Although the Sect Master was a Third-Order Dao Source Realm Master, it would still take him a long time before he could make it to the Emperor Realm.
On this night, the Elders of Seven Stars Sect had gathered together to have a discussion about the Disciple Recruitment that would take place in a few months.
They would recruit new disciples every three years, and during this period of time, the Disciple Recruitment would become a major event in the surrounding region. Many of the Sects from other places would even send some people over to observe the event. That was why those from Seven Stars Sect wouldn’t dare to be negligent.
While these people were having a fervent discussion in the Main Hall, they suddenly felt a horrifying pressure descending from the sky.
Their expressions changed abruptly as they all rose from the chairs. The Sect Master of Seven Stars Sect, Shang Guan Ji, stepped out of the Main Hall and looked up at the darkness with a solemn expression. With his fist cupped, he shouted, “Seven Stars Sect, Shang Guan Ji, greets Honoured Senior. Forgive us for not greeting you sooner as we were unaware of your esteemed presence.”
The Elders and the Protectors behind him wore serious expressions as they could be heard gulping.
This couldn’t be helped, as it was apparent to them that this pressure was being released by an Emperor Realm Master.
Such a cultivator could be considered an overlord in the Void Continent. This kind of big shot was usually a Sect Master of a major Sect.
It was expected that they were shocked and doubtful since such a person visited their humble place in the middle of the night, and they were not even sure whether he was a friend or a foe. Fortunately, the person didn’t seem to have any ill intentions. The pressure soon disappeared as he didn’t intend to oppress them. He just wanted to reveal his identity as an Emperor Realm Master.
Just then, a figure stepped out of the darkness as they stared fixedly at him. It wasn’t until he came near them that they finally saw he was a young man who was clad in simple clothes.
The handsome man looked like he was only in his twenties or early thirties, but no one present would seriously believe he was really so young. There was no way a man of that age could’ve made it to the Emperor Realm.
The young man sported a smile as he nodded gently at them. Instead of appearing haughty, he seemed as pleasant as a spring breeze. He then said, “This King is Yang Kai. I’ve travelled across the Void Continent for decades, and when I passed by this place, I suddenly had a feeling of fate with this place, so I came over to have a look. Please pardon me if I’ve disturbed you in any way.”
Presently, the appearance of Yang Kai in front of Shang Guan Ji and the others was different from his true self.
It wasn’t that he had put on a disguise. In fact, his appearance hadn’t changed one bit. It was just that he had made use of his rights as the Master of this Small Universe and made them unable to see his true appearance.
There was a smile on Shang Guan Ji’s face as he spoke, “Senior has not disturbed us at all. We’re truly honoured to have Senior visit our Seven Stars Sect.”
Despite what he had said, his emotions were undulating in his heart.
The person in front of him had actually decided to visit this place on a whim. He didn’t doubt Yang Kai’s words, for the latter was an Emperor Realm Master. If Yang Kai wanted to make things difficult for Seven Stars Sect, no one could stop him. He could easily destroy them all and no one would say anything.
However, such an Emperor Realm Master must have detected something that prompted him to pay them a visit.
As they spoke, countless ideas went through Shang Guan Ji’s mind as he wondered what was inside Seven Stars Sect that could draw the attention of this Emperor Realm Master. What made him feel strange was that he had never heard of such an Emperor Realm Master in the Void Continent before.
There were only a small number of Emperor Realm Masters in this world, and every one of them was famous. Nevertheless, Shang Guan Ji had never heard of the name Yang Kai before.
Suppressing the doubts in his mind, he passionately invited Yang Kai to enter the Main Hall.
They couldn’t really continue discussing the Disciple Recruitment; after all, Seven Stars Sect was just a Second Class great force and an Emperor Realm Master had descended from the sky in the middle of the night to their home. They had no idea about his intentions, so they could only keep him company carefully. They were worried that a calamity would befall them if they offended him.
However, the atmosphere soon became harmonious and even a little cheerful.
That was because the Elders realised that this Senior Yang was a rather genial person. He didn’t put on airs just because he was an Emperor Realm Master, nor did he look down on them for being weaker. Initially, only the Sect Master of Seven Stars Sect, Shang Guan Ji, had the courage to chat with him; nonetheless, after Yang Kai answered some of his questions regarding cultivation, the others couldn’t contain their urge to make some inquiries.
Everyone would encounter problems when they cultivated, but without a powerful master to guide them, they could only fumble about on their own, uncertain whether they were proceeding in the right direction or not.
Now that Yang Kai was there to give them some advice, they felt as though they had been enlightened.
In just two hours, admiration was written all over the faces of those Seven Stars Sect’s Elders as they gazed at Yang Kai, whose seemingly nonchalant advice could undoubtedly save them a lot of time and effort in the future.
This was a huge favour to any cultivator.
Seeing that their questions were never-ending, Shang Guan Ji had no choice but to interrupt them, “Good, Senior Yang must be exhausted from his travels. You all should stop bothering him already.”
Although Yang Kai appeared to be patient, they shouldn’t be too greedy. They had gained a lot of insights on this night, and as long as they could digest them, they would achieve greater heights in their cultivation. Shang Guan Ji even had an idea about how to make it to the Emperor Realm now.
He then glanced at Yang Kai and said politely, “Senior, you said that you sensed you shared some fate with this place. Do you have your eyes on anything in Seven Stars Sect? Please speak freely, for we shall not turn you down as long as we’re able to give it to you.”
Since they had gained so many benefits from him, Shang Guan Ji wouldn’t be stingy. If there was anything in Seven Stars Sect that Yang Kai was interested in, he wouldn’t mind gifting it to him as a way to build a relationship.
Upon hearing that, Yang Kai pretended to make some calculations with his fingers while the others held their breaths. A myriad of expressions came over Yang Kai for a moment before he shook his head, “The time has yet to arrive.”
Shang Guan Ji replied with a smile, “There’s no rush since it’s not the right time. Senior is welcome to stay here in Seven Stars Sect. You can always tell this Junior when the time arrives.”
Yang Kai nodded, “In fact, I do have a request, but I’m not sure if you’ll agree to it, Sect Master Shang Guan.”
Shang Guan Ji replied, “Please speak freely, Senior.”
Yang Kai went on to say, “Since I migrated to the Void Continent in the past, this King has constantly been travelling and exploring. I’ve basically visited everywhere that can be visited. Since this place and I share some kind of fate, I’d like to settle down here.”
The people in the Main Hall were stunned while Shang Guan Ji became energetic and asked excitedly, “Senior… do you mean you wish to join Seven Stars Sect?”
All of them gasped as they widened their eyes in disbelief.
Yang Kai nodded gently, “I’m not sure if it’s convenient for you to let me stay in Seven Stars Sect. If not, please allow me to build a hut at the bottom of the mountain.”
“Of course we are more than happy to have Senior join Seven Stars Sect!” Shang Guan Ji stood straight up as he appeared agitated. His face radiated a pinkish glow as he said, “It is our honour that Senior is willing to grace our Seven Stars Sect with his presence. Why wouldn’t we feel pleased with it?”
The others in the hall nodded like chickens pecking at rice.
The person before their eyes was an Emperor Realm Master. Although they had no idea about his Order, he was one of the most powerful people in the Void Continent regardless of what it was. If he could join Seven Stars Sect, they would instantly become a First Class Sect.
Even if Yang Kai were an arrogant and unfriendly man, they wouldn’t have turned him down, not to mention that he was actually quite amiable. It made a huge difference to have an Emperor Realm Master around as their heritage would instantly increase. They wouldn’t mind paying a steep price to make this happen.
“Many thanks then, Sect Master.” Yang Kai smiled and nodded.
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Shang Guan Ji measured his words before saying, “It is our honour that Senior has decided to join Seven Stars Sect. Given your cultivation, how does assuming the post of Ancestor sound?”
Yang Kai didn’t turn him down. Since he was a Sixth-Order Open Heaven Realm Master, he was more than qualified to become the Ancestor of a small Sect that didn’t even have an Emperor Realm Master. He thus nodded, “Good.”
At that instant, Shang Guan Ji and the others rose from the chairs and cupped their fists in salute, “Greetings, Ancestor!”
Yang Kai said, “En, I shall humbly accept the position of Ancestor of Seven Stars Sect. Since this is a joyous occasion, I shall deliver you a small gift.”
He then extended his hand and pointed at the front.
When they looked up, they felt as though his finger had gently landed on their foreheads. Following that, a gentle force streamed into their bodies through their glabellas. They instantly felt warmth all over their bodies as their Source Qi began circulating smoother. Besides that, after the gentle force entered their bodies, countless ideas started flashing through their minds as they were suddenly able to comprehend things that they couldn’t in the past.
One Elder in particular, who had been stuck in the First-Order Dao Source Realm for many years, suddenly shook as he instantly achieved a breakthrough to the Second-Order Dao Source Realm.
By just extending his finger, Yang Kai had helped this old man achieve a breakthrough to the Second-Order Dao Source Realm. Such a strange incident was absolutely unheard of.
The people in the Main Hall became even more respectful of him, while the Elder in question bent his back so low he nearly fell over as he said in a shaking voice, “Many thanks for this enormous grace, Ancestor!”
His aptitude was not particularly outstanding, and he was pretty old now. Initially, he thought that the First-Order Dao Source Realm would be the limit in his lifetime, with no way he could improve further. Hence, it came as a total shock to have achieved a breakthrough to the Second Order. He even had a feeling that if he worked hard, he might stand a chance to make it to the Third Order.
To him, such a favour was no different from being granted a second life, and all the others were naturally envious of him.
“It’s all thanks to your accumulation over the years. I only stimulated your potential a little.” Yang Kai put on a smile, then gazed at Shang Guan Ji, “Sect Master, please keep it a secret that I’ve become the Ancestor of Seven Stars Sect.”
Shang Guan Ji became startled upon hearing that. Although he didn’t understand the reason behind it, he still nodded respectfully, “Don’t worry, Ancestor. Only the people in this hall will be aware of it. No one else will find out.”
He couldn’t help but think that it was such a shame. Initially, he intended to launch a public campaign to inform everyone that there was now an Ancestor in Seven Stars Sect. Once word spread, the Sect would be considered First Class, which would allow them to be regarded as important in the Void Continent.
However, since the new Ancestor had decided to keep his presence a secret, he could only obey his order.
Since it was very late now, Shang Guan Ji told a female Elder with an hourglass figure to lead Yang Kai to a Spirit Peak. He had somewhat figured out the temperament of this new Ancestor, who preferred peace and quiet over fanfare and glory; therefore, he decided to let him stay on the slightly remote Azure Jade Peak.
Seven Stars Sect had a total of thirty-eight Spirit Peaks, with Azure Jade Peak ranking somewhere in the middle and being pretty remote, so no one had actually been interested in it.
With that said, Yang Kai was satisfied after he moved in. This allowed Shang Guan Ji to breathe a sigh of relief.
Everything went well for the next few months. The new Ancestor was living a reclusive life on Azure Jade Peak and rarely stepped out of his home.
Shang Guan Ji finally became slightly at ease. When he was told to keep it a secret that Yang Kai had become the Ancestor of Seven Stars Sect, he was worried that the man might have some powerful enemies that would try to retaliate against him. In that case, it would be disastrous for their Sect.
Now, it seemed that his worries were unfounded. Moreover, after several months of observation, he realised that Yang Kai didn’t have any ill intentions. He really seemed to be tired of travelling around the continent, so he decided to look for a place and settle down and rest.
There was no doubt that this was good news for Seven Stars Sect. Although they were unable to reveal that there was an Emperor Realm Master with them, the Elders had more confidence to deal with any issues they might face now that they had a powerful backer.
Since Shang Guan Ji was aware that the Ancestor was fond of serenity, he issued orders that no one should disturb him without permission.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai still sold sweet rice dumplings in Seven Stars Town every day. His presence in the Small Universe was a manifestation of his Soul Avatar anyway, so it made no difference if there was one or two of him.
A few months later, the Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect that took place every three years finally commenced. The surrounding 1,000 kilometres radius was abuzz with activity and many cultivators from further afar came to visit Seven Stars Town.
At the entrance of the town, Yang Kai was standing there while watching Yu Lu adjust the clothes of the young children. She told them to be obedient after they left the town. It would be wonderful if they could become the disciples of Seven Stars Sect; however, even if they were not accepted, they didn’t have to feel dejected.
The two kids nodded in response.
A moment later, Yu Lu took the hands of Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya as she shuffled towards Yang Kai and said with reddened eyes, “Please take care of them, Big Brother Yang.”
Yang Kai put on a grin, “Don’t worry, Lady Yu. I won’t let anything happen to them. If they’re accepted into the Seven Stars Sect, I’ll come back and tell you about it. If they are rejected, I’ll bring them back safely.”
Yu Lu nodded, then gently pushed the young kids forward, “Go now.”
The young kids turned around and wrapped their arms around Yu Lu, who covered her mouth while shaking slightly.
Yang Kai looked into the distance as he couldn’t help but think that his parents might feel the same way every time he had to leave them.
Even after the trio had moved a long distance, they turned around and still saw a petite figure looking at them from the entrance of the town.
Seven Stars Town was basically a satellite town of Seven Stars Sect, so there was only a distance of about fifty kilometres between the two places.
While carrying a backpack, Yang Kai held the hands of the young kids as he sauntered towards Seven Stars Sect.
Just then, they heard the sound of a horse carriage approaching them from behind, so they stepped aside. When the carriage was passing them by, a young kid, who was about ten years old, stuck out his head and wielded his fist at Zhao Ye Bai, “Hey, I don’t want to see you in Seven Stars Sect; otherwise, I’ll definitely beat you up.”
Zhao Ye Bai pulled a face at him while Zhao Ya picked up a stone from the ground and forcefully hurled it forward, which caused the boy to instantly flinch.
With a smile, Yang Kai watched as the young kids messed around. He could recognise the boy in the carriage, who had chased after Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya a few months ago. The two of them had to sneak beneath his cart to shake off their pursuer. He was the brat from the Miao Family, Miao Fei Ping. There was no doubt that he was wealthier than the two kids beside Yang Kai, and he had an excellent aptitude.
In fact, when an Elder from Seven Stars Sect left the mountain and inadvertently came across Miao Fei Ping two months ago, he decided to take him on as a Disciple on the spot. This time, Miao Fei Ping just had to go through the registration process. Unlike Zhao Ye Bai, whose fate was uncertain, Miao Fei Ping could definitely join Seven Stars Sect.
The area in front of Seven Stars Sect was crammed with people as they had all come to try their luck. Their ages varied; there were some people who were as young as Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya, while there were also those who were in their early twenties.
It took Yang Kai a long time before he managed to help the young kids register their names. Every participant was given a Wooden Token with a number written on it. Before the test started, Zhao Ya looked fixedly at a hawker who sold candied hawthorns, which were deathly attractive to her.
Yang Kai went over and bought three sticks. While squatting in the corner, they were pleased with the taste of the food. As the young kids exchanged glances, they smiled at each other.
“Uncle Yang, what if I’m not accepted?” Zhao Ye Bai was suddenly worried about his future.
Yang Kai replied nonchalantly, “You’re still very young. Even if you fail, you can come again next time.”
On the other hand, Zhao Ya was very confident that Zhao Ye Bai would succeed, “Big Brother Ye Bai will definitely be accepted.”
Zhao Ye Bai grinned, “You’ll succeed as well, Xiao Ya.”
Right then, Miao Fei Ping appeared out of nowhere and said to Zhao Ye Bai, “Just give up. Look at how bony your arms are. There’s no way you’ll be accepted!”
There was a drumstick in his hand. While he was enjoying his food, his mouth covered in grease.
Zhao Ya narrowed her eyes as her murderous intent surged. She was chewing the candied hawthorns so loudly that it was as though she was biting Miao Fei Ping’s head instead.
Miao Fei Ping’s neck shrank as he put on a meek smile, “I’m sure you’ll succeed, Little Sister Ya. If I were a senior expert from the mountain, I would take you on as a disciple regardless of what it takes.”
After finishing his words, he left the place in a hurry.
Zhao Ya placated her companion by saying, “Don’t listen to him, Big Brother Ye Bai. Nothing good will ever come out of Miao Fei Ping’s mouth.”
“You’re right.” Zhao Ye Bai nodded repeatedly, “I don’t care whatever he says. Hahaha!”
There were many tests during the Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect, and many people would be knocked out after each test. Those who had passed were ecstatic while those who had failed appeared dispirited.
Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya were busy for the entire day. When they returned in the evening, their soles were covered in blisters.
“How was it?” Yang Kai asked.
Zhao Ye Bai appeared elated, “Uncle Yang, you know, Xiao Ya got an A Rank in her overall evaluation.”
“Is A Rank very good?” Yang Kai arched his brow.
Zhao Ye Bai made a gesture, “Very, very good! I heard that there were over 1,000 people who have taken part in the Disciple Recruitment, but only ten people have obtained an A Rank in the overall evaluation.”
“You’re indeed incredible, Xiao Ya. You’re one of those people who got the best result.” Yang Kai patted the young girl’s head with a smile.
However, Zhao Ya forced a smile as it seemed that she wasn’t joyful.
“What about you?” Yang Kai asked the young boy.
Zhao Ye Bai chuckled, “I’m much weaker than Xiao Ya as I only got a C Rank. Still, I passed the tests.”
Zhao Ya hurriedly said, “It’s fine. The aptitude test tomorrow is more important. The tests prior to that didn’t matter.”
Following a nod, Zhao Ye Bai replied, “You’re right. We’ll only be able to join Seven Stars Sect if we pass the test tomorrow. Anyway, I’m very confident.”
It was then that Zhao Ya put on a sincere smile.
Those from Seven Stars Sect didn’t prepare a place where the participants could get some rest; therefore, the group of three found a clean place and slept on the ground.
Zhao Ye Bai must have been exhausted, so he dozed off almost immediately.
In the middle of the night, Yang Kai opened his eyes and took a glance at Zhao Ya, who was seated with her legs crossed while she had pressed her palms together in a serious manner. He gently flicked her forehead and asked, “What are you doing up at this hour?”
Zhao Ya hurriedly placed a finger between her lips, then explained bashfully, “Aunty Lu and Grandma always say that there’s an almighty Lord who knows about everything in this world. So, I want the Lord to bless Big Brother Ye Bai and make sure that he’ll pass the test tomorrow. He always tells me that he wants to join Seven Stars Sect after all.”
Yang Kai smiled helplessly, “The aptitude of a person is decided at birth. There’s no way the Lord can bless him.”
Zhao Ya pursed her lips, “What kind of an all-powerful Lord is that if he can’t even grant such a simple wish?”
Yang Kai was lost for words, thinking that the Lord would be exhausted if he had to be concerned about every minor matter like this.
“Let’s sleep now.” Yang Kai decided not to delve into this topic.
“Alright,” Zhao Ya replied and lay on the ground.
However, Yang Kai soon heard her muttering under her breath. It was apparent that she was still secretly praying.
The next morning, the aptitude test of Seven Stars Sect’s Disciple Recruitment, which was the last of all tests, finally began.
This was also the simplest test. There was a round platform on the square. A participant just had to stand on it, and his or her aptitude would be evaluated.
The participants stepped onto it one by one as the platform radiated glows of different intensities. The Elders from Seven Stars Sect would observe it from the side. They would either let a participant pass the test or eliminate them during the process.
Yang Kai was waiting among the crowd alongside Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya. The kids were apparently nervous. Every time someone passed the test, they would appear envious, and when a person was knocked out, they would appear worried.
The aptitude test on this day was the most important test of all. Regardless of how excellent a person’s evaluation was prior to that, they would still be knocked out if they failed this assessment.
Moreover, the success rate was pretty low. Only two to three out of ten people could pass. Also, their Ranks were generally pretty low.
Around midday, a voice was heard calling out, “No. 763, Miao Fei Ping!”
Upon hearing that, Miao Fei Ping emerged from the crowd. Despite his young age, he was pretty agile. Upon stepping onto the platform, he politely saluted the cultivators from Seven Stars Sect who were responsible for administering the test. He then closed his eyes and steadied his breathing.
The next instant, the platform glowed intensely.
Everyone was amazed by the sight as the cultivators responsible for observing the results all rose from the chairs at the same time. While appearing excited, they looked fervently at Miao Fei Ping, who was in the middle of the platform.
“A Rank! The intensity of the glow suggests that his aptitude must be of A Rank!”
“Is there really a disciple with A Rank aptitude who will join us?”
The already amazed crowd became astounded upon hearing that. It was apparent to them that Miao Fei Ping had an extraordinary aptitude as the people getting tested prior to him were not able to make the platform glow so brightly; however, they were just onlookers after all. Given their eyesight, they were unable to judge Miao Fei Ping’s exact aptitude.
It wasn’t until they heard the cultivators from Seven Stars Sect that they realised his aptitude was of A Rank.
It had to be noted that many people had been tested already, and the person with the best result had only achieved B Rank. Although A Rank and B Rank were only one Rank apart, the achievements they would make in the future were drastically different. A person with A Rank aptitude would definitely make it to the Emperor Realm one day if they didn’t lose their life along the way.
On the stand, the Sect Master of Seven Stars Sect, Shang Guan Ji, couldn’t help but smile while stroking his beard.
Just then, an elderly man, who was seated beside him, spoke up, “Sect Master Shang Guan, this Old Master feels a predestined fate with this young boy, and would like to take him on as my Legacy Disciple. Would Sect Master Shang Guan be willing to part with him?”
The smile on Shang Guan Ji’s face instantly froze.
The Elders of Seven Stars Sect were not the only onlookers on the stand. There were also some powerful cultivators from other Sects that they were on good terms with who had come over to watch the fun.
Seven Stars Sect was a Second Class Sect, and the Sects they were friendly with were also of the same Class. Since they were equally matched, it was inconceivable that someone would make such a rude demand just because there was a young boy with exceptional aptitude. Such a person was basically trying to snatch their prized disciple from them.
However, this elderly man was a little different. He was an Emperor Realm Master from a First Class Sect who had been a guest at a different Sect some time ago. Upon hearing that a Disciple Recruitment was going on, he decided to tag along to watch the show. He only came here to find some small amusement, so it surprised him greatly to find a boy with such great aptitude.
Even the First Class Sects didn’t have a lot of disciples with A Rank aptitude. If he could bring this child back with him, it would strengthen the overall power of his Sect.
The faces of the Elders from Seven Stars Sect instantly fell when they heard this; however, since the visitor was an Emperor Realm Master, they wouldn’t dare to rebuke him lest he felt offended.
The representatives from other Sects appeared gleeful. Even though their Sects were on good terms with Seven Stars Sect, they wouldn’t want to see them getting a disciple with A Rank aptitude. If Seven Stars Sect managed to become a First Class Sect in the future, they would become inferior to them.
Hence, they were more than happy to see the disciple with A Rank aptitude getting taken away by someone else.
Shang Guan Ji straightened his face and replied, “To be honest with you, Senior Shen, this child was taken on as a Disciple by our Elder Guan Qian Xing two months ago. He’s just going through the recruitment tests as a formality.”
To the side, Guan Qian Xing rose from the chair and saluted Shen Xing, “That is indeed the case.”
Shen Xing frowned with displeasure; however, he was an Emperor Realm Master after all, so he couldn’t really press the issue. If the boy had not been already taken on as a Disciple, it would be fine to snatch him as he could just offer some compensation to Seven Stars Sect at a later time. They wouldn’t really dare to rebuke or refuse him; however, since a Master and Disciple relationship had already been established, he would appear oppressive and immoral if he tried to take the child away. If word got out, both he and his Sect would lose a lot of face.
After weighing the pros and cons, he nodded, “Since the child is already your Disciple, Elder Guan, I’ll not insist. Congratulations on obtaining a Disciple with such exceptional aptitude.”
“Many thanks for your kindness, Senior Shen.” Shang Guan Ji put on a smile as he was finally relieved.
If Shen Xing insisted on taking the child away, those from Seven Stars Sect would be unable to oppose him unless they asked their new Ancestor to come forward.
However, over the past months, the Ancestor had been living in seclusion as he seemed determined to keep a low profile. Despite being the Sect Master, Shan Guan Ji also hadn’t managed to see him once since the night he arrived; therefore, he didn’t have the confidence to make the Ancestor stand up for their Sect in this moment.
Since Shen Xing was willing to make a concession, a conflict was avoided.
The Elders from Seven Stars Sect congratulated Guan Qian Xing, who responded with a smile. Although he was already aware that Miao Fei Ping had good aptitude, he had no idea about the details since no test had been conducted at the time. He was pleasantly surprised on this day since Miao Fei Ping was revealed to have A Rank aptitude.
Soon, a detailed report was sent to them. No. 763, Miao Fei Ping, Seven Stars Town. His aptitude was revealed to be A-, while his overall evaluation was also A-.
This kind of aptitude was rarely seen across the entire Void Continent. There was no doubt that Miao Fei Ping was the best disciple that those from Seven Stars Sect had ever accepted.
Shang Guan Ji and the other Elders were naturally over the Moon.
Meanwhile, Miao Fei Ping left the platform and walked up to Zhao Ye Bai to brag about his achievements, causing Zhao Ya to bare her fangs in protest.
On the other hand, Zhao Ye Bai was completely unfazed as he sincerely congratulated him. This made Miao Fei Ping feel displeased as there wasn’t a tinge of jealousy on Zhao Ye Bai’s face. It was as if he swung his fist hard, only to punch a pile of cotton.
More disciples were then tested, and some of the people were revealed to have B Rank aptitude; however, Miao Fei Ping was practically the centre of attention now, so they didn’t look very outstanding. If Miao Fei Ping hadn’t been around, these disciples with B Rank aptitude would’ve been valued more highly by the Elders.
“No. 896, Zhao Ye Bai!”
Upon hearing that, Zhao Ye Bai, who had been waiting, took a deep breath.
“Go on,” Yang Kai gently pushed him.
“Don’t worry, Big Brother Ye Bai. You’ll be fine,” Zhao Ya encouraged him from behind.
Zhao Ye Bai waved his hand without turning his head, then shuffled towards the platform.
After saluting the people from Seven Stars Sect, he steadied his breathing just like everyone else had done before him.
Zhao Ya stared fixedly at Zhao Ye Bai while balling up her fists, her fingers practically digging deep into her flesh.
Just then, a very dim glow was seen, and it disappeared three breaths later.
The cultivators from Seven Stars Sect had a discussion for a moment before one of them announced, “Zhao Ye Bai, aptitude C-. Pass!”
On the platform, Zhao Ye Bai leaped into the air as though he had just won a million silver coins.
As long as a person was revealed to have an aptitude of B Rank or C Rank, they could join Seven Stars Sect; after all, those from Seven Stars Sect had knocked many people out the day before, so they wouldn’t turn down the ones who were left as long as their aptitude wasn’t too weak. However, people with weaker aptitudes would certainly be treated differently, and they would have fewer achievements in the future as well.
For a disciple like Zhao Ye Bai who had C- aptitude, he would only be the lowliest of disciples in Seven Stars Sect even though he was accepted.
Despite that, he was incredibly pleased with this.
He then returned with an excited expression as he reported to Zhao Ya and Yang Kai, “Uncle Yang, Xiao Ya, I passed the test! I passed!”
Yang Kai stroked the young boy’s head while Zhao Ya put on a beautiful smile. Imitating an adult, she saluted him and said, “Congratulations on having your dream come true, Big Brother Ye Bai.”
To the side, Miao Fei Ping was stunned as he pursed his lips together bitterly and muttered, “Your aptitude is only C-, but you look so ecstatic that it’s as though you were an A Rank.”
“My Mother always says that a person will only be truly happy by not being greedy, Senior Brother Miao.”
Miao Fei Ping refuted with displeasure, “I’m not your Senior Brother. Stop calling me that.”
Zhao Ye Bai sported a silly smile, “We’ll be the disciples of the same Sect, and you’re older than I am, so, of course, you’re my Senior Brother.”
Miao Fei Ping parted his lips, but he was unable to refute him. A moment later, he said angrily, “Don’t think that I’ll stop beating you up just because you call me Senior Brother. You’d better work hard and cultivate. If you can’t protect Little Sister Ya in the future, I’ll do it in your stead.”
“I’ll definitely cultivate hard so that you don’t have to do that, Senior Brother Miao,” Zhao Ye Bai stuck out his chest.
Just then, a person was heard calling out from the platform, “No. 897, Zhao Ya!”
“It’s your turn, Xiao Ya,” Zhao Ye Bai turned his head and said.
Zhao Ya nodded and sauntered forward. A worried Zhao Ye Bai advised her by saying, “Don’t fret. Just empty your mind and stand there.”
“En.” Zhao Ya dipped her head.
Despite what he just said, Miao Fei Ping acted like a Senior Brother, walked up to Zhao Ye Bai, and asked him seriously, “What if Little Sister Ya fails the test?”
Zhao Ye Bai replied, “That will never happen. Little Sister Ya has always been intelligent. Her aptitude must be greater than mine.”
“I’m saying what if!” Miao Fei Ping glared at him.
After giving it a serious thought, Zhao Ye Bai said, “I won’t join Seven Stars Sect, then. I’ll go home with Xiao Ya.”
Miao Fei Ping widened his mouth in shock as he gazed at him, “Don’t you always say that you’re determined to join Seven Stars Sect? Wasn’t it your dream to become a powerful cultivator one day?”
Zhao Ye Bai put on a smile, “It’s another dream of mine to see Xiao Ya growing up happy.”
Miao Fei Ping fell silent for a moment, then patted the younger boy’s shoulder as though he was a very mature person, “I’m inferior to you in this regard.”
Zhao Ye Bai stared at him in shock, “You have exceptional aptitude, and you’re from a wealthy family. Why would you be inferior to me in any way?”
Miao Fei Ping couldn’t help but roll his eyes. Just when he was about to speak, a brilliant light exploded from the platform. The glow was so dazzling that everyone present had no choice but to close or avert their eyes.
The glow soon expanded and spilled over the platform to engulf the crowd. Even the Masters on the stand were affected.
The dazzling light didn’t seem to be going out anytime soon.
Everyone fell into a commotion.
The cultivators from Seven Stars Sect who were responsible for observing the results bent forward as they widened their eyes in disbelief.
On the stand, Shang Guan Ji, the Elders of Seven Stars Sect, and the representatives from other Sects all rose from the chairs at the same time, utterly flabbergasted.
When Miao Fei Ping was tested on his aptitude earlier, the platform also radiated a dazzling glow. Following that, he was revealed to have an aptitude of A-, which was unprecedented in the history of Seven Stars Sect, instantly making him the centre of attention. The top cultivators from other Sects, as well as the onlookers, were all amazed.
However, after Zhao Ya went on stage, the platform radiated an even more dazzling light for an even longer time.
Right then, someone from the crowd exclaimed, “It’s another person with A Rank aptitude!”
Even the ordinary people who had never cultivated before could see that Zhao Ya had caused a greater commotion than Miao Fei Ping, who was revealed to have an aptitude of A-. Hence, how Heaven-defying must Zhao Ya’s aptitude be?
It was certain that her aptitude must be A Rank, but they were not sure whether it would be A or A+.
After more than a dozen breaths of time, the light finally went out, but the crowd remained stunned as they stared dazedly at the petite figure on the platform. It was as though they saw a new Star rising into the sky.
It wasn’t until this moment that Zhao Ya opened her eyes. She appeared puzzled as she had no idea what just happened. As her eyes met with those of Zhao Ye Bai, she flashed a sweet smile at him.
Before those from Seven Stars Sect announced the result, she was getting ready to leave the stage.
“Wait a moment, Junior Sister!” A cultivator from Seven Stars Sect hurriedly stopped her.
“What’s wrong?” Zhao Ya gazed at him with vigilance.
The cultivator was already drenched in sweat as he suppressed his shock and put on a harmless smile, “Don’t be nervous, Junior Sister. It’s just that your aptitude is so exceptional that we’re unable to make an immediate judgement. The result will be decided by the Elders, so please wait here for a while.”
He was extremely polite, as though he was facing an Elder or the Sect Master instead of a young girl who was only seven or eight years old.
Given her Heaven-defying aptitude though, there was no doubt that this young girl had a bright future ahead of her. Perhaps it would only take her a few years before she became someone he could only look up to, which was why this cultivator wouldn’t dare to be negligent.
If he said something wrong now, he would have no way to survive in the future.
On the stand, the Elders from Seven Stars Sect were flushing as they came together to discuss the aptitude of Zhao Ya using their Divine Senses.
Meanwhile, Shang Guan Ji stared fixedly at Zhao Ya as he almost cried tears of joy. First, Miao Fei Ping came as a surprise during the Disciple Recruitment, and now there was Zhao Ya. He reckoned that their Sect had been blessed by the Lord.
Given the aptitude Miao Fei Ping had showcased, there was no doubt he would be able to make it to the Emperor Realm in the future, and it was the same case for No. 897, Zhao Ya.
In the future, there would be two Emperor Realm Masters in Seven Stars Sect. Their Sect would become peerless in the Void Continent.
Soon, the outcome of the discussion among the Elders was decided. Guan Qian Xing walked up to Shang Guan Ji and spoke to him close to his ear.
Shang Guan Ji nodded gently, then announced, “No. 897, Zhao Ya, Seven Stars Town. Aptitude, A+, overall evaluation, A+.”
She had obtained a double A+.
Miao Fei Ping, who achieved double A- prior to this, paled in front of her.
Still, there was a helpless smile on Shang Guan Ji’s face. If Zhao Ya was evaluated properly, her aptitude would definitely be higher than A+; however, since A+ was already the limit, they were unable to give her a better result.
All of a sudden, he recalled a rumour that there was a higher Martial Dao above the Emperor Realm; however, since his cultivation was still fairly weak, he was unable to confirm the truth behind such information.
While Miao Fei Ping would certainly make it to the Emperor Realm, Zhao Ya might be able to bring Seven Stars Sect to unprecedented heights.
Shang Guan Ji couldn’t help but wonder what the Realm that was above the Emperor Realm would look like. Perhaps Zhao Ya would be able to unravel the mystery for him in his lifetime.
“Sect Master Shang Guan, I suppose this little girl hasn’t become a Disciple of any of your Elders yet.”
When Shang Guan Ji heard the voice, he was shocked as the pleasant surprise on his face transformed into horror.
While he was overwhelmed by ecstasy just now, he had forgotten about Shen Xing’s presence.
This person was already interested in Miao Fei Ping earlier. Fortunately, Miao Fei Ping had already been taken on as a Disciple by Guan Qian Xing two months ago and was just going through the formalities by taking part in the recruitment tests. That was the reason Shen Xing didn’t make things difficult for them as he still had to consider his status.
But now, Zhao Ya showcased an aptitude that far exceeded that of Miao Fei Ping’s, so it was expected that Shen Xing would be tempted.
Nevertheless, Shang Guan Ji would never be willing to let go of a young child who might bring Seven Stars Sect to the peak of the World. At that moment, countless ideas flashed through his mind, but just when he was ready to lie to Shen Xing despite knowing that he would offend him, he was suddenly engulfed in Emperor Pressure.
Regardless of how hard Shang Guan Ji tried, he was unable to tell a lie as he forced a smile and muttered, “No.”
The pressure then dissipated as though it had never been there.
Shen Xing smiled and nodded, “That’s wonderful. This Old Master believes he shares fate with this young girl, and would like to bring her back to my Sect. Sect Master Shang Guan won’t mind parting with her, yes?”
Shang Guan Ji almost had the urge to curse. This shameless old fart seemed to ‘share fate’ with any young child with exceptional aptitude. When he mentioned Miao Fei Ping just now, he still had the courtesy to ask Shang Guan Ji whether the latter was willing to give the Disciple to him, but when it came to Zhao Ya, he directly demanded to get the young girl.
He was basically snatching their disciple from them in broad daylight.
Seeing that Shang Guan Ji remained silent, Shen Xing sported a dark expression, “What’s wrong, Sect Master Shang Guan? Do you have no regard for this Old Master?”
A middle-aged man, who was seated beside Shen Xing, spoke up at that moment, “Brother Shang Guan, it’s understandable that you value such a talented young child, but Seven Stars Sect is too small. On the other hand, Senior Shen’s Southern Star Palace is one of the top forces in the Void Continent. Young Zhao Ya will definitely become very successful in the future, but Seven Stars Sect is too small to accommodate her. Only a place like Southern Star Palace could truly allow her to shine.”
Shen Xing had practically tagged along with this Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to the Disciple Recruitment of a Sect like Seven Stars Sect.
At this moment, Shang Guan Ji was resentful of the Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect. If this guy hadn’t brought Shen Xing with him, all this wouldn’t have happened.
Despite his sincere words, he actually had ulterior motives. It was already giving him a headache that Miao Fei Ping was joining Seven Stars Sect. If there was also Zhao Ya, the Second Class great forces around Seven Stars Sect wouldn’t be able to survive.
When these two disciples grew to be powerful one day, Golden Spring Sect would surely be oppressed by Seven Stars Sect.
Shang Guan Ji was aware that he wouldn’t be able to keep Zhao Ya, but he still wasn’t willing to give her to Shen Xing.
With displeasure written all over his face, Shen Xing snorted.
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect persuaded again by saying, “Brother Shang Guan, it’s said that an ordinary man is innocent, but treasures make him guilty. Zhao Ya’s aptitude is so exceptional that it is simply unheard of. It would be fine if Seven Stars Sect was able to protect her; however, just like my Golden Spring Sect, your Sect is just a Second Class great force. This news will undoubtedly spread across the entire Void Continent in no time. By then, rather than making your Sect thrive, this young girl will only bring disaster. Although Senior Shen has some selfishness in trying to take on this young girl to be his Disciple, he is also indirectly doing your Sect a great favour. Please think twice, Brother Shang Guan.”
To the side, Shen Xing stroked his beard and nodded as though he was really trying to help Seven Stars Sect.
A myriad of expressions came over Shang Guan Ji. Even though the Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect was acting maliciously, that didn’t mean what he said was entirely false.
Miao Fei Ping alone wouldn’t prompt those First Class Sects to make a move, but Zhao Ya was different.
If he invited trouble to Seven Stars Sect just because he wanted to keep Zhao Ya, he wouldn’t be able to take responsibility as the Sect Master.
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect declared firmly, “Brother Shang Guan, do you really want Seven Stars Sect to be destroyed just for a moment’s impulse?”
Shang Guan Ji, who had been trying to act tough, suddenly became dejected, as though he had aged by several dozen years. He let out a sigh since he was unable to turn things around. Just when he was preparing to give in, he suddenly looked in the direction of Azure Jade Peak.
At the same time, Shen Xing also lifted his head.
They could see a figure strolling through the sky towards them, his voice echoing around them even before he even arrived, “The fated time has come! It was worth waiting for a few months!”
Shang Guan Ji was filled with joy as he hurriedly rose from his seat.
The person, who looked like a descending Immortal, landed in front of Zhao Ya and looked down at her with a faint smile.
Without feeling fearful at all, Zhao Ya stared back at him.
At that moment, she was only thinking that this person looked familiar to her as his figure was similar to that of Uncle Yang.
When Yang Kai showed up in Seven Stars Sect several months ago, he used a trick and changed his appearance in the eyes of others.
Therefore, even though this Soul Avatar of his in front of Zhao Ya looked exactly the same as his true self, he appeared to be a different person in Zhao Ya’s eyes.
“There is fate between us, young girl. Are you willing to be my Disciple?” Yang Kai looked smilingly at her and asked.
On the stand, Shen Xing sported a dark expression. He had said something similar twice before today, but now this guy who appeared out of nowhere repeated what he had said. Was he trying to humiliate him?
Shen Xing stood straight up with fury and scoffed, “Who are you?”
It was expected that he was furious since the young girl was being snatched from him right in front of him.
Shang Guan Ji was pleasantly surprised when Yang Kai appeared, but at this moment, he was suddenly worried.
That was because he had no idea about what Order of the Emperor Realm this new Ancestor was in. On the other hand, he knew that Shen Xing was in the Second-Order Emperor Realm.
If the new Ancestor was weaker than Shen Xing, this matter wouldn’t be resolved peacefully. Even if the new Ancestor was also in the Second-Order Emperor Realm, Shen Xing represented Southern Star Palace, so there was no way Seven Stars Sect could go against them.
Shang Guan Ji wouldn’t even dare to think that the new Ancestor could possibly be in the Third-Order Emperor Realm, because the number of such Masters in the entire Void Continent could be counted on one hand.
“Sit down.” Yang Kai lightly commanded without even sparing Shen Xing a glance, and as Shang Guan Ji watched, Shen Xing really sat down as he was told.
Shang Guan Ji widened his eyes as he saw Shen Xing’s face go from red, to white, to blue. The man’s forehead was beaded with sweat, and his eyes filled with a light of terror.
Naturally, Shen Xing wouldn’t act obediently in this place, so the only explanation for him doing as he was told was that he was completely overpowered by the new Ancestor.
The emotions in Shang Guan Ji’s heart undulated as he had never expected that the Ancestor who arrived at Seven Stars Sect several months ago was actually a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master!
He instantly let out a sigh of relief, thinking that they would no longer need to fear anyone with such an Ancestor in their Sect.
“Greetings, Ancestor!” With Shang Guan Ji standing at the front, the Elders and the Protectors from Seven Stars Sect who were fortunate to have met and chatted with Yang Kai that night saluted him in unison.
The ordinary disciples from Seven Stars Sect soon recovered from their shock and did the same; however, they were puzzled as they had never heard that there was an Ancestor in their Sect.
Moreover, the Ancestor seemed to have showcased a power that was much greater than that of Shen Xing, who was there to watch the Disciple Recruitment.
Shen Xing was a Second-Order Emperor Realm Master who was from Southern Star Palace, and since the Ancestor was stronger than him, it meant that he was probably in the Third-Order. That realization made these disciples feel agitated.
Following that, the representatives of the other Sects rose from the chairs and saluted as well.
With a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master present, they wouldn’t dare to be impolite.
Shen Xing was the only one who didn’t get up. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to rise from his chair though, but rather that he simply couldn’t. He felt as though a mountain had been placed on his shoulders, which made it impossible for him to even move a finger.
From the looks of it, he seemed to be an arrogant person who remained seated, which only made more cold sweat drip from his forehead.
He had faced the pressure of Third-Order Emperor Realm Masters before, but none of them felt anywhere near as intense as this time. Yang Kai could make him unable to move simply by commanding him. This kind of Third-Order Emperor Realm Master was much stronger than the ones he had come across before.
Yang Kai waved his hand without saying anything, but everyone took a seat at the same time.
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect wore a conflicted expression as he gazed at Shang Guan Ji with a bitter smile, “Brother Shang Guan, why did you hide something so important from all of us? You didn’t even tell us that there was an Ancestor in your noble Sect. If you had informed us earlier, we would have prepared proper gifts as tribute.”
The reason he kept persuading Shang Guan Ji to give up on the young girl was that he didn’t want to see Seven Stars Sect, which was also a Second Class Sect, growing more powerful than the rest of them. Now it seemed that his persuasion was pointless.
Even if they didn’t have Zhao Ya, they already had a powerful Ancestor with them, which ensured that they would definitely become a First Class great force. Golden Spring Sect was already incomparable to them.
From now on, Golden Spring Sect would have to flatter Seven Stars Sect to survive, so he naturally had to improve his ties with Shang Guan Ji.
The face of Shang Guan Ji was glowing as he stroked his beard with a smile, “It’s not that we wanted to hide this from all of you, but rather that the Ancestor prefers peace and serenity. That was why we didn’t make an announcement.”
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect simply nodded, “I see.”
Suddenly realizing something, Shang Guan Ji said, “The Ancestor was travelling across the world when he suddenly visited our Sect one night. He said that he felt some kind of fate with this place, so he asked to settle down in Seven Stars Sect. After he made some calculations, he said that the time had not come yet. Now it seems that Zhao Ya is the one he has been waiting for. It seems the Ancestor really can divine the future.”
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect widened his mouth in disbelief. It wasn’t until this moment that he realised the people from Seven Stars Sect had practically gotten an Ancestor for free.
He felt disheartened as he thought that those from Seven Stars Sect were so lucky to have a powerful figure to come over and become their Ancestor, serving as the greatest support for the Sect. On the other hand, Golden Spring Sect was not so lucky.
He then gazed at the man and the young girl on the stage with an envious expression.
Presently, Seven Stars Sect had an Ancestor to assume command while there was a disciple named Zhao Ya who had exceptional aptitude. Additionally, there was Miao Fei Ping, who was revealed to have an A- aptitude. It seemed that their Sect’s rise was inevitable.
On the stage, Yang Kai and Zhao Ya were still staring at one another. Although Zhao Ya had no idea what was going on, she was an intelligent and observant girl and had a feeling that the person before her eyes was someone very important, and for some reason, he gave off a familiar feeling as though she had met him before.
While she was in a dazed state, the Elders of Seven Stars Sect were flustered.
It must have taken her some Heaven-defying luck to be offered a chance to become the Disciple of the Ancestor. Even if the Ancestor said the same thing to them, they would instantly fall on their knees and accept. A young girl that was seven or eight years old was supposed to do the same; however, this particular young girl didn’t understand how lucky she was as she just batted her eyes at the Ancestor.
It was as though she had seen something interesting on his face.
The anxious Elders secretly spoke to Zhao Ya, encouraging her to accept the offer.
Zhao Ya had never experienced anything like this before, so she just felt annoyed by the voices as she waved her hand. It was as though she was trying to chase away some flies.
Yang Kai didn’t urge her as he looked smilingly at the young girl.
A moment later, Zhao Ya said, “I don’t mind becoming your Disciple, but Big Brother Ye Bai has to come with me.”
On the stand, Shang Guan Ji and the others were shocked as they admired the young girl’s courage. She didn’t seem to be afraid of someone who was so powerful. Since the Ancestor had personally shown up to take on a Disciple, others would’ve gladly accepted it; however, this girl didn’t know the immensity of Heaven and Earth as she had the guts to even state her own conditions.
Moreover, they had no idea who this ‘Big Brother Ye Bai’ was.
Besides Shang Guan Ji and the Elders, the onlookers also didn’t know who the Big Brother Ye Bai she was talking about was except for those who came from Seven Stars Town.
Standing among the crowd, Miao Fei Ping looked helplessly at Zhao Ye Bai, who was extremely lucky to have such a chance. It was no different from suddenly having 10 million silver coins fall into your lap.
“Who is Big Brother Ye Bai?” Yang Kai asked, despite being fully aware of who the person was.
Zhao Ya turned her head and took a glance, whereupon Zhao Ye Bai emerged from the crowd and walked up to Zhao Ya before saluting the unknown man, “Junior Zhao Ye Bai greets Senior.”
On the stand, Shang Guan Ji and the others finally recognized this brat as the Big Brother Ye Bai that Zhao Ya had mentioned; after all, his test only took place a while ago, so Shang Guan Ji still remembered this young boy, who was only revealed to have an aptitude of C-, which was a far cry from Zhao Ya.
Yang Kai took a dispassionate glance at him and shook his head, “His aptitude is too weak. He doesn’t have a right to be my Disciple.”
“Are you not going to accept him?” Zhao Ya stared fixedly at him.
Yang Kai shook his head again.
Zhao Ya said, “I’ll not become your Disciple, then.”
Upon finishing her words, she took Zhao Ye Bai’s hand and was ready to leave. Zhao Ye Bai remained unmoving though as he patted her hands to motion for her to calm down. He then glanced at Yang Kai and asked, “Senior, are you from Seven Stars Sect?”
“Yes,” Yang Kai nodded.
Zhao Ye Bai put on a silly smile, “There won’t be any problem, then. Xiao Ya, since Senior is from Seven Stars Sect, we won’t be separated after you become his Disciple. He’s a senior expert, so accept his request now.”
Zhao Ya shook her head, “No, I want to be with you.”
Zhao Ye Bai stomped his foot on the ground before flashing a helpless smile at Yang Kai, “Please give me a moment, Senior. My Sister is a little obstinate. Let me persuade her.”
Yang Kai didn’t respond to him.
It was then Zhao Ye Bai took Zhao Ya to the side and persuaded her in a small voice. Despite his hushed whispers, the powerful cultivators at the scene could still hear him clearly.
Zhao Ye Bai was heard saying to Zhao Ya, “Xiao Ya, did you hear that the people from Seven Stars Sect called him Ancestor just now? Do you know what an Ancestor is? Well, I don’t really understand it either, but I suppose he’s the most powerful person in Seven Stars Sect. If you become his Disciple, you’ll be able to walk sideways, and Miao Fei Ping would never dare to bully you again! I saw that Miao Fei Ping’s Master was also respectful of him. Moreover, we won’t be separated after you become his Disciple. We’ll still meet every day since we’re both in Seven Stars Sect.”
On the stand, Shang Guan Ji put on a helpless smile as he said to Guan Qian Xing, “Even though this boy seems a little foolish, he’s actually pretty shrewd. He already understands how the world works at such a young age. It’s just that his aptitude is weak. Be careful not to let him offend the Ancestor.”
Guan Qian Xing nodded in response.
However, regardless of what Zhao Ye Bai said, Zhao Ya refused to agree. Eventually, she squatted down and faced away from Zhao Ye Bai before burying her head in her knees and covering her ears with her hands. It was as though she was determined not to listen to Zhao Ye Bai, who appeared totally helpless.
Sighing, the young boy stroked Zhao Ya’s head before he turned around and walked up to Yang Kai. Upon stopping a couple of his steps away, he saluted him once more.
Yang Kai said, “Regardless of what you say, I won’t accept you as my Disciple.”
Zhao Ye Bai nodded, “This Junior understands his aptitude is weak, so he has no right to become Senior’s Disciple, nor do I even dare to think about it. Xiao Ya is lucky to have gained Senior’s favour, and I don’t want her to miss this chance just because of me. So, I’d like to ask you to allow me to be a Worker for you. Whenever there are any trivial matters, I’ll handle them for you and make sure that you won’t have to worry about them.”
Hearing that, Zhao Ya abruptly looked up while the people on the stand were stunned as they had never expected that Zhao Ye Bai would say such a thing.
Appearing to be impassive, Yang Kai said, “There are indeed no Workers on Azure Jade Peak. I won’t turn you down if you’re willing to go there; however, I won’t teach you anything, so you must remember that from today onwards, you’ll remain a Worker on Azure Jade Peak until your death.”
Zhao Ye Bai was elated upon hearing that, “Many thanks for granting my wish, Senior! This Junior wouldn’t dare to ask for anything else!”
“Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya rushed over and took his hand before trying to drag him away, “I won’t become his Disciple, and you’re also not going to be a Worker. We’ll go back to Seven Stars Town together!”
“Listen to me, Xiao Ya,” Zhao Ye Bai gazed at her with a pair of eyes that were filled with determination.
Zhao Ya’s eyes reddened as she knew that Zhao Ye Bai was doing this for her. Although his aptitude was weak, he had still become a Disciple of Seven Stars Sect after he passed all the tests. He was supposed to be able to cultivate and become a cultivator just like he always dreamed. Nevertheless, if he became a Worker on Azure Jade Peak, he would have no future at all.
She then turned her head and glared at Yang Kai, “You’re a bad guy!”
Anyone who bullied Zhao Ye Bai was a bad guy. She didn’t care whether he was an Ancestor or some kind of senior expert.
Yang Kai grinned, “Do you want to beat me up to vent out the anger for your Big Brother Ye Bai?”
Without hesitation, Zhao Ya nodded her head with a pair of ferocious-looking eyes.
Yang Kai said, “It’s simple. Become my Disciple. When you become more powerful than me one day, you can beat me up in whatever way you please.”
Zhao Ya became startled for a moment, as though she had suddenly gained enlightenment. The next moment, she fell on her knees and pressed her head against the ground in front of Yang Kai, “Disciple Zhao Ya greets Honoured Master!”
She then abruptly looked up and stared into Yang Kai’s eyes, “Disciple will definitely cultivate hard so that Honoured Master will have a taste of becoming a Worker one day. Whatever Big Brother Ye Bai will go through, I’ll make you pay 10 times the price!”
From that day onward, there was a female disciple on Azure Jade Peak of Seven Stars Sect in the Void Continent who was determined to make her Honoured Master become a Worker. Everyone in the Void Continent found it to be strange when they heard the story.
“You’ll have to work harder, for your Honoured Master’s cultivation is higher than the Heavens!” Yang Kai pointed at the sky with a smile.
Shen Xing pursed his lips with disdain, thinking that Yang Kai could only fool an inexperienced girl like her.
All of a sudden, Yang Kai turned to look at him, “I heard that you shared fate with my Disciple.”
Shen Xing’s face instantly started flushing as he repeatedly said he wouldn’t dare to.
However, in his mind, he thought that this Ancestor from Seven Stars Sect was quite small-minded as the retaliation had come earlier than he had expected. He was an Emperor Realm Master from Southern Star Palace after all, and he had to uphold his reputation. If he was humiliated in public, how was he going to show his face in public in the future?
While he was furious, Yang Kai was heard saying, “Young girl, go ask why that Senior is interested in taking you on as a Disciple. I need all the details; otherwise, people who have no idea what has happened will think that I oppressed him today.”
Although Zhao Ya was determined to cultivate hard and make her Honoured Master have a taste of becoming a Worker, she was still pretty obedient. She then got up and ambled towards the stand.
Upon reaching Shen Xing, she saluted him respectfully and said in a clear voice, “Greetings, Senior. My Honoured Master has asked me to…”
Shen Xing hurriedly raised his hand, “Speak no further. Your Honoured Master might have misheard me. I didn’t say I wanted to take you on as a Disciple. Rather, I just thought that there was a treasure in my collection that would perfectly suit you.”
Upon finishing his words, he fished out something that looked like a bracelet and passed it to her with a smile, “Here you go. This Old Master obtained it a long time ago and has always treasured it. Since it suits you, I’ll give it to you. Just see it as a gift for having found a good Master.”
The Elders of Seven Stars Sect and the representatives of the great forces on the stand gasped while staring at the ancient-looking bracelet.
That bracelet was apparently a defensive Emperor Artifact. Although they had no idea how powerful it was, it was definitely expensive as it was an Emperor Artifact. They couldn’t believe that Shen Xing was willing to give it to the young girl just like that.
Instead of directly taking it though, Zhao Ya turned to gaze inquisitively at Yang Kai, who placed his hands behind his back and looked up as though there was something interesting in the sky.
Understanding what his gesture meant, Zhao Ya saluted elegantly, “Many thanks, Senior.”
She then took the bracelet with both hands and wrapped it around her wrist. The bracelet, which was much larger than her wrist, suddenly radiated a gentle glow and shrunk until it perfectly fit her.
The sight amazed Zhao Ya.
With a smile, Shen Xing stroked his beard gently, “It does indeed suit you.” His back was drenched in sweat, though, as he thought that he had reacted pretty quickly; otherwise, it would’ve turned out to be embarrassing for him.
Zhao Ya looked at the new bracelet from different angles with joy. She was a young child who came from a poor family, so she knew nothing about accessories. With that said, young girls like her were naturally fond of such things.
At that moment, she found Shen Xing to be amicable and generous, so she flashed a sweet smile at him.
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect suddenly spoke up with a smile, “Since Senior Shen has given you a gift, it would be discourteous for me to not do so too. Here, this trinket is not as valuable as Senior Shen’s gift, but I hope you’ll like it.”
Following that, he took out a petite hairpin with a true-to-life red dragonfly that was made from jade on it.
This was obviously another defensive artifact. Although it was inferior to the bracelet as it was only Dao Source Grade, it was actually the most expensive thing the Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect possessed.
“Is it for me?” Zhao Ya was astounded.
The Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect nodded with a smile.
“There’s really no need…” Zhao Ya appeared bashful and hesitant, but despite her words, she swiftly took the hairpin and put it on her head.
Since the Sect Master of Golden Spring Sect had also given her a gift, the representatives of the other Sects naturally didn’t have the nerve to not offer something. Moreover, this was a great chance to strike up a relationship with the Ancestor of Seven Stars Sect. Hence, all of them fished out the most expensive items in their collections and gifted them to the little girl.
Other than the representatives of other Sects, the Elders of Seven Stars Sect also did the same.
She was a disciple of their own Sect after all. Since outsiders had been so generous, they couldn’t just watch the show and do nothing. Therefore, Shang Guan Ji took the initiative to pass a gift to her, and the other Elders and Protectors did the same.
In the blink of an eye, Zhao Ya was covered in gifts. The items that had been wrapped around her head, body, and hands were all valuable and rare.
Seeing that, Shang Guan Ji quickly gave her a Space Ring to store those gifts.
Meanwhile, the onlookers were dumbfounded, thinking that the young girl named Zhao Ya would be a rising Star from that day onward.
She had already received so many gifts when she had just been taken on as a Disciple. How successful would she be when she became powerful enough one day?
“Do you see that? That’s the difference between you two,” Yang Kai said in a small voice.
Zhao Ye Bai, who was standing beside him, looked smilingly at Zhao Ya and nodded.
“You and she are from different worlds. If she’s like a Phoenix in the sky, you’re no different from a loach in the mud. She is still young now; however, when her mind is broadened as she grows up, she’ll forget who you are. She’ll only remember once in a century that she had a playmate named Zhao Ye Bai in the past.” Yang Kai continued destroying his confidence.
Zhao Ye Bai scratched his head for a moment before refuting, “I’ll be glad as long as Xiao Ya is fine. Moreover, she’ll never forget about me.”
Yang Kai stared intently at him, then said, “I hope you’ll still think so when you grow up.”
The Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect ended on a positive note. The news that two disciples with A Rank aptitude had emerged during the recruitment spread quickly. One of them was revealed to have A- aptitude while the other achieved a result of A+ aptitude. The latter was truly a prodigy.
Moreover, it was said that an Ancestor with inscrutable cultivation had appeared out of nowhere in Seven Stars Sect, and he had taken on the young girl with A+ aptitude to be his Disciple. Rumour had it that Shen Xing, who was there to watch the show, didn’t dare to be impolite in front of this new Ancestor and had even suffered a small setback at his hands.
Shen Xing was a Second-Order Emperor Realm Master from Southern Star Palace, and since he had suffered a setback, it went to show that the Ancestor was truly formidable.
That was the reason Seven Stars Sect instantly became a household name.
…..
There were 1,008 steps on the stairs that led to Azure Jade Peak. Two young children helped each other out and exchanged words of encouragement as they plodded up the steps.
Just then, a gale gusted through them as they staggered and almost fell down the cliff. They hurriedly crouched down and hugged each other, shivering like quails in winter.
When they finally reached the summit of Azure Jade Peak, they were exhausted as they lay on the ground and panted heavily.
Yang Kai appeared and stood in front of them the next moment, looking down as he shook his head, “You’re too slow.”
In a lethargic manner, Zhao Ya shot him a glare.
Initially, she stopped loathing her Honoured Master after she received a lot of gifts. Certainly, she knew that it was thanks to her Honoured Master that those people were willing to give her so many valuable treasures.
However, at this moment, she became resentful of him again, for she realised that her Honoured Master was truly cold-blooded.
Right then, Yang Kai extended his hand, whereupon the rings, the hairpins, and the bracelets flew away from the young girl and fell into his hands.
Zhao Ya was startled for a moment, then jumped up like a cat that got its tail trampled on by someone. Pouncing at Yang Kai, she clawed at him and snapped, “Those are my things! Give them back!”
Yang Kai explained, “It will only do you more harm than good to depend on external aids when you’re cultivating. These things are no different from a burden on your shoulders. I’ll keep them for you for now. You can have them back when you’re able to use them!”
Zhao Ya wrapped her hands around Yang Kai’s arm and clung on with an aggrieved expression, gnashing her teeth in frustration. She felt that this man was more like an evil bandit than her Master.
Zhao Ye Bai persuaded her by saying, “Xiao Ya, he’s a senior expert, you should listen to him.”
Yang Kai shot him a glance and sneered, “Stop flattering this King. It’s useless.”
“Argh!” Zhao Ya directly bit the man’s arm, but while Yang Kai remained unperturbed, Zhao Ya felt her teeth almost falling off as her eyes were drenched in tears.
“It’s very late now, so you should probably get some rest. I’ll teach you how to cultivate tomorrow.” Yang Kai flung the young girl off and disappeared.
While sitting on the ground, the young children exchanged glances and fell silent.
A moment later, Zhao Ya sniffled and said, “Big Brother Ye Bai, I miss Aunty Lu, Grandma, and Uncle Yang.”
While helping to massage her legs, Zhao Ye Bai said, “I miss them too.”
He then looked up at the sky, “I suppose Uncle Yang has returned to the town to inform Mother and Grandma by now.”
“They must be having sweet rice dumplings now.”
At the mention of food, their stomachs started growling. It was only then they recalled that they hadn’t had anything to eat or drink since the Disciple Recruitment commenced this morning.
“Let’s look for some food,” Zhao Ye Bai helped her put on her shoes and pulled her up. Then, they shuffled towards a cluster of palaces.
One hour later, they lethargically pressed their backs against a column in the Grand Hall as their stomachs growled.
There wasn’t any food at all in this place, not even a drop of water.
“Bad Guy!” Zhao Ya roared in the spacious Grand Hall.
Right then, Yang Kai appeared out of thin air, which scared the kids out of their wits.
Zhao Ye Bai got up with difficulty and respectfully saluted him, “Xiao Ya and I haven’t had any food for a long time, Senior. Is there anything to eat here?”
Yang Kai gave him a dismissive look and said cold-heartedly, “No.”
“Do you want to starve us to death?” Zhao Ya glowered at the man, “In that case, why did you even take me on as your Disciple?”
Yang Kai replied dispassionately, “A bad guy will definitely not give you food, but your Master might not want to see you starve to death.”
Zhao Ye Bai became startled for a moment, then secretly pulled Zhao Ya’s clothes.
It was then that Zhao Ya came to her senses. While hanging her head low, she balled up her fists and muttered reluctantly, “I’m hungry and thirsty, Master.”
Yang Kai nodded, “Wait a moment.”
Upon finishing his words, he vanished into thin air.
Following a gulp, Zhao Ye Bai looked around randomly and asked with difficulty, “Xiao Ya, could your Master be a ghost?”
With her face turning pale, Zhao Ya stuck close to the young boy, “Stop frightening me, Big Brother Ye Bai!”
Barely a moment later, Yang Kai returned with a bowl of rice and passed it to Zhao Ya.
After taking it, Zhao Ya looked up at him, “There’s only one?”
“Is it not enough?” Yang Kai frowned.
“Big Brother Ye Bai has to have some food as well!”
Zhao Ye Bai hurriedly shook his head, “It’s fine. I’m not hungry.”
Zhao Ya looked pitifully at Yang Kai, “Could you give me one more bowl of rice, Master?”
“No,” Upon finishing his words, Yang Kai left the place.
“What a stingy man!” Zhao Ya was furious, for not only was her Master cold-blooded, but he was also stingy. With that said, they finally had some food to eat. At this moment, she was resentful of her Master. If she had known this was what would happen, she wouldn’t have agreed to become his Disciple. It was ridiculous that an adult oppressed two young kids.
After a moment of persuading each other to have the food first, the young kids then wolfed down the rice with pleasure. Although they were still hungry after finishing the rice, they had regained some strength at the very least.
There were four seasons in the Void Continent and years slowly went by.
Since Zhao Ya had an exceptional A+ aptitude, the Elders of Seven Stars Sect initially had high hopes for her. They believed that given her aptitude, her cultivation journey would be smooth sailing as it would probably only take her a few years before she made it to the Emperor Realm.
However, ten years had passed, and she had only managed to make it to the True Element Boundary.
From the bottom to the top, the Martial Dao was divided into Tempered Body, Initial Element, Qi Transformation, Separation and Reunion, True Element, Immortal Ascension, Transcendent, Saint, Saint King, Origin Returning, Origin King, Dao Source, and Emperor Realm. There were thirteen Great Realms in total.
Although it was considered swift that Zhao Ya had reached the True Element Boundary in ten years, she didn’t live up to her A+ aptitude.
It had to be noted that Miao Fei Ping, who joined Seven Stars Sect at around the same time, was now in the Transcendent Realm, which was two Great Realms ahead of Zhao Ya.
When the news was spread, others thought that the Ancestor from Seven Stars Sect who lived on Azure Jade Peak was not a good teacher. Although he was powerful, he didn’t know how to nurture his Disciple. There was not a lack of such people in this world. While they were adept at cultivating, they didn’t know how to teach. Those people felt sorry for Zhao Ya because her aptitude had been wasted after she became the Disciple of the wrong Master.
As for the Worker Zhao Ye Bai who settled down on Azure Jade Peak alongside Zhao Ya, he was forgotten by most people. Only the disciples of Seven Stars Sect could see him getting swamped with work every day.
Ten years had passed, and the young kids, who were eight years old in the past, were now young people who turn eighteen recently. After working as a Worker for ten years, Zhao Ye Bai had become a rugged young man whose eyes were bright.
At the bottom of Azure Jade Peak, Zhao Ye Bai arrived at a river with two big buckets and filled them up. Before he could leave though, he saw a group of people striding towards him.
These people were all disciples from Seven Stars Sect. One of them was a fine-looking young man who was surrounded by a group of people, as though he was the Moon while the others were Stars. He was older than Zhao Ye Bai by a few years, and the folding fan in his hand added an aloof, noble air to him as he sauntered over.
When Zhao Ye Bai heard the noises and looked up, his face stiffened involuntarily.
The group of people reached Zhao Ye Bai and surrounded him. The handsome young man leading the group closed his folding fan and stuck it in the back of his hair before staring calmly at Zhao Ye Bai and asking, “Did you pass Junior Sister Ya the thing I told you to two days ago?”
Zhao Ye Bai scratched his head, “I did.”
The young man arched his brow, “Did you personally give it to her?”
“En,” Zhao Ye Bai nodded.
The agitated young man asked, “What did she say?”
Zhao Ye Bai replied, “Nothing.”
The young man was stunned, then went on asking, “Did she read it?”
“Do you want to know the truth?” Zhao Ye Bai asked cautiously.
The young man glared at him, “Of course I want to know the truth!”
In a straightforward manner, Zhao Ye Bai replied, “She didn’t read it. Instead, she tore it apart and told me to ignore you next time.”
The young man’s hopeful expression instantly turned dejected. His face had even turned pale as though he was badly injured.
“Senior Brother Liu,” Zhao Ye Bai called out, “I have to get these buckets of water back to Azure Jade Peak. I’ll take my leave now.”
The young man surnamed Liu came to his senses and said through clenched teeth, “You must have bad-mouthed me in front of Junior Sister Ya; otherwise, why would she tear the letter apart without even taking a look at it?”
When he came across Zhao Ya the last time, she flashed a smile at him. If she wasn’t interested in him, why would she put on such a sweet smile?
Zhao Ye Bai quickly waved his hands, “I didn’t! In fact, I didn’t say anything else as I just told her that this was given to her by you, Senior Brother Liu. She told me that she had no idea who you were though and…”
“How dare you still lie to me!” Senior Brother Liu barked while waving his hand, “Beat him up!”
As swift as lightning, Zhao Ye Bai crouched down and curled up his figure while protecting his head with his hands, “Not the face!”
His movements were so smooth that it was apparent he had done this many, many times before.
With each passing day, Zhao Ya grew more beautiful and alluring; as a result, all the male disciples in the Sect who had a chance to meet her were stunned by her beauty.
Unfortunately, she led a reclusive life on Azure Jade Peak, and she wouldn’t come down the mountain unless it was absolutely necessary, which made it impossible for these Fellow Brothers to have a glance at her beauty. As such, Zhao Ye Bai, who had to go up and down the mountain every day, became their messenger.
In fact, Zhao Ye Bai had passed a lot of love letters to Zhao Ya over the years, but she would always tear them apart.
Initially, those Fellow Brothers were wary of the Ancestor who resided on Azure Jade Peak, so they didn’t dare to touch Zhao Ye Bai; after all, this brat was a Worker from Azure Jade Peak, so they had to be respectful of his owner.
However, they soon realised that the Ancestor really wouldn’t care about Zhao Ye Bai’s life or death, so they began acting more unscrupulously. As a result, Zhao Ye Bai had suffered a lot over the years.
Fortunately, the attackers knew their boundaries as they wouldn’t deal a heavy blow to him. Knowing that he was just a mortal who had never cultivated before, they only used a bit of brute force instead of their cultivation.
A series of fists and feet landed on Zhao Ye Bai as the dust rose in the air, and he was soon covered in bruises.
“What’s going on here!?” A person was heard bellowing all of a sudden. The next instant, a burly young man dashed out of the nearby forest and landed with a violent force which crashed into the male disciples around Zhao Ye Bai and dispersed them. Some of the weaker ones even fell to the ground.
Senior Brother Liu widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Miao Fei Ping!”
The newcomer was none other than Miao Fei Ping, who also came from Seven Stars Town and joined Seven Stars Sect alongside Zhao Ya. Now, he was already a Transcendent Realm Master, whose cultivation was far ahead of the others in the same age range. The Elders of the Sect had high hopes for him and granted him near unlimited resources. Even many Senior Brothers, who were much older, were weaker than him.
Miao Fei Ping picked up Zhao Ye Bai and examined him before asking, “Are you alright?”
Zhao Ye Bai put on a grin, “I’m fine. These Fellow Brothers were just helping me work out a cramp.”
Miao Fei Ping scoffed, “Since when does working out a cramp lead to being covered in bruises? How are you still in the mood to laugh?”
“Am I supposed to cry, then?” Zhao Ye Bai pursed his lips.
Miao Fei Ping snorted, then turned to look at Senior Brother Liu, “You’re a glorious disciple of Seven Stars Sect, aren’t you? Do you feel proud oppressing a mortal who has never cultivated before with so many people?”
Senior Brother Liu and the others wouldn’t dare to say anything. Their cultivation was lower than that of Miao Fei Ping, and they were also less important than him, who was a favourite disciple among the Elders in the Sect, so they wouldn’t dare to talk back. If he was offended, they would be beaten up without the chance of getting their revenge as their Masters wouldn’t stand up for them.
“Wastes who oppress the weak but fear the strong. I won’t dirty my hands by beating you all up. Although I won’t deal with you all, there’s someone who definitely will.”
Upon hearing that, Senior Brother Liu appeared elated instead of feeling frightened.
An annoyed Miao Fei Ping waved his hand impatiently, “Scram, scram!”
And so the crowd dispersed in a hurry.
After they were gone, Miao Fei Ping turned to look at Zhao Ye Bai and rubbed his forehead, “Where should I even begin? I told you not to become a Worker on Azure Jade Peak, but you wouldn’t listen to me. Is it fun to get beaten up every few days?”
Zhao Ye Bai just sported a silly smile.
“Take it.” Miao Fei Ping tossed a porcelain bottle at him, “Apply it on your bruises. It can help heal them.”
“En,” Zhao Ye Bai didn’t turn him down as he took the porcelain bottle and started using its content.
Miao Fei Ping let out a sigh, “We were still just kids back then. In order to let Little Sister Ya become a Disciple of the Ancestor, you requested to be a Worker on Azure Jade Peak. Many years have passed, and Xiao Ya is now in the True Element Boundary. Her future will only become brighter, so how much longer can you protect her? 100 years from now, Xiao Ya will remain the same while you’ll have become an old man. Do you want her to face an old man every day and cry her eyes out?”
Zhao Ye Bai fell silent.
Miao Fei Ping patted the other man’s shoulder, “Short-term pain is better than long-term suffering. Just sleep on it.”
“En,” Zhao Ye Bai replied in a small voice.
“I returned to Seven Stars Town some time ago and met Aunty Lu and Grandma Zhou,” Miao Fei Ping went on to say.
Zhao Ye Bai looked up, “How are my Mother and Grandma?”
Miao Fei Ping replied with an odd smile, “Don’t worry, they’re fine. What’s strange is that Grandma is getting younger instead of older as the wrinkles on her face have been reduced. Your Mother has not gotten younger, but she hasn’t changed one bit. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw them. They have never cultivated before, so how do they keep their faces young?”
“What about Uncle Yang?” Zhao Ye Bai inquired.
Miao Fei Ping replied, “Your Uncle Yang left two years ago. Before he left, he told your Mother to inform you that you must take care of yourself in Seven Stars Sect. You can always return home if you’re unhappy.”
“Uncle Yang is gone?” The light in Zhao Ye Bai’s eyes dimmed significantly. He never had a real father before, but Uncle Yang was just like one to him. When he was a young boy, he always hoped that his Uncle Yang would get together with his Mother so that he could call him Father.
However, whenever he voiced such thoughts, he would get a beating from his Mother.
He had heard from Grandma Zhou that Uncle Yang had several wives, so it wasn’t appropriate for him to wander around in the outside world for a long time. He would have to go back sooner or later.
“Your Uncle Yang also said that he would visit you and Xiao Ya again one day,” Miao Fei Ping added.
It was then Zhao Ye Bai put on a smile, “Got it.”
“You should go back now,” Miao Fei Ping waved his hand.
“I’ll take my leave, then,” Zhao Ye Bai said and picked up the buckets filled with water before dashing towards the peak.
The corners of Miao Fei Ping’s brow twitched, thinking that even though this brat had never cultivated before, his strength was unusual; after all, an ordinary mortal wouldn’t be able to carry two giant buckets of water and sprint up a mountain like a rabbit.
Zhao Ye Bai had no idea what was going on with him. As he grew older, he became increasingly stronger. He didn’t feel one bit of pressure at all when holding two buckets filled with water.
He had secretly tried it on a boulder, which weighed about 1,000 kilograms, and it was easily lifted by him using only one hand. Therefore, he had no idea where his true limits were.
He didn’t hide this fact from Zhao Ya. Since they had grown up together, there were no secrets between them. According to Zhao Ya, there were always talented people in the world who were born with abilities that others couldn’t possess. Some people even had great innate strength for no apparent reason.
Zhao Ye Bai believed that he was one such person. Moreover, since he settled down on the peak ten years ago, he had never fallen sick. Although he would always be beaten, he just supposed he had really thick skin and strong flesh. Any bruises or cuts he got would all disappear after a night’s sleep.
Because of that, Zhao Ya excitedly looked for her Master and told him that Zhao Ye Bai had an unusual physique. She pleaded with her Master to examine Zhao Ye Bai’s aptitude so that the latter could also become his Disciple too.
Unfortunately, after an examination, her Master still said that Zhao Ye Bai’s aptitude was ordinary and he didn’t have the intention of taking him on as a Disciple.
It had been ten years since Zhao Ya started cultivating, so she was no longer a young girl who knew nothing. Knowing fully well that her Master was exceptionally powerful and knowledgeable, she felt dejected over his judgement.
She had secretly taught Zhao Ye Bai the Secret Arts and Secret Techniques that her Master had imparted to her so that he could cultivate with her, thinking the result of his aptitude would only be clear after he started cultivating.
What made her furious was that the obstinate Zhao Ye Bai never tried to cultivate. He said that he couldn’t cultivate without the Senior’s permission.
This made Zhao Ya infuriated.
The young man dashed up the steps of Azure Jade Peak. While he held two huge buckets full of water, they didn’t slow him down in the slightest. Instead, he only became faster as his hands were extremely steady. Not even a drop of water spilled out of the buckets.
As his speed increased, layers of ripples were formed in the Void around Zhao Ye Bai; however, the young man was not aware of these changes.
He just loved to run like this, like a fish swimming in the ocean. It felt as though he was about to merge with the world.
These 1,008 steps took the young children a whole day to climb as blisters formed on their soles in the past. Nevertheless, Zhao Ye Bai could now easily reach the top in less than an hour.
When he reached the summit of Azure Jade Peak, he saw a beautiful young woman standing there waiting for him. The young woman’s beauty was like a breath of fresh air, so it was no wonder that the Fellow Brothers from Seven Stars Sect could never forget about her the moment they laid their eyes on her and did everything they could to pass love letters to her.
“Big Brother Ye Bai,” Zhao Ya put on a sweet smile.
Zhao Ye Bai stopped in his tracks. While staring at the young woman in front of him, he fell into a dazed state as he recalled what Miao Fei Ping had said to him.
Zhao Ya tilted her head, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Zhao Ye Bai shook his head, “Have you done your homework? Why are you waiting for me here?”
Zhao Ya extended her hands in an attempt to take the buckets, but Zhao Ye Bai stepped aside to dodge them, “There’s no need for that. This is my duty. Senior will chide you if he sees you helping.”
She pursed her lips and complained, “Master is too strict, always saying I can’t do this and that. It’s so annoying!”
Zhao Ye Bai replied with a smile, “Senior is doing it for your own good.”
“Hmph!” Zhao Ya slightly lifted her nose as she caught a whiff of something. As she sniffled, she looked doubtfully at Zhao Ye Bai.
Before she could close in, Zhao Ye Bai ran off in an awkward manner as he shouted, “You should get some rest, Xiao Ya. I’ll call you when the meal is ready!”
“Alright!” Zhao Ya replied as she looked smilingly at his disappearing back.
When his figure was out of sight, the smile on Zhao Ya’s face faded as her clear eyes burned with fury. That was because she caught a whiff of medicinal fragrance from Zhao Ye Bai.
She then turned around and took a step forward. A few steps later, she was already at the bottom of the mountain.
As usual, she arrived at the river.
Presently, Miao Fei Ping was seated on a boulder as he was chewing on a stalk of grass he had picked up from somewhere. Upon hearing the rustling, he turned around and put on a helpless smile, “You came sooner than I expected.”
Zhao Ya asked, “Who was it?”
Her voice sounded so cold that it could almost freeze the river.
Miao Fei Ping let out a sigh, “This happens every time. Aren’t you aware of the reason they do this? Those guys that you beat up were all happy being punched. They oppressed Zhao Ye Bai because they wanted you to stand up for him so that they could see you. They were still pleased even though they were beaten black and blue.”
Zhao Ya said through clenched teeth, “I was too gentle back then!”
Miao Fei Ping suddenly had a bad feeling, “What are you trying to do this time?”
“It has nothing to do with you. Just tell me who they are.”
Miao Fei Ping shook his head, “You can’t defeat that guy this time. You’re now only in the True Element Boundary Third Stage while he’s in the Ninth Stage. He’s just one step away from making it to the Immortal Ascension Boundary, so how are you supposed to be a match for him?”
“True Element Boundary Ninth-Stage?” Zhao Ya muttered under her breath. All of a sudden, she closed her eyes as her aura rose rapidly.
Miao Fei Ping was surprised as he had no idea what she was doing; however, his jaw suddenly dropped in disbelief. He wasn’t even aware that the grass he had been chewing on had fallen.
That was because he could feel that Zhao Ya’s aura, which was stuck in the True Element Boundary Third-Stage, suddenly began rising and wasn’t showing any signs of stopping. When it finally reached the peak, Zhao Ya suddenly achieved a breakthrough as a pressure wave spread out from her body.
She was now in the True Element Boundary Fourth Stage!
That wasn’t the end yet. Just a moment later, she made it to the Fifth-Stage and then the Sixth-Stage.
It only took her a short while to break through three Minor Realms.
At the sight of this, Miao Fei Ping was flabbergasted as he thought that this was probably the power of a person with A+ aptitude. Achieving a breakthrough was as easy as eating food or drinking water to her.
He also had Rank A aptitude, and his cultivation increased rapidly over the years with his progress being far greater than that of his Fellow Brothers. However, he realised he still wasn’t comparable to Zhao Ya at all after witnessing what she had just done.
It was the first time he discovered that one could achieve a breakthrough like this.
Although the True Element Boundary Sixth Stage was still three Minor Realms below the Ninth Stage, the gap had been significantly shortened.
The corners of Miao Fei Ping’s face twitched as it was the first time he felt inferior to anyone. Seeing that Zhao Ya was burning with murderous intent, he stopped stalling and gave her a list of names.
Zhao Ya extended her hand and summoned a silver spear before turning to leave.
Miao Fei Ping felt his heart pounding against his chest as he had a feeling that something serious was about to happen. He thus hurriedly contacted his Honoured Master, Guan Qian Xing.
Less than an hour later, the incident of an attempted murder sent a shock wave across Seven Stars Sect.
For some reason, a disciple named Liu Yi got into a conflict with Azure Jade Peak’s Zhao Ya. They engaged in an intense battle, but surprisingly, Liu Yi, who was three Minor Realms above the other party, was powerless to fight back the whole time. If Elder Guan Qian Xing hadn’t managed to intervene in time, Liu Yi would’ve lost his life on the spot.
Despite that, Liu Yi was so severely wounded that it would take him three to five months to recuperate.
The battle stunned everyone in Seven Stars Sect.
There were naturally some fights between the disciples in the same Sect over the years, and sometimes disciples were injured, but no one would attempt to kill their Fellow Brothers or Sisters. However, Zhao Ya did just that this time.
According to the onlookers, every move Zhao Ya made was filled with murderous intent as she seemed determined to end Liu Yi’s life.
Zhao Ya’s identity was also unusual as she was the only Disciple of the Ancestor who resided on Azure Jade Peak. Although Zhao Ya’s progress had disappointed the Elders of Seven Stars Sect, her identity and status would not change just because of that. If any other disciple had done such a thing, he or she would have been kicked out of the Sect; or worse, their cultivation would be crippled. Nevertheless, no one would dare to do that to Zhao Ya.
What’s more, it was a battle between a True Element Boundary Sixth-Stage disciple and one in the Ninth-Stage; however, Liu Yi, the supposedly stronger one, was completely powerless to defend himself. It was rare that a weaker cultivator could defeat a stronger one, so it was hard to understand why there was such a huge gap between these two’s powers when they fought.
Liu Yi was brought back by his Honoured Master while the Elders of Seven Stars Sect came together in the middle of the night to look into the matter and come up with a plan to clean up the mess.
On the other hand, Zhao Ya stealthily returned to Azure Jade Peak, but as soon as she reached the peak, she saw her Honoured Master standing there, looking impassively at her.
Zhao Ya stiffened as she hung her head low and bashfully walked up to Yang Kai. While looking down at her feet, she called out, “Master.”
When she was younger, she swore that she would cultivate hard so that she could defeat her Master one day and make him have a taste of becoming a Worker.
However, after spending over ten years with him, she no longer had such impudent and aggressive thoughts. Her Master had treated her very well, and she regarded him to be a teacher as well as a father figure.
“You broke through three Stages?” Yang Kai asked calmly.
Zhao Ya nodded cautiously.
Upon hearing the reply, Yang Kai sighed, “Given your strength, you could’ve easily dealt with a True Element Boundary Ninth-Stage boy even though you were only in the Third Stage. You didn’t need to achieve a breakthrough.”
Zhao Ya pursed her lips, “I didn’t expect him to be so weak.”
Yang Kai said, “It’s not that he’s weak, but that you’re strong.”
Zhao Ya looked up and flashed a bright smile at him, “It’s all thanks to Honoured Master’s guidance over the years.”
Just then, Yang Kai turned his head and shouted, “Zhao Ye Bai!”
“I’m here!” Zhao Ye Bai, who had been hiding somewhere to watch them, ran towards Yang Kai, “What do you need me to do, Senior?”
Yang Kai extended his hand and grabbed the huge tank full of water from the kitchen before placing it on Zhao Ye Bai’s head.
A stunned Zhao Ye Bai wouldn’t dare to move away as he quickly raised his hands to prop up the water tank.
Fortunately, he had unusual strength, so it wasn’t a difficult task. The average person would’ve been pressed into a patty by the weight of the water tank.
“Since Zhao Ya broke through three Minor Realms today, you’ll stand right here for three days. If one drop of water is spilled, you will immediately leave the mountain.”
Instead of feeling resentful, Zhao Ye Bai was relieved and replied solemnly, “Don’t worry, Senior. I’ll not let a single drop of water spill.”
Although others didn’t know why Zhao Ya, who had A+ aptitude, had progressed so slowly, he was fully aware of it. Zhao Ya had told him that Yang Kai had deliberately suppressed her cultivation; otherwise, given her peerless aptitude, she would’ve made it to the Saint Realm already.
“Why do you always do this, Master!? It’s me who makes mistakes, but you always punish Big Brother Ye Bai instead!” Zhao Ya roared. It was only at times like these that she would talk back; she was normally obedient to Yang Kai.
The same thing had happened over and over again since they moved into Azure Jade Peak. Every time she made a mistake, it would be Zhao Ye Bai who got punished. Initially, he wasn’t allowed to have food and sleep, or he would be asked to bring 100 buckets of water back from the bottom of the mountain. Now, he would be required to prop up a heavy object for several days.
Although Zhao Ye Bai was strong, he had never cultivated before. He might not be able to persevere holding up a tank full of water without sleep for three days straight, not to mention that not even a single drop of water was allowed to spill over.
“Since you’re aware of it, don’t make mistakes,” Yang Kai looked dispassionately at her.
“I’m not convinced!” Zhao Ya said aggrievedly.
“I don’t care.”
Zhao Ya’s chest heaved for a moment before she walked up to Zhao Ye Bai and stood beside him. She then fell on her knees and said angrily, “I’ll also get punished, then.”
Without saying a word, Yang Kai turned around and left.
He always believed that only by punishing the person Zhao Ya treasured the most would she learn her lessons. Although she appeared to be obedient, she was born with a hint of ruthlessness. It might have something to do with the fact that she was abandoned by her parents when she was a toddler. Since she was a young child, the person she cared most for was Zhao Ye Bai. Even her Master, who had nurtured her for ten years, was not comparable to Zhao Ye Bai.
This time, her murderous intent had been ignited because she wanted to get revenge for Zhao Ye Bai. That was the reason she got into an intense battle with Liu Yi. If Guan Qian Xing hadn’t stopped her in time, Liu Yi would’ve been killed.
Zhao Ya was destined to be a wild horse while Zhao Ye Bai was the rein that had been wrapped around her.
When Yang Kai picked Zhao Ya up from that mountain and dropped her off in front of Yu Lu’s door, he hadn’t expected her to have such Heaven-defying aptitude.
In the middle of the night, the growling of a stomach was particularly loud.
Zhao Ya, who was kneeling beside Zhao Ye Bai, landed a slap on her forehead and got to her feet, “Wait a bit, Big Brother Ye Bai. I’ll get some food for you from the kitchen.”
“I don’t think it’s appropriate…” Zhao Ye Bai looked in the direction Yang Kai had left, “I’m still being punished.”
Zhao Ya snorted, “Master told you to stay here for three days and make sure that no water would spill. He didn’t say you can’t eat or drink. You have never cultivated before, so how could you not have any food or water for three days?”
Upon finishing her words, she dashed towards the kitchen. Fortunately, Zhao Ye Bai had already prepared a meal beforehand. After filling a pot with rice and gathering some other dishes, Zhao Ya stood beside Zhao Ye Bai and fed him with a spoon.
If the Fellow Brothers from Seven Stars Sect saw this, they would probably pound their fists against their chests and roar in frustration and dejection.
Meanwhile, the young man and young woman exchanged glances with a smile as no words were needed at this moment.
When some rice stuck to the side of Zhao Ye Bai’s mouth, Zhao Ya would pinch it and stuff it into his mouth.
Just then, a series of footsteps were heard coming from behind. Zhao Ya turned her head and saw that with Shang Guan Ji leading the way, the Elders of Seven Stars Sect had all arrived at Azure Jade Peak.
When she saw a particular elderly man, she couldn’t help but snort.
Guan Qian Xing scratched his nose and put on a helpless smile, thinking that he had supposedly never offended her in any way. He just saved Liu Yi from getting killed by her, but here she was giving him a look of anger. Things would’ve become really complicated if she had killed Liu Yi.
However, from the looks of it, Zhao Ya and Zhao Ye Bai were being punished.
The group of people quickly looked away as though they had never seen them before. They then moved past them in a hurry.
They wouldn’t dare to talk to her, for they would be the ones who would be embarrassed if Zhao Ya became furious.
Upon arriving at a spot in front of the main hall, Shang Guan Ji bent his back and said, “Greetings, Ancestor. Shang Guan Ji has come with the other Elders to visit you.”
Yang Kai’s voice was heard coming from the main hall, “I know what has happened. Regardless of who is in the wrong, all of you should discipline your disciples appropriately. If anyone dares to offend the people from Azure Jade Peak again, I’ll personally deal with him regardless of who he is.”
Shang Guan Ji wouldn’t dare to object to it as he bent his back again, “Yes, Ancestor.”
They left this place as quickly as when they came while feeling relieved. Although it was Liu Yi who suffered a setback as Zhao Ya harmed her Fellow Brother, they were worried that the Ancestor would be infuriated.
It was fortunate that the Ancestor only gave them a slight warning.
“Although Senior is a little eccentric, he’ll still protect you no matter what happens,” Zhao Ye Bai said in a muffled voice while having his food.
Zhao Ya fell silent.
“You should apologise to him at a later time, and don’t always talk back to him because of me. You’re his only Disciple, so he’ll feel sad if you talk back.”
“Alright, I got it,” Zhao Ya nodded repeatedly as she wiped the corners of Zhao Ye Bai’s mouth with her sleeve. “I’ll get you some more rice.”
While Zhao Ye Bai had great strength, he also had a huge appetite. Fortunately, there wasn’t a lack of food on Azure Jade Peak. If they were still in Seven Stars Town, their family would’ve become broke by now.
Upon making sure that Zhao Ye Bai was full, Zhao Ya also had a little food and knelt beside him again to keep him company.
As Zhao Ye Bai gazed at the young woman beside him, he couldn’t help but recall what Miao Fei Ping had said to him in the morning. Those words were like a hammer that repeatedly struck his mind.
100 years later, he, who had never cultivated before, would become old and frail while Zhao Ya would remain young and beautiful. What should he do by then? It was said that the more powerful a cultivator was, the longer they could live.
He could already envision the sight, after hundred years, of Zhao Ya crying her heart out in front of his grave.
He couldn’t help but let his thoughts and fears run wild.
A long time later, Zhao Ya, who had been leaning against Zhao Ye Bai’s leg, realised that something was off. When she looked up, she saw that his figure was slightly shaking and his physique seemed to have expanded a little. There was also a suppressed roar coming from his throat.
Zhao Ya could faintly feel that there was something in this World that was streaming into Zhao Ye Bai’s body, but regardless of how hard she tried, she was unable to figure out what it was.
Layers of ripples started spreading from the place they stood, and as Zhao Ya widened her eyes, Zhao Ye Bai, who was supposed to be just beside her, seemed to be getting further and further away from her.
Before she could say or do anything, Zhao Ye Bai suddenly vanished into thin air.
The water tank that had been propped up on his head abruptly fell.
Zhao Ya screamed and clenched the water tank with both hands before gently putting it down on the ground. Following that, she anxiously called out, “Big Brother Ye Bai! Big Brother Ye Bai! Where are you!?”
Right then, she felt a breeze whisking through her. She turned her head, then said in a frightened tone, “Big Brother Ye Bai disappeared, Master!”
She was on the brink of breaking into tears. Over the years, she and Zhao Ye Bai had always relied on one another, and they had never separated before. However, on this night, Zhao Ye Bai abruptly vanished right in front of her.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai sported a solemn expression. Although he was already aware that Zhao Ye Bai had the potential to inherit his Legacy when the latter was still in his mother’s womb, he hadn’t expected Zhao Ye Bai to be so compatible with the Dao of Space.
Over the years, he had deliberately suppressed Zhao Ye Bai’s development by not teaching him how to cultivate. He had even turned a blind eye when the disciples at the bottom of the mountain oppressed him. The main reason was that he wanted to find out his true temperament. If Zhao Ye Bai turned out to be wicked and vengeful, Yang Kai wouldn’t teach him the Dao of Space regardless of how talented he was in it.
Fortunately, Zhao Ye Bai had a good mother who always taught him to count his blessings and be kind to others. Regardless of what adversities he faced, he could always remain calm, collected, and positive.
Over the past ten years, Yang Kai had spent a lot of energy secretly improving his physique, which was the reason Zhao Ye Bai was so physically strong.
While Zhao Ye Bai’s foundation was solid now, Yang Kai’s tests were about to end as well.
However, Yang Kai had never expected such an incident to happen on this night. It wasn’t certain what that brat was thinking about, but he had accidentally triggered the Space Dao Essence in Yang Kai’s Small Universe, which was why he was abruptly drawn into the Void Crack.
This Void Crack was sandwiched between Yang Kai’s Small Universe and the outside world, so even he didn’t have full control over it.
“Master, please save Big Brother Ye Bai! I’ll always be obedient to you from now on. Please save Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya stared at Yang Kai with teary eyes. She always believed that there was nothing in the world that her Master couldn’t do, so Zhao Ye Bai would definitely be safe if he took action.
“Stop yelling!” Yang Kai chided her while he darted his gaze around the Void. The light in his eyes flickered as he was able to see things that others couldn’t. His gaze seemed to have penetrated space and peered into the Void Crack that was nothing but chaos.
A moment later, he suddenly took a step forward and extended his hand into the Void.
When he retracted his hand, he pulled Zhao Ye Bai back from the Void Crack.
“Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya’s face was already covered in tears and she directly pounced on him and pressed him against the ground before tightly wrapping her arms around his neck. It was as though she was worried that she would lose him forever if she released him.
On the other hand, Zhao Ye Bai appeared dumbfounded. Up until this moment, he still had no idea what had happened. Just now, his mind seemed to have gone blank. Following a moment of discomfort, he fell into a desolate and empty place before appearing back on Azure Jade Peak. In truth, it all just felt like a dream.
“What just happened?” Zhao Ye Bai asked in shock. The alluring woman in his arms made him feel anxious.
It wasn’t until this moment that he realised just how much Zhao Ya had grown as a woman.
Meanwhile, Yang Kai was staring coldly at them.
With his face blushing, Zhao Ye Bai patted the woman’s back, “I’m fine, Xiao Ya. Get up now.”
They were indeed in an indecent posture, and Yang Kai was watching them.
After they got to their feet, Zhao Ya was still sobbing as she looked fixedly at Zhao Ye Bai. She was still reeling from the shock because just now, she truly had a feeling that Zhao Ye Bai would leave her forever.
“So, what happened just now?” Zhao Ye Bai asked in a small voice.
In a choking voice, Zhao Ya intermittently told him about the incident just now. As she spoke, she grabbed the man’s arm as she seemed determined to never let him go.
Zhao Ye Bai scratched his head, “I felt like I was having a dream.”
With reddened eyes, Zhao Ya gazed at Yang Kai, “Will the same thing happen to Big Brother Ye Bai again, Master?”
Yang Kai replied, “He’ll be fine as long as he doesn’t trigger that kind of force again.”
“Many thanks, Senior. I’ll be careful in the future,” Zhao Ye Bai nodded seriously. He had no idea what kind of force that was, but he didn’t want Zhao Ya to feel anxious for him again.
“Do you feel there’s anything wrong with your physique, Big Brother Ye Bai? You must tell Master about it. Is there really none? Check on yourself again carefully…”
Yang Kai flicked his sleeve and left. He seemed to have aged by several hundred years by watching the young couple fawn over each other.
“You’re such a blockhead, Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya knelt beside him with fury.
While holding the water tank with one hand, Zhao Ye Bai stroked the woman’s head with his other. Without refuting her, he just let out a hollow laugh.
Since such a major incident had happened, he was supposedly able to seize the chance and get some rest; however, Zhao Ye Bai said that since Yang Kai’s punishment wasn’t over yet, he decided to prop up the water tank again.
Left with no choice, Zhao Ya knelt beside him once more, but this time, she stuck close to his leg as she wouldn’t allow him to leave her again.
In the middle of the night, Zhao Ya suddenly heard some snoring coming from the side. When she looked up, she realised that Zhao Ye Bai had dozed off.
Looking at the face she would never get tired of, she put on a sweet smile, for only Zhao Ye Bai had such an unusual talent. No ordinary person who had never cultivated before could hold up a water tank while being sound asleep. He was probably the only one.
[Big Brother Ye Bai is indeed the most amazing!]
At the break of dawn, Zhao Ye Bai slowly opened his eyes. For some reason, he furrowed his brow while being hesitant to speak, but he didn’t say anything in the end.
The next day, he tried his best not to fall asleep, but for some unfathomable reason, he became extremely lethargic when darkness descended upon them. After talking to Zhao Ya a little, he dozed off again.
The same thing happened on the third day.
When he awakened, he suddenly had a feeling that his body was a little different, but he couldn’t point out what the changes were.
When he turned his head, he saw Zhao Ya staring at him with a pleasantly surprised look.
“What’s wrong?” Zhao Ye Bai asked in puzzlement.
“You broke through to the Initial Element Realm, Big Brother Ye Bai!”
“What do you mean?” Zhao Ye Bai was perplexed, but he soon became shocked, “You mean ‘that’ Initial Element Realm?”
He had been a Worker who did manual work on Azure Jade Peak for the past ten years, and he had never cultivated before, and no one had taught him how to cultivate. However, he had been staying with Zhao Ya for a long time, so he was naturally aware of the categorisation of the different Martial Dao Realms.
The Initial Element Realm was the second Great Realm.
After sensing it for a while, he realised there was indeed a force in his body that had never existed before. The force was passing through his meridians and flesh, which made him feel elated.
“This is the Initial Element Realm?” Zhao Ye Bai fell into a dazed state. When he was a young child, his dream was to join Seven Stars Sect and become a powerful cultivator one day. Nevertheless, ten years ago, in order to make Zhao Ya agree to become a Disciple of Yang Kai without any worries, he practically cut off his own future by requesting to become a Worker on Azure Jade Peak.
Over the years, when he went down the mountain to get water and saw people about his age who had become successful cultivators, he was naturally envious of them, but he never regretted his decision.
He was way past the best age to start cultivating, and as he grew older, he stopped thinking about his childhood dream. He felt more than happy to see Zhao Ya growing up and getting stronger by the day.
Hence, he had never expected that he would be able to set off on his journey in the Martial Dao one day.
“Is it because of the incident that took place a few days ago?” Zhao Ya asked. No one had taught Zhao Ye Bai how to cultivate, but he had suddenly made it to the Initial Element Realm. It was obviously not normal.
Zhao Ye Bai shook his head, “No. I suppose it has something to do with the fact that I kept falling asleep over the past few days. Xiao Ya, when I fell asleep, there was a voice that never stopped talking to me in my mind. Initially, I thought it was just a dream, so I didn’t pay any attention to it; however, the same thing happened day after day.”
“What kind of voice was that?” Zhao Ya asked worriedly.
“I can’t describe it clearly.” Zhao Ye Bai shook his head, “But I remember everything the person said.”
He then went on to tell Zhao Ya everything he had heard in his dreams.
Upon hearing that, Zhao Ya covered her lips with her hand, “It’s a very profound and abstruse Secret Art.”
“A Secret Art?” Zhao Ye Bai was stunned, “How could it be?”
On the other hand, Zhao Ya was elated, “This is wonderful! You don’t have to worry about anything anymore, Big Brother Ye Bai!”
There was a worried look on Zhao Ye Bai’s face, however, as he muttered, “Senior has never allowed me to cultivate. If he finds out about it…”
Zhao Ya placed a finger on her lips and made a shush sound. She then looked around stealthily and said in a small voice, “Master will not find out about it if neither of us exposes this secret. He has only treated you as a Worker as he has never taught you how to cultivate before. Now that you’ve gained such an opportunity, you must treasure it. Have you forgotten about what you said when you were a young kid, Big Brother Ye Bai?”
[One day, I will become the most powerful cultivator in the world. I will build a big house so that Mother, Xiao Ya, Grandma, Uncle Yang, and I can all live together happily as one family.]
At that moment, Zhao Ye Bai was tempted, but he soon shook his head, “I can’t do this. I must tell Senior about it and see what he has to say. If he allows me to cultivate, I will. If he doesn’t allow me, I won’t. Moreover, we don’t even know whether there’s anything wrong with this Secret Art. If there is a problem, I might become an evil person in the future!”
Upon finishing his words, he gently put down the water tank and shuffled towards Yang Kai’s palace.
“You’re so stubborn, Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya stomped her feet on the ground with fury, but she couldn’t stop him.
A moment later, Zhao Ye Bai returned with a puzzled look while scratching his head.
Presently, Zhao Ya was facing away from him with fury. Unlike a typical lady, she was directly seated on the ground while grabbing some strands of grass and ripping them into pieces.
All of a sudden, she turned her head with an incensed look, “What did Master say?”
Zhao Ye Bai was still scratching his head, “Senior chased me out without saying anything.”
Zhao Ya batted her eyes, then leapt to her feet with ecstasy as her eyes radiated a glow, “Since Master said nothing, it means that he’s allowed you to cultivate! You can cultivate now, Big Brother Ye Bai! You can cultivate now!”
She kept jumping up and down as tears almost leaked from her eyes.
Seeing how elated she was, Zhao Ye Bai also couldn’t help grinning.
Miao Fei Ping’s words made him feel heartbroken; however, since he was able to cultivate now, all his worries blew away with the wind. As long as he worked hard enough so that his cultivation could keep up with Zhao Ya’s, he could accompany her for a very long time.
“Your smile looks silly, Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya wiped the tears from her eyes as she joked.
All of a sudden, Zhao Ye Bai asked, “Xiao Ya, do you think it’s possible that it was Senior who passed on this Secret Art to me?”
Zhao Ya became startled and fell into her thoughts. Given how abstruse the Secret Art was, a commoner like Zhao Ye Bai, who had never cultivated before, shouldn’t be able to comprehend it. In the entire Seven Stars Sect, perhaps only her Master was able to teach a Secret Art to someone in his dreams.
However, would her cold-blooded, petty, and stingy Master really do such a thing? Zhao Ya wasn’t sure about it; after all, Zhao Ye Bai had been a Worker here for ten years and her Master never went back on his word as he had never taught him anything.
Nevertheless, when Zhao Ye Bai informed her Master about it, the latter directly chased him out without saying anything, which went to show that there was something off about it.
“In that case, you’ll be my Senior Brother since you’re also a Disciple of Master,” Zhao Ya said with joy.
With a helpless smile, Zhao Ye Bai shook his head, “My aptitude is too weak, so I have no right to be Senior’s Disciple.”
He supposed that was the reason Yang Kai made use of his dreams instead of personally passing on the Secret Art to him.
He then bent his back and bowed towards Yang Kai’s palace and said, “Don’t worry, Senior. I’ll cultivate hard so that I won’t disappoint you.”
Zhao Ye Bai’s aptitude was indeed weak. It took Zhao Ya ten years to make it to the True Element Boundary because Yang Kai had deliberately suppressed her cultivation; however, since Zhao Ye Bai obtained the Secret Art that came as a surprise, he went on to cultivate hard for the next three years, but only managed to make it to the Initial Element Realm Ninth-Stage. He couldn’t even break through to the next Great Realm. It seemed very accurate that his aptitude was revealed to be C- in the past. His talent was among the worst in the entire Seven Stars Sect.
With that said, Zhao Ye Bai was pleased with his progress. That was because he had embarked on the Martial Dao, which was unlike in the past. As for how far he could go, it would depend on how much effort he was willing to put in.
…..
“What’s wrong, Master?” Zhao Ya, whose white dress made her look pure and refreshing, stepped into the main hall. She then respectfully looked at her Honoured Master, who was seated with his legs crossed.
Yang Kai opened his eyes, “You’ve reached the True Element Boundary Ninth Stage?”
Zhao Ya replied, “I achieved a breakthrough two days ago.”
Yang Kai nodded, “I’ve suppressed your cultivation over the years so that you’ll not achieve breakthroughs too quickly. You and Miao Fei Ping joined the Sect at the same time, but he’s now in the Saint Realm. Do you ever have any complaints about it?”
Zhao Ya shook her head, “Honoured Master must have a good reason for doing this. It’s thanks to your careful nurturing that this Disciple has such achievements. Why would I have any complaints instead of feeling grateful?”
“I’m glad that’s how you feel.” Yang Kai nodded gently, “One day, you’ll understand why I’ve done such a thing. However, your aptitude is indeed extraordinary, so a prolonged suppression will harm your foundation. Since you’ve made it to the True Element Boundary Ninth-Stage, you should get ready to break through to the Immortal Ascension Boundary.”
“I’ll start cultivating in seclusion, then,” Zhao Ya replied respectfully.
Yang Kai shook his head, “I don’t want you to cultivate in seclusion. Instead, I want you to go out and experience the outside world. You’ve stayed on Azure Jade Peak for thirteen years, so don’t you want to see what’s out there? I remember that you were only eight years old when you became my Disciple.”
“I’m not interested in the outside world.”
Wherever Zhao Ye Bai was, that would be her home.
“It will only benefit you by venturing into the outside world to broaden your horizons,” Yang Kai spoke in an unquestionable tone.
“Yes,” Zhao Ya replied, “Can Big Brother Ye Bai come with me?”
“Do as you please.”
It was only then that Zhao Ya put on a smile, “Many thanks, Master!”
She then turned around and dashed out of the hall, her steps as light as the wind.
“Venturing into the outside world?” Zhao Ye Bai widened his eyes as he appeared pleasantly surprised.
Zhao Ya nodded repeatedly, “Master told me to experience the outside world to prepare for my breakthrough to the Immortal Ascension Boundary.”
“He has agreed to let me go with you?” Zhao Ye Bai couldn’t believe it.
“Yes.”
Zhao Ye Bai suddenly had a feeling that pie had fallen from the sky into his lap. It had been thirteen years since he settled down on Azure Jade Peak, and he had never set foot outside of Seven Stars Sect since then. Now that he was allowed to leave, he still found it hard to believe.
“Give me a moment. I have to prepare some presents for Mother and Grandma. Oh, let’s not forget about Uncle Yang,” Upon finishing his words, Zhao Ye Bai bolted into his room to get prepared.
“Presents…” Zhao Ya darted her gaze around. All of a sudden, she recalled that when Miao Fei Ping looked for her and Zhao Ye Bai previously, he said that there was a Spirit Fruit Tree on the Spirit Peak where his Master Guan Qian Xing resided. It would take the Spirit Fruit Tree ten years to blossom, ten years to bear fruits, then another ten years before the fruits matured. The fruits could help cultivators improve their cultivation. As for the ordinary people, the fruits could help prolong their lives.
[The fruits should have matured by now…]
A young man and woman were standing alongside one another at the entrance of Seven Stars Town. As they gazed at the streets that were filled with people, they fell into a dazed state.
It had been thirteen years since they left this place, and in that time the town had transformed beyond recognition. The town had gotten much bigger, and it was now bustling with noise.
Seven Stars Town was built to be a satellite town of Seven Stars Sect. In the past, Seven Stars Sect was just an average Second Class Sect, and while it was pretty famous in the surrounding 1,000-kilometre radius, it was basically insignificant beyond that territory.
However, after the Disciple Recruitment where the appearance of the Ancestor sent a shockwave across the entire World, Seven Stars Sect directly became one of the First Class Sects in the Void Continent. Since the Sect was famous now, it could attract more people. As a result, Seven Stars Town became more prosperous.
The young man took a deep breath as he felt somewhat nervous.
Although he had asked Miao Fei Ping, who would go down the mountain from time to time, to send some letters to his Mother and Grandma, and he was aware that they were fine, he hadn’t personally seen it for himself yet.
He was still a young boy when he left home, but he was now an adult who had set off on his journey in the Martial Dao. He wondered if his Mother and Grandma would still recognise him.
“Big Brother Ye Bai,” Zhao Ya seemed able to detect a change in his emotions as she leaned close to him and took his hand.
“Let’s go,” Zhao Ye Bai took a deep breath and shuffled forward alongside Zhao Ya.
Soon, they stopped in their tracks in front of a shop.
Although it was a small place, it was quite bustling. The small number of tables inside the shop were all occupied, and even the tables set up outside were filled. On top of that, many people were waiting in line.
“It’s this place, right?” Zhao Ya looked around as she was uncertain.
She remembered that when they were kids, Uncle Yang would set up his stall here every day. When they were pursued by Miao Fei Ping and other kids, they would sneak under Uncle Yang’s cart and wait until their pursuers were gone before they would dare to come out. After that, Uncle Yang would give them each a sweet rice dumpling, which was the best food in the world to them.
Now, the cart was nowhere to be seen as it was replaced by this shop.
“It’s this place,” Zhao Ye Bai closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. Although thirteen years had passed, he would never forget the familiar smell of the soup and sweet rice dumplings.
According to Miao Fei Ping, his Mother and Grandma had saved some money and bought a shop to sell sweet rice dumplings. Their business was apparently booming.
When he opened his eyes again, Zhao Ye Bai saw two women who were busy at work. One of the women was facing away from them as she was roasting the sweet rice dumplings on a charcoal fire while the other woman was cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks left behind by the customers.
As though sensing something, the woman, who was cleaning up the dishes, looked up at the door.
As their gazes met, Zhao Ye Bai’s eyes reddened while he covered his mouth so that he wouldn’t burst into tears.
The woman was startled for a moment, then her expression was transformed by disbelief. She put down the bowls and walked out of the shop with a shaking figure before extending her hands.
“Xiao Bai?” The woman caressed Zhao Ye Bai’s face as she thought she was dreaming.
“Mother!” Zhao Ye Bai sniffled, “I’m back.”
Grandma, who was busy inside the shop, turned her head and saw the woman hugging Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya, all of them crying tears of joy.
Since Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya were back, they decided to close the shop early. This disappointed the customers who had been lining up to get their hands on the sweet rice dumplings; however, the people in town knew that the proprietress’ children were disciples of Seven Stars Sect, and their Master was the Ancestor of the aforementioned Sect. Hence, even though they were disappointed, they wouldn’t dare to voice their complaints.
When darkness descended upon them, Grandma Zhou and Yu Lu prepared a lot of dishes to celebrate, most of which were wolfed down by Zhao Ye Bai.
“Mother, when Miao Fei Ping said that you haven’t changed one bit over the years, I didn’t really believe him. But now it seems he was telling the truth,” While stuffing food into his mouth, Zhao Ye Bai stared at his Mother in amazement.
Thirteen years had passed, but his Mother still looked exactly the same as how he remembered her to be. It was as though she hadn’t aged a day.
Yu Lu touched her face and shot her son a glance, “I haven’t changed one bit? I look much older now.”
“That’s not true, Aunty Lu.” Zhao Ya shook her head on the side, “I remember that you looked exactly like this when I was a little girl. If we go out together now, no one will believe that we’re Mother and Daughter. They’ll naturally think that we’re Sisters.”
“Stop flattering me, you little ones,” Yu Lu hung her head low and chuckled.
She knew that her beauty might attract some unsolicited attention; therefore, after she sent Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya away to Seven Stars Sect in the past, she always covered her face with a veil when helping Grandma out at the stall. She wouldn’t dare to reveal her countenance in public.
Despite that, she still attracted the attention of some licentious men who passed by. However, anyone who dared to insult or profane her would suffer from all sorts of tragedies before they even stepped out of Seven Stars Town.
Moreover, these were not isolated cases. Once word got out, no one had the guts to say anything impolite to her again. It wasn’t until some time later that she found out her daughter had the luck to become a disciple of the Ancestor of Seven Stars Sect. Yu Lu believed that it was the reason the people from Seven Stars Sect protected her in secret. Those unlucky men must have been taught a lesson by the senior experts from the Sect.
That was the reason she finally had the courage to reveal her face.
“All you care about is your Mother. Have you forgotten about me?” Grandma Zhou seemed displeased.
Zhao Ye Bai hurriedly said, “That’s not true, Grandma. Compared to my Mother, your transformation is simply shocking!”
Zhao Ya kept nodding on the side, “You’ve gotten younger by at least forty years, Grandma!”
When they left home in the past, Grandma Zhou was old and frail. Thirteen years had passed, but Grandma had gotten younger instead of getting older. Her grey hair had turned black, and she no longer had a hunchback. Although she was already over 100 years old, those who were not aware of her real age might think that she was a woman in her fifties or sixties.
“Grandma, what have you and my Mother been eating over the years?” Zhao Ye Bai asked curiously.
As one’s cultivation increased, they might be able to reverse their ageing and remain young for the rest of their life. Nevertheless, Zhao Ye Bai’s Mother and Grandma were obviously mortals who had never cultivated before. The fact that one of them hadn’t changed one bit and the other had gotten younger was beyond his ability to understand.
Grandma burst into laughter, “What else would we eat other than some simple food? Your Mother and I have no idea what’s going on either. Rumours have been going around that our sweet rice dumplings make us stay young. That’s the reason business is going so well.”
“Does it have something to do with the sweet rice dumplings?” Zhao Ye Bai fell into his thoughts.
Grandma picked up some food and re-filled Zhao Ye Bai’s bowl, “Of course it has nothing to do with the sweet rice dumplings. They’re made from ordinary rice. Why would they be able to keep us young?”
Zhao Ya giggled, “I don’t know whether the sweet rice dumplings can keep you young, but I have some fruits that can definitely help prolong your lives.”
Upon finishing her words, she fished out eight Spirit Fruits from her Space Ring. Four of them were given to her Mother and the remaining four were given to Grandma Zhou.
“These fruits are beautiful,” Yu Lu stared fixedly at the Spirit Fruits, whose skin was translucent while rays of light could be seen swirling inside them. Moreover, the fruits exuded an exotic scent that made them seem very appetising.
Grandma Zhou asked, “Where did you get these from? They must be expensive.”
“They grew on a tree on the mountain. I picked them. They’re not valuable at all. Hurry up and eat them, Aunty Lu, Grandma. The fruits are beneficial to you.”
In the meantime, on Constellation Peak of Seven Stars Sect, Miao Fei Ping was all battered and bruised. This Spirit Peak was where the Elder Guan Qian Xing resided.
While running for his life, Miao Fei Ping begged for mercy in a loud voice, “Forgive me, Master! Please stop hitting me! You’re killing me!”
Despite his agility, he was unable to shake off his Master.
Guan Qian Xing was holding a rod while sticking close to Miao Fei Ping like a shadow. As he repeatedly struck his Disciple with loud thuds, he bellowed, “You unfilial brat! Do you know how hard it was for me to nurture that Fruit Tree? It took ten years to blossom, ten years to bear fruits, and another ten years before the fruits matured! There were only eighteen fruits in total, but that little girl directly snatched twelve of them! Do you know the pain I feel? My heart bleeds just thinking about it!”
While covering his head, Miao Fei Ping refuted, “Since you’re aware that it was Zhao Ya who picked the fruits, you should beat her up instead of me!”
Guan Qian Xing snapped, “Beat her up? Would I even dare to!? Moreover, Zhao Ya rarely steps out of Azure Jade Peak! If you hadn’t exposed it to her, she wouldn’t have found out there are such fruits in my place! Of course, I have to beat you up for this!”
Miao Fei Ping was lost for words. Since he was unable to flee, he decided to turn around and fall on his knees. While gazing at Guan Qian Xing with a pitiful face, he cried out, “Master, the fruits are indeed precious, but I’m your one and only Legacy Disciple, should I not be even more valuable? You’ll get new fruits after another thirty years, but if you kill me, where are you going to look for a new Disciple with such exceptional aptitude?”
With the rod raised, Guan Qian Xing fell silent for a moment.
Miao Fei Ping placed his index fingers on the corners of his mouth and pushed up, forcing a smile that was uglier than if he was crying, “Don’t you think I’m right, Master?”
“Nonsense!” Guan Qian Xing struck him again with the rod, “The fruits are really gone, and it’s not like you’ll die after a few hits! Right now I must vent my anger!”
Miao Fei Ping hurriedly got to his feet and dashed out of the mountain. While running away, he yelled, “Sect Master, save me!”
Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya went on to stay in Seven Stars Town for a month.
Rather than talking about the suffering he endured on the mountain, Zhao Ye Bai only told his Mother about the interesting things he had witnessed. He also said that he could now cultivate, so he would definitely become a powerful cultivator one day. Yu Lu attentively listened to him while staring at her children fondly.
She had never expected that, as a widow, she would be able to see her children growing into fine adults. As she reminisced, she couldn’t help recalling the stormy night some twenty years ago. Time flew by so quickly and everything seemed to have just happened the day before.
After a month, Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya were ready to leave.
Their mission was to experience the outside world, so although they were reluctant, they couldn’t stay in Seven Stars Town forever.
At the entrance of the town, Yu Lu and Grandma saw them off while giving them a lot of reminders.
“Come with me, Xiao Ya,” Yu Lu suddenly beckoned to Zhao Ya and walked to the side.
Upon getting close to her, Zhao Ya asked, “What’s wrong, Aunty Lu?”
Yu Lu fished out a handkerchief, which contained something, from her sleeve and passed it to her, “I’ve eaten two of the fruits you’ve given to me and saved the remaining two. If you’re able to meet your Uncle Yang on your trip this time, pass the fruits to him. If you can’t see him… you should just eat the fruits yourself.”
Zhao Ya pushed the fruits back to her, “Aunty Lu, I’ve already saved some fruits for Uncle Yang.”
She had picked twelve fruits from Constellation Peak. Eight of them were given to Yu Lu and Grandma Zhou. The remaining four inside her Space Ring were reserved for Uncle Yang.
“While you’ve saved some for him, these fruits are given to him by me. They’re different,” Yu Lu insisted.
After giving it a thought, Zhao Ya took the two spirit fruits. Following a giggle, she asked, “Aunty Lu, why don’t you come with us to look for Uncle Yang?”
Yu Lu extended her hand and poked the young woman’s forehead, “What nonsense are you talking about, silly girl? While you two can go over, what reason do I have to look for him?”
“If we really come across Uncle Yang, isn’t there something you want to tell him?” Zhao Ya asked.
Yu Lu hung her head low and pondered on it before shaking her head.
The young man and young woman finally set off on their journey. Even after they walked for a long time, once they turned their heads, they could still see two figures staring in their direction from the entrance of the town.
“Xiao Ya, what did my Mother tell you just now?” Zhao Ye Bai asked.
Zhao Ya replied, “Aunty Lu saved two fruits and told me to pass them to Uncle Yang.”
Zhao Ye Bai burst into laughter, “Grandma also saved two fruits and told me to pass them to him.”
“I wonder how Uncle Yang is doing now,” Zhao Ya looked into the distance. Before Uncle Yang departed, he had left behind an address; however, both of them had never heard of the place before. They wondered if they could meet him again during their adventure.
“Xiao Ya, there’s something I’ve always been curious about,” Zhao Ye Bai appeared puzzled as he suddenly thought of something.
“What is it?” Zhao Ya turned to look at him.
Zhao Ye Bai asked, “Do you know what Senior’s name is? We have stayed on the mountain for thirteen years, but I never found out his name.”
Zhao Ya shook her head, “I have no idea either, and Master has never mentioned it. When the Sect Master and Elders visited him, they always called him Ancestor. No one has ever called him by his name.”
Zhao Ye Bai said, “I’ve asked Miao Fei Ping about it before. Although he isn’t clear about it, he heard Elder Guan mention that the surname of Senior is Yang.”
“He shares the same surname as Uncle Yang?” Zhao Ya was surprised.
Zhao Ye Bai put on a grin, “They don’t just share the same surname. Have you ever realised that, just by looking at their backs, Senior and Uncle Yang are very similar?”
Zhao Ya pursed her lips, “But Master is not comparable to Uncle Yang at all.”
One of the men took good care of them as though they were his children while the other man had a distorted personality and would punish Zhao Ye Bai as he pleased. There was no comparison at all…
…
Time passed by and the pair’s horizons were truly broadened as they traveled. They encountered many different people and witnessed lots of interesting incidents along the way.
However, since they had lived on the mountain for a long time, they knew little about Human nature and it was expected that they would suffer a setback from time to time.
During their journey, they had helped the weak and taught bad guys a lesson. There were almost times when they were plotted against and harmed. Zhao Ya’s beauty would also frequently attract unsolicited trouble to them.
There was one time when they were drugged in a bandits’ inn and almost passed out. Upon realising that something was off, Zhao Ya made a decisive move by killing everyone in the inn. As a result, she became unconscious for three days before she awakened.
They started growing up as they gained more experience. It was then they found out the people in the outside world were not as amiable as Uncle Yang and the Seniors on the mountain. They had learned to be careful of the greed and trickery of other people.
Half a year later, they finally arrived at Green Mountain Town.
The reason they’d come to this place was that before Uncle Yang left Seven Stars Town in the past, the address he had left behind was in Green Mountain Town.
It seemed that his home was in Green Mountain Town.
The town wasn’t big, but there were some cultivators moving around. That was because Spirit Sea Temple was located just a few hundred kilometres away from this place. Spirit Sea Temple was considered a First Class Sect in the Void Continent. While the Temple Master was a powerful Second-Order Emperor Realm Master, there were also two Elders in the First-Order Emperor Realm.
Upon entering Green Mountain Town, the pair found an inn and settled down. After that, Zhao Ye Bai excitedly looked for the innkeeper and asked about the whereabouts of Yang Kai, but his efforts were to no avail. Although he was disappointed, he reckoned that they would find Uncle Yang sooner or later since they were in Green Mountain Town.
After a night’s rest, they started moving around the town and making inquiries. Restaurants where people from all walks of life would come together were places they would never miss.
A few days later, they still hadn’t found any useful information as the people in Green Mountain Town had never heard of Yang Kai before.
Zhao Ye Bai thought of looking into the matter by asking about sweet rice dumplings instead; after all, Uncle Yang had learned how to make sweet rice dumplings from Grandma Zhou and had been selling them in Seven Stars Town for years. If he had really returned to Green Mountain Town, he would probably sell sweet rice dumplings again to provide for his family.
By following this trail, Zhao Ye Bai really found out something useful.
He then excitedly returned to the inn and pushed the door open, “Xiao Ya, I know where Uncle Yang is!”
“Have you found him?” Zhao Ya asked with a pleasantly surprised look.
“More or less,” Zhao Ye Bai replied with a smile, “Someone told me that there’s a man who lives in a place about thirty kilometres away from Green Mountain Town. He will come to the town to sell sweet rice dumplings every few days. The appearance and age of that person described to me match those of Uncle Yang.”
“Should we go now?” Zhao Ya gazed at him.
Zhao Ye Bai nodded repeatedly. It had been thirteen years since he last met his Uncle Yang, and he couldn’t wait any longer as he was eager to reunite with him.
They then paid their fees and left the inn before heading in a particular direction.
Zhao Ya was now in the True Element Boundary Ninth Stage. On the other hand, after half a year of adventure, Zhao Ye Bai had achieved a breakthrough to the Qi Transformation Realm.
It only took them an hour to move across thirty kilometres.
The pair came to a place that looked like a village where dozens of families lived by the mountains and rivers. At the entrance of the village was a huge manor, which obviously belonged to a wealthy family.
Since it was dinner time, smoke could be seen billowing from every family’s home.
As soon as Zhao Ye Bai entered the village, he sniffled and became excited, “It’s the smell of sweet rice dumplings. Uncle Yang must be here!”
Zhao Ya nodded repeatedly.
Following the trail of the smell, they arrived at a house. Unable to wait any longer, Zhao Ye Bai shouted, “Uncle Yang! Uncle Yang!”
Upon hearing that, a man in his prime age stepped out of the kitchen and gazed at them in shock, “Who are you looking for?”
Zhao Ye Bai took a step forward and saluted him, “Mister, does Yang Kai live in this place?”
In response, the man shook his head, “I’ve never heard of this person before.”
Zhao Ye Bai was stunned, “Who made these sweet rice dumplings, then?”
“Are you here to buy sweet rice dumplings? I made them,” The man put on a sincere smile.
It was then Zhao Ye Bai examined the man and realised that the latter’s figure and age were indeed similar to those of Uncle Yang.
“Since you love to eat sweet rice dumplings, I’ll give some of them to you,” Upon finishing his words, the man returned to the kitchen. When he reappeared, there were some sweet rice dumplings in his hands as he passed them to Zhao Ye Bai.
Zhao Ye Bai instinctively took them, but he went on to ask, “Mister, have you really not heard of Yang Kai before?”
The man shook his head, “There’s no one in the village with the surname Yang. If you don’t believe me, you can ask the Village Chief about it. His child is a disciple of Spirit Sea Temple, and he’s quite knowledgeable. He knows things that commoners like us don’t.”
As he spoke, he pointed in the direction where the manor was located.
Zhao Ye Bai turned his head to take a glance before nodding, “Thanks for the information, Mister.”
They didn’t take the food for free as they passed the man some money before leaving.
Following that, they arrived at the manor that was in stark contrast to other buildings in the village.
The manor was huge, and could not have been owned by an average businessman. However, since a family member here was a disciple of Spirit Sea Temple, it wasn’t so surprising.
The pair then knocked on the door and waited for a long time before it was opened. A middle-aged man in extravagant clothes stuck out his head and his eyes brightened the moment he saw Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya. He especially couldn’t move his eyes away from Zhao Ya. Even though she had covered her alluring face with a veil to not draw unwanted attention, her demeanour alone was attractive enough to do so.
“Who are you looking for?” The man asked. Although he was an ordinary person who had never cultivated before, he had a family member who was a disciple of Spirit Sea Temple. Since he had come into contact with cultivators before, he wasn’t diffident when facing the people in front of him now.
“Mister, it’s said that you’re knowledgeable, so I’d like to ask you about the whereabouts of a person.”
The man replied with a smile, “I wouldn’t dare to say I’m knowledgeable, but I do know a little more than most people. Who is it that you want to know about?”
It was then Zhao Ye Bai brought up the name Yang Kai.
After giving it a thought with a frown, the man shook his head, “I’ve never heard of this person before.”
Zhao Ye Bai said anxiously, “That’s impossible.”
The man burst into laughter, “I’ve really never heard of him before. I’m familiar with the dozen villages in a radius of 100 kilometres around Green Mountain Town. I’d definitely remember if there was such a person.”
“How could this be?” Zhao Ye Bai appeared dejected. Before Yang Kai departed, the address he had left behind was in Green Mountain Town.
“Are you from Spirit Sea Temple?” The man asked.
Zhao Ya shook her head, “No, we’re from somewhere else.”
“You’re not from Spirit Sea Temple?” The man frowned. He initially thought that they were disciples of Spirit Sea Temple, but it turned out that he was mistaken.
Zhao Ye Bai relentlessly said, “Mister, please give it one more thought. Uncle Yang…”
“I said I don’t know him! Who cares what his name is?” The man was initially friendly, but upon realising that they were not from Spirit Sea Temple, he instantly became impatient.
After saying what he wanted, he shut the door with a loud slam and almost smacked Zhao Ye Bai’s nose.
A hint of ruthlessness flashed through Zhao Ya’s eyes, but as she recalled that the man was just an ordinary mortal, she clenched her teeth and held it in.
“Let’s go, Big Brother Ye Bai. Uncle Yang isn’t here.” Zhao Ya gently pulled Zhao Ye Bai’s arm.
Zhao Ye Bai appeared dispirited as his hope had turned into disappointment. He couldn’t accept the truth.
On the way back to Green Mountain Town, when Zhao Ya saw that Zhao Ye Bai remained sullen and silent, she couldn’t help but placate him by saying, “Since the address left behind by Uncle Yang was in Green Mountain Town, he must be here. We just have to keep looking for him. I’m sure we’ll find him sooner or later.”
“En,” Zhao Ye Bai nodded while looking listless. To him, Uncle Yang was as important as his Mother; both of them were his family members. Since he and Zhao Ya had started cultivating, they were no longer the same little kids they were in the past. It was expected that he wanted to let Uncle Yang enjoy a better life since he was a grown man and a cultivator now.
All of a sudden, Zhao Ya took his hand.
When Zhao Ye Bai turned his head, he saw Zhao Ya looking around with a serious expression. They were in the middle of nowhere, where the grass was tall and the tree leaves swayed with the wind.
“What’s wrong?” he asked in puzzlement.
“There’s a smell of blood!” Zhao Ya furrowed her brows. The next moment, her expression changed drastically as she shouted, “Watch out!”
As soon as she finished speaking, a gentle force exuded from her palm and sent Zhao Ye Bai flying away.
The next instant, a figure abruptly appeared as a sword light slashed across the place where Zhao Ye Bai was initially standing. If Zhao Ya hadn’t pushed him away in time, he would’ve been dead by now.
Zhao Ye Bai fell to the ground and rolled away. When he got to his feet, he saw that Zhao Ya had gotten into an intense battle with the attacker.
The person was holding a sword as he rained fatal attacks down on Zhao Ya.
On the other hand, Zhao Ya wielded her silver spear as she tried her best to counterattack, but she still fell into a disadvantage.
“An Immortal Ascension Boundary Master!” Zhao Ye Bai exclaimed.
He was fully aware of Zhao Ya’s capabilities as she was now in the True Element Boundary Ninth Stage. Moreover, she had been trained by her Master for years, and coupled with her exceptional aptitude, she was able to fight against people above her Realm. However, since the enemy that came out of nowhere could suppress her, there was no doubt that he was in the Immortal Ascension Boundary.
Furthermore, he must be in the Immortal Ascension Boundary Fourth Stage at the very least; otherwise, he couldn’t have suppressed Zhao Ya.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ye Bai noticed that their attacker was injured as his chest was covered in blood. He still seemed to be bleeding and it was this smell of blood that Zhao Ya had detected just now.
“How dare two young brats like you come to provoke me! You won’t leave this place alive!” The man roared through clenched teeth while launching his attacks. Zhao Ya was forced to retreat again and again and it was clear she was having difficulty persevering. The huge gap between their Realms couldn’t be made up for by aptitude alone.
Zhao Ye Bai stood anxious at the side. He had only made it to the Qi Transformation Realm recently, so even though he wanted to help out, there was nothing he could do. If he made a rash move now, he would just become a burden to Zhao Ya instead.
However, upon hearing the person’s words, he soon realised a problem, “Senior, please stop! We only passed by this place by chance! Are you perhaps mistaking us for someone else?”
This man was obviously pursued by some powerful enemies, which was why he was hiding in this place to recuperate. Unfortunately, Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya happened to arrive at this place. It would’ve been all good if they hadn’t discovered anything; nevertheless, the moment Zhao Ya pointed out that there was a smell of blood, this man could no longer keep hiding, which was why he appeared and attacked them.
As expected, the man frowned upon hearing that while his attacks slowed down.
Zhao Ya, who had been at a disadvantage, was slightly relieved, but the next instant, she saw the person charging towards Zhao Ye Bai.
This man was severely wounded, and seeing that he couldn’t defeat Zhao Ya in a short time, he decided to target the weaker Zhao Ye Bai in an attempt to hold him captive and gain control of the situation. He only slowed down his attacks earlier to get Zhao Ya to lower her guard.
The cold light of the sword filled Zhao Ye Bai’s vision and a powerful Divine Sense bound him to the ground, rendering him immobile.
“Die!” Zhao Ya bellowed as her silver spear suddenly radiated a dazzling glow. All her strength was infused into this spear.
The power of the attack far exceeded what could be achieved by the average True Element Boundary cultivator and sent a chill down the spine of the attacker, making it feel as if his soul was about to leave his body.
Unable to keep charging towards Zhao Ye Bai, the man turned around and pushed out his sword.
Blood was seen spurting into the air as the person’s figure was penetrated by Zhao Ya’s spear. He staggered backwards while covering his waist with his hand. With widened eyes, he stared dumbfounded at Zhao Ya.
He had never expected that he would be wounded by a young woman who was only in the True Element Boundary Ninth Stage. No ordinary True Element Boundary cultivator could use the power that she had showcased earlier, so there must be a powerful Master behind her.
The person gritted his teeth and glowered at Zhao Ya. Not daring to get into a prolonged fight with her, he stomped his foot on the ground and disappeared into the forest, leaving behind a trail of blood.
Zhao Ye Bai was reeling from the shock while watching that person leave. Although they had encountered danger a few times during their adventure, this time was definitely the most critical situation of all. Just now, for a moment, he had a feeling that he was at death’s door.
“Are you alright, Big Brother Ye Bai?” Zhao Ya asked caringly.
“I’m fine.” Zhao Ye Bai shook his head, but then his pupils contracted as he stared at Zhao Ya’s left chest, “Xiao Ya, you…”
Zhao Ya put on a smile. Blood streamed out of her chest and dyed her white clothes crimson. Her petite figure staggered for a moment before falling forward.
Zhao Ye Bai dashed forward and supported her weight. He could see that the redness expanded rapidly, which made him feel panicked, like his throat was tightening up, threatening to choke him to death.
“I’m… fine,” Zhao Ya said in a weakened voice.
Zhao Ye Bai was on the brink of bursting into tears. It wasn’t until this moment that he found out that while Zhao Ya had harmed the enemy, she was also injured. Moreover, she was severely wounded.
Upon finishing her words, Zhao Ya closed her eyes as her head slumped to the side.
“Xiao Ya!” Zhao Ye Bai was flustered as his entire figure shook uncontrollably. Fortunately, he could sense that she was still alive and had just passed out because of her injury.
He then hurriedly fished out a healing pill from his Space Ring and stuffed it into her mouth. At the same time, he infused his Yuan Qi into her body in order to help her refine the medicinal efficacies and stop her bleeding.
Zhao Ye Bai knew he shouldn’t stay here any longer. Although that man was defeated by Zhao Ya earlier, he might come back.
Zhao Ye Bai wouldn’t even dare to check on her now as he quickly carried her up and dashed in a different direction.
An hour later, a tiny log house came into his sight.
He had no idea why there was a log house in the middle of the mountain, but he supposed it was a resting place for hunters.
Upon opening the door, Zhao Ye Bai realised there was no one inside; however, this place was obviously cleaned up regularly as there wasn’t even a speck of dust.
The furnishing in the log house was simple, so Zhao Ye Bai gently put Zhao Ya down on the bed and smacked his face with both hands to force himself to calm down. He also took a deep breath before his figure finally stopped shaking.
He extended his hand and placed a finger under her nose and realised that her breathing had stabilised. It seemed that the healing pill had started taking effect.
Nevertheless, when he took a glance at Zhao Ya’s wound, he fell into a dilemma.
She had been injured on the left side of her chest. He had managed to help stop the blood from streaming out of her wound, but it still had to be dressed properly.
However, both of them were no longer children; they were fully grown adults. How was he supposed to help her treat a wound that was on her chest?
Nonetheless, her life was at stake here. If her wound was not dressed, she might lose her life to an infection.
Just when he had made up his mind to make a move, Zhao Ye Bai heard a series of footsteps approaching them.
He suddenly turned his head and yelled, “Who goes there!”
Presently, he was easily alarmed as he was worried that the formidable enemy would pursue them. If that was the case, he wouldn’t be able to ensure Zhao Ya’s safety even if he was willing to lose his life.
The footsteps outside the house came to a halt, and a moment later, a soft voice was heard saying, “Who are you? Why are you in my house?”
It was a woman’s voice!
Zhao Ye Bai quickly calmed himself down and pushed the door open. Lifting his gaze, he saw a woman clad in expensive clothes who appeared to be in her forties. She appeared slightly younger than her age as she had taken good care of her skin; however, there was a tinge of melancholy behind her eyes for some reason.
The woman must be from a wealthy family as the bodyguards behind her were now vigilantly staring at Zhao Ye Bai.
“Seven Stars Town’s Zhao Ye Bai greets Madame.” Zhao Ye Bai respectfully saluted her, “I had no idea that this house belonged to you. Please forgive me for causing any inconvenience.”
The woman examined him and seeing that he was acting politely, she nodded gently, “It’s fine. I don’t use this house often. Since you’re in need of a resting place, you can stay here for a few days.”
Upon finishing her words, she prepared to leave.
She initially decided to come here to get some rest, but since there was an outsider around, it was no longer appropriate for her to do so.
“Madame!” Zhao Ye Bai raised his hand and called out.
The woman turned her head and looked at him doubtfully.
Zhao Ye Bai cupped his fist, “My Sister and I came across a villain just now, and she was injured by him. As a man, it’s not appropriate for me to treat her wound. Will you please lend us a hand, Madame? We would be very grateful.”
“Your Sister is hurt?” The woman was astounded.
Zhao Ye Bai nodded, “She’s inside the house.”
“I’ll have a look,” The woman directly decided to enter the house.
On the other hand, the bodyguards looked cautiously at Zhao Ye Bai and one of them said in a small voice, “Madame, it might be a trap.”
“A life is at stake here,” the woman replied, then led the bodyguards to step into the house. Instantly, a metallic tang came right at their faces.
It wasn’t until the bodyguards saw the frail Zhao Ya on the bed that they believed Zhao Ye Bai’s words.
“Give me some medicine, then all of you should go out,” The woman waved her hand.
Zhao Ye Bai thanked her as he fished out all the necessary items from his Space Ring and put them down beside the bed. It was then he left the house with the bodyguards and closed the door before waiting patiently.
A moment later, someone was heard exclaiming from the house.
A stunned Zhao Ye Bai quickly asked, “What happened, Madame?”
The bodyguards immediately stepped forward in an attempt to barge into the house, but they were forcefully blocked out by Zhao Ye Bai.
“Don’t come in,” the woman was heard saying from the house a moment later. For some reason, her voice sounded shaky as she called out, “I’m fine! I’m fine!”
“Madame, are you really alright?” One of the worried bodyguards asked.
“I said I’m fine!” The woman replied in a firmer tone.
The bodyguards exchanged worried glances. Although they had no idea why the woman cried out just now, they reckoned that they shouldn’t barge in as she had said she was fine. They could only wait patiently.
A while later, the woman in the house said again, “Alright, you can come in now.”
An eager Zhao Ye Bai pushed the door open. When he looked up, he saw Zhao Ya calmly lying on the bed. The woman was just seated beside her as she looked down at her. She didn’t seem to mind the fact that her hands were covered in blood while her gaze was quite gentle.
The strange thing was, Zhao Ye Bai noticed that the woman’s eyes were slightly red, like she had cried earlier.
“I’ve applied some medicine and dressed up her wound. It seems that she’s a cultivator, so as long as she has enough time to recuperate, she’ll be fine,” the woman said.
“Many thanks, Madame!” Zhao Ye Bai cupped his fist as he was evidently relieved.
The woman examined his face for a moment before pretending to be nonchalant as she asked, “You are Brother and Sister? You don’t look alike.”
Zhao Ye Bai replied, “Xiao Ya and I are not biological siblings; however, since we grew up together, we’re just as close as the real Brother and Sister.”
The woman’s eyelashes fluttered as she looked down at Zhao Ya, “Did you offend someone?”
Zhao Ye Bai shook his head, “I have no idea. The reason Xiao Ya and I arrived at this place was to look for a family member, but it was to no avail. When we were about to go back, we came across a formidable enemy. Xiao Ya was hurt because she wanted to save me.”
The woman nodded, “In that case, we can’t stay here any longer. Who knows where the attacker is hiding? Your Sister is now wounded, so she’ll be in danger if that person finds her.”
Zhao Ye Bai replied, “I’ll bring her back to Green Mountain Town now.”
“Green Mountain Town is several dozen kilometres away from here. What if her wound exacerbates during the long journey? If you don’t mind, you can stay at my home for some time. My house is just at the bottom of the mountain, which is not far away from here.”
Zhao Ye Bai appeared to be hesitant and asked, “Will it cause you any trouble?”
He was worried that the enemy might retaliate against them and barge into the woman’s house.
The woman put on a smile, “Don’t worry. To be honest with you, my Son is a disciple from Spirit Sea Temple, and he’s a pretty successful cultivator now. That person would never dare to make a scene in my house.”
Zhao Ye Bai became startled for a moment, “Are you a family member of the Village Chief, Madame?”
She just said that her house was at the bottom of the mountain, which would put it in the village they had visited earlier. There was no way there were two people who were the disciples of Spirit Sea Temple in such a tiny village. If Zhao Ye Bai wasn’t mistaken, the woman should be the Village Chief’s Wife.
As expected, the woman nodded, “That’s right.”
Zhao Ye Bai rose from the chair and cupped his fist, “Many thanks for your righteousness, Madame. I, Zhao Ye Bai, am truly grateful.”
“Don’t be overly polite with me. I have a Daughter who is about the same age as her. If you don’t mind it, you can call me Aunty Mei.”
Zhao Ye Bai nodded and obediently called her Aunty Mei.
It was then that the woman smiled and nodded before she got up, “It’s getting late now. We should be on our way.”
Zhao Ye Bai nodded and carried the unconscious Zhao Ya up before following Zhen Xue Mei, who nervously reminded him to be careful so as not to irritate Zhao Ya’s wound. It appeared that she was even more anxious than Zhao Ye Bai.
As they moved forward, Zhen Xue Mei asked Zhao Ye Bai some questions while he replied to her honestly. Upon learning that it took them half a year to go from Seven Stars Town to this place, she was quite surprised.
Soon, they arrived at the manor that was located at the entrance of the village. Zhen Xue Mei pushed the door open and personally helped settle Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya down in a guest room. Following that, she ordered two clever maidservants to serve them before she returned to her room to get some rest, though she kept looking back as she left.
The candlelight flickered inside the room as Zhen Xue Mei was facing her dressing table. With reddened eyes, she started crying in silence.
A middle-aged man in extravagant clothes pushed the door open. He was the Village Chief, Xu Liang Cai, whom Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya had met some time ago.
There was a dark expression on Xu Liang Cai’s face as he took a seat and poured himself a cup of tea. Upon finishing the tea, he said, “I heard from the servants that you’ve brought two strangers home.”
Zhen Xue Mei fell silent.
Xu Liang Cai landed a fist on the table and yelled, “That’s ridiculous! Those people obviously have some kind of powerful enemy! By bringing them back here, it’s no different from inviting trouble to ourselves! What if their enemy invades our house? Although there are bodyguards here, they’re not very strong. How are they supposed to survive? Do you want our family to be destroyed?”
Looking at him through the reflection of the bronze mirror, Zhen Xue Mei asked, “Husband, do you remember Dong’er?”
Xu Liang Cai’s fury came to an abrupt halt, and then he knitted his brows, “Why did you bring that up all of a sudden?”
Zhen Xue Mei put on a cheerless smile, “She was just five days old when she was dumped on the mountain in the middle of winter. I quickly went to look for her, but I couldn’t find her regardless of how hard I tried. No one knew whether she was taken away by some beast.”
It was Xu Liang Cai’s turn to fall silent now.
Presently, Zhen Xue Mei’s face was covered in tears, “I carried her for ten months of pregnancy before I finally gave birth to her, but you secretly threw her away. How could you be so ruthless?”
Xu Liang Cai let out a sigh, “I had no choice back then. We were poor, so having another baby would put a strain on our finances. How were we supposed to provide for her? I was forced to do it. Now, I can even provide for ten kids, let alone one.”
Zhen Xue Mei sneered, “How much food would a baby need? You were forced to do it? Would you still have the heart to throw her away if she were a boy?”
An impatient Xu Liang Cai snapped, “Many years have passed, and you should put this matter down! Moreover, I looked for her in the past, but how was I supposed to find her when there are so many people in the world? You’re also aware that it was winter when the incident happened. She was just five days old. Even if she was not taken away by some beast, she would’ve been frozen to death.”
“I can never let this matter go!” Zhen Xue Mei said through clenched teeth, “She’s my Daughter!”
“Hao’er is also your child! How much care have you given him over the years? Why can’t you forget a dead person?”
“She is not dead!”
“Enough!” Xu Liang Cai landed his fist on the table again and stood straight up, “I think you’ve gone mad. You always go up the mountain whenever you feel like it. What could there be on that mountain after all those years? What do you think you can find? I’ve never interfered because I feel guilty, but I never expected that you would become so impudent now! Tell those people to scram tomorrow morning, or else I’ll personally chase them out!”
As he spoke, someone was heard knocking on the door from outside.
“What’s the matter?” Xu Liang Cai bellowed.
The servant outside the room replied, “Master, Madame, the Young Master is back, and he’s brought back some of his Fellow Brothers.”
Upon hearing that, Xu Liang Cai became elated as he quickly rose from the chair.
Before he even stepped out of the room, he heard someone calling out in an energetic voice, “Father, Mother, I’m back!”
Following that, a well-built young man stepped into the place.
An agitated Xu Liang Cai clenched the young man’s arms, “It’s really you, Hao’er!”
Xu Hao called out with joy, “Father!”
“That’s great! I’m glad that you’re back.” Xu Liang Cai examined him, “It’s been three years since we last met, and you’ve become stronger. How’s life in Spirit Sea Temple?”
Xu Hao replied with a smile, “Don’t worry, Father. My Master and Senior Brothers treat me very well.”
Xu Liang Cai felt relieved and gratified hearing that.
After Zhen Xue Mei was done with wiping her tears off, she came out and smiled amicably, “You’re back, Hao’er.”
“Mother!” Xu Hao called out excitedly. The Mother and Son then shared some joyous small talk.
Worried that his Son might notice that something was off about Zhen Xue Mei, Xu Liang Cai interrupted them by saying, “I heard from the servants that your Fellow Brothers have come here as well.”
Xu Hao nodded, “Yes. They’re outside right now, so I’ve ordered the chefs to prepare a banquet.”
“They must have helped you out a lot. As your Father, I have to personally thank them. You should come and introduce them to me.”
“Good.” Xu Hao nodded before turning to Zhen Xue Mei, “You should get some rest, Mother. I’ll visit you again tomorrow.”
“Go on,” Zhen Xue Mei looked smilingly at him.
A moment later, Xu Hao introduced his Senior Brothers to Xu Liang Cai. After the introductions were over, they were all seated.
Xu Liang Cai could see that there was a bulging package in front of the Senior Brother who was clearly the leader of this group, and he couldn’t help wondering what was inside.
When Xu Hao introduced his Senior Brothers, he had placed some emphasis on this person. That was the reason Xu Liang Cai found out that this Senior Brother, named Hu Xun, was the most powerful among them, and they all regarded him as their leader.
In fact, Xu Liang Cai was aware of who Hu Xun was even before today, but it was the first time he had met him. That was because Xu Hao had repeatedly mentioned this Senior Brother in the letters that he sent home. He said that this Senior Brother took good care of him in Spirit Sea Temple, and they were Disciples of the same Master. Hence, they were truly Senior and Junior Brothers.
That was the reason Xu Liang Cai was especially fond of Hu Xun. Although he was just an ordinary mortal, he was as hospitable to Hu Xun as possible because of his Son.
“Noble Nephew Hu, if I may ask, what is that?” Xu Liang Cai inquired curiously while looking at the package.
In an instant, the expressions of the people by the table became awkward.
Hu Xun looked smilingly at Xu Hao, who replied in his place, “Father, don’t be afraid, but the truth is it’s a head.”
Xu Liang Cai was stunned, “A head? Whose head is it?”
“It’s the head of a criminal!” Hu Xun explained, “The reason we came down the mountain this time was to hunt down this person. He had committed atrocious crimes in a lot of places, so the Sect Master ordered us to execute him. Upon receiving the order, we left the mountain together. We had exchanged some moves with him before, but this person was indeed powerful. Although we had badly injured him, he had managed to flee. We went on to hunt him down for a few days but to no avail. Not long ago, Junior Brother Xu said that his home was around here, so he proposed we get some rest here before continuing with the hunt. It never crossed our minds that we would come across our target’s corpse in the wild on our way here. Our task was completed just like that. Junior Brother Xu is truly our lucky Star!”
Xu Hao burst into laughter, “I didn’t expect that there would be such a coincidence.”
They still couldn’t believe it when they came across this guy. The target they had spent days tracking suddenly appeared in front of them, and he was already dead.
“I see,” Xu Liang Cai was still reeling from shock, but he wasn’t willing to lose his cool in front of his Son’s Senior Brothers and embarrass him, so he sported a calm expression.
Hu Xun said, “It’s a shame that we have no idea who killed this guy. If we knew, we could have thanked them.”
Xu Liang Cai said, “Noble Nephew Hu, perhaps the injuries you had inflicted on him were so severe that he was unable to recover and that was why he passed away.”
Hu Xun shook his head, “That’s not the case. I examined his wounds and realised that he was killed with a spear. We didn’t inflict such an injury on him when we exchanged moves with him some time ago. The person who had made a move might not be very powerful, but they had good timing. However, I believe that the person who finished him off was also badly injured after killing this thug.”
Xu Liang Cai became startled upon hearing that and muttered, “Could it be them?”
Xu Hao asked curiously, “Who are you talking about, Father?”
After giving it a thought, Xu Liang Cai briefly told them that Zhen Xue Mei had brought back two people from the mountain. He had heard everything from the bodyguards. When Zhao Ye Bai had a chat with Zhen Xue Mei, he talked about a fight previously, which was the reason Xu Liang Cai associated them with the killing of this criminal.
Upon hearing that, Hu Xun and Xu Hao exchanged glances. The former nodded and said, “In that case, I suppose they’re the ones. What a coincidence. Your Mother is a kind-hearted person. The average person might not be willing to bring injured people back to their home.”
Xu Hao put on a smile, “My Mother has always been like that.”
Hu Xun then gazed at Xu Liang Cai, “Sir, since they’re in your house, can you invite them to come over and meet us? It’s thanks to them that we were able to easily complete the task from the Master Sect. I’d like to thank them personally.”
There was a hint of hesitation on Xu Liang Cai’s face, “To be honest with you, it’s not convenient to do so. According to the servants who brought those people back, the woman is severely injured as she’s still unconscious now.”
Hu Xun quickly rose from the chair, “In that case, I’ll have to see her. I have some healing pills with me that might help.”
Seeing that the man was so persistent, Xu Liang Cai found it hard to turn him down and eventually nodded, “Please wait a moment. I’ll make the arrangements.”
Hu Xun cupped his fist, “Many thanks, sir.”
Xu Liang Cai stepped into the inner court and told a maidservant to pass on his word to Zhao Ye Bai, who soon rushed over and cupped his fist, “Zhao Ye Bai greets Sir Village Chief.”
“It’s you!” Xu Liang Cai stared dazedly at the man. He only knew that his Wife had brought two people home with her, but he hadn’t expected that they were the very ones he had met in the morning. He could instantly recognise Zhao Ye Bai when he saw him.
There was an awkward expression on Xu Liang Cai’s face, for he wasn’t very polite to the two of them earlier this morning.
After clearing his throat, he mentioned Hu Xun and the others as well as their suggestion to Zhao Ye Bai, who frowned upon hearing that and said, “Xiao Ya is still unconscious. Moreover, I’ve helped her consume some healing pills already. I thank Senior Brother Hu for his kindness, but it’s not convenient for him to see my Sister at this moment.”
It was then Xu Liang Cai said in a grim voice, “Noble Nephew Zhao, it’s not that I want to force you to do anything just because I’m older, but Noble Nephew Hu is a powerful disciple from Spirit Sea Temple. Since he’s sincere as he wants to express his gratitude, it’s hard for me to turn him down. Moreover, the medicine you have with you might not be as good as his. It will do your Sister no harm to let him have a look.”
Certainly, Zhao Ye Bai wasn’t willing to let anyone disturb Zhao Ya; however, since Xu Liang Cai, the owner of this place, had said so, it was difficult to reject him.
After a moment of deliberation, he nodded, “I’ll thank Senior Brother Hu in advance, then.”
With a smile, Xu Liang Cai patted the other man’s shoulder, “Wait a moment. I’ll tell them to come over now.”
Upon finishing his words, he turned around and left.
A while later, Xu Liang Cai brought two young men to come over. After some introductions, Zhao Ye Bai found out that the older one was the disciple of Spirit Sea Temple that Xu Liang Cai had mentioned, Hu Xun. The younger one was his son, Xu Hao, who was also a disciple of Spirit Sea Temple.
They then saluted one another. Although Hu Xun appeared polite, there was a faint sense of arrogance in his demeanour. Since Zhao Ye Bai was weaker, he was unable to see through the other party’s cultivation. On the other hand, Hu Xun could see at first glance that Zhao Ye Bai was only in the Qi Transformation Realm.
A doubt arose in his heart. [Since this man is so weak, could his companion be any more powerful? Was our target really killed by the two of them?]
“What’s your Sect, Junior Brother Zhao?” Hu Xun asked nonchalantly.
Zhao Ye Bai scratched his head, “I’ve never joined any Sect before.”
It was then Hu Xun came to the realisation that this person must have a terrible aptitude, so no Sect was willing to take him on as a disciple. That was why he only managed to make it to the Qi Transformation Realm at this age.
“What’s the Realm your Sister is in?”
Zhao Ye Bai never hid anything as he replied, “She’s now in the True Element Boundary Ninth-Stage.”
“True Element Boundary Ninth-Stage!” Hu Xun arched his brow. With such cultivation, it was possible that she had managed to kill their target; after all, they had severely injured him previously, so it was reasonable that the woman managed to get lucky and defeat him.
“I heard that your Sister was badly injured during the battle. It so happens that I’ve brought with me some special healing pills made in my Master Sect with excellent medicinal efficacies. May I go in and have a look?”
“This way, Senior Brother Hu,” Zhao Ye Bai extended his hand.
Before they even entered the room, they heard some footsteps approaching them. They turned their heads and saw Zhen Xue Mei emerging from the corner. It seemed that she had rushed over as she was panting heavily.
“What are you doing here?” Xu Liang Cai frowned.
A nervous Zhen Xue Mei replied, “The servants told me that all of you have gathered together here. I had no idea what was going on, so I decided to come over and see for myself.”
Xu Liang Cai said, “It’s nothing serious. Noble Nephew Hu just wants to check on the woman.”
It was then Zhen Xue Mei let out a sigh of relief.
To the side, Xu Hao spoke gently to Hu Xun, who then stepped forward, “Spirit Sea Temple’s Hu Xuan greets Madame.”
Zhen Xue Mei smiled and nodded, “There’s no need to be overly polite with me. Hao’er has repeatedly mentioned in his letters that you take good care of him in the Sect. As his parents, we’d should express our gratitude.”
Appearing to be humble, Hu Xun replied, “I don’t deserve your gratitude, Madame. Junior Brother Xu has an outstanding aptitude, and Honoured Master regards him highly. I’m only older than him by a few years as a Senior Brother, so it’s my duty to take care of him.”
After some small talk, they subsequently entered the room.
A faint smell of blood still lingered in the air, and Zhao Ya was lying there with her eyes closed as her face pale.
Zhao Ye Bai led them to the bed. When Zhen Xue Mei looked down, her eyes reddened in an instant as her eyelashes fluttered.
On the other hand, Xu Hao and the others were stunned as they stared fixedly at the woman on the bed. It wasn’t like they had never seen beautiful women before, but none of them were comparable to the one lying on the bed before them at all. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that Zhao Ya’s beauty could cause the downfall of a city. When Zhao Ye Bai and her were travelling across the world, Zhao Ya’s beauty had attracted a lot of unwanted trouble.
After several incidents, she had no choice but to cover her face with a veil, which prevented many conflicts from happening.
Since she was recuperating in bed now though, her face naturally wasn’t covered.
Her pale face gave off a sense of morbid beauty. Any man who saw her in such a state would pity her and hope to become injured and lie on the bed in her stead.
Xu Liang Cai was amazed as well. Although he hadn’t managed to see Zhao Ya’s face in the morning, he had a feeling that this woman was extremely beautiful. When he finally saw her now though, her beauty still greatly surprised him.
At that moment, the room fell dead silent.
Realising that something was off, Zhen Xue Mei said with a frown, “Noble Nephew Hu, didn’t you say you’ve brought some healing medicine from your Master Sect?”
“En, here you go,” Hu Xun came to his senses and quickly fished out a bottle of Spirit Pills from his Space Ring. He was then ready to go over and feed Zhao Ya a pill.
Seeing that, Zhao Ye Bai hurriedly stopped him, “Senior Brother Hu, please leave it to me. I wouldn’t dare to trouble you.”
Hu Xun shot him a glance, but there was no reason for him to insist; therefore, he passed the bottle to Zhao Ye Bai, “Help her take one pill now, and do it again every six hours.”
“I’ll remember,” Zhao Ye Bai nodded, but he didn’t immediately feed a pill to Zhao Ya.
That was because before their departure, Zhao Ya’s Master had passed them a lot of Spirit Pills. Given Senior’s power and status, the medicines that came from him must be the best of the best. Regardless of how useful the Spirit Pills that were given by Hu Xun, there was no way they could be better than what were in Zhao Ye Bai’s possession.
The reason he even accepted this bottle of pills was that he didn’t want to offend Hu Xun.
In order to change the subject, Zhao Ye Bai hurriedly asked, “Senior Brother, given your vision, can you tell how badly injured Xiao Ya is?”
After examining her for a moment, Hu Xun replied, “Her aura is stable, and her vitality is ample. I believe she’ll be fine. However, I’ll need to carry out a thorough examination on her to find out more.”
“Please check on her now then, Noble Nephew Hu,” Xu Liang Cai said. As a sly old man, he could easily tell Hu Xun’s intentions.
Zhen Xue Mei furrowed her brows, “It’s not appropriate for a man to inspect an unconscious woman’s body.”
Xu Liang Cai shot her a glare, “What do you know? Unlike ordinary people like us, cultivators wouldn’t be bothered about such trifles.”
“I don’t think it’s a trifle. Men and women who are not family members are not supposed to come into contact,” Zhen Xue Mei refuted sternly.
Xu Liang Cai had never expected that his Wife would embarrass him in front of such important guests, so his face had reddened with exasperation.
Just then, a weakened voice was heard calling out, “Big Brother Ye Bai…”
When they turned their heads, they saw that Zhao Ya’s lashes were fluttering. Her clear eyes opened the next moment and seemed to become an abyss that could trap the gazes of all the men present.
“Xiao Ya!” Zhao Ye Bai quickly took a seat beside her and touched her forehead before appearing relieved, “You’re finally awake.”
To the side, Zhen Xue Mei shook slightly. It seemed that she wanted to step forward, but she stopped herself from doing so in the end.
Zhao Ya nodded slightly, then gazed at the people beside the bed with vigilance, “Who are they?”
Zhao Ye Bai comforted her by saying, “Don’t worry. They’re not bad people.”
He then went on to introduce these people to her.
Only after he was finished did Zhao Ya nod, “I’m fine. I just need some time to recuperate.”
Hearing that, Zhen Xue Mei hurriedly said, “Young Lady, please get some rest and don’t worry about anything. We’ll take our leave now.”
Without responding to her, Zhao Ya closed her eyes.
Seeing that, they could only leave with Zhen Xue Mei. Zhao Ye Bai saw them off and returned to the room.
Xu Liang Cai brought Hu Xun and Xu Hao back to the banquet. As they drank more wine, the atmosphere became merry.
The banquet ended in the middle of the night as they returned to their rooms to get some rest.
The next morning, the people of Spirit Sea Temple came together. Hu Xun, as their leader, said, “All of you should take the criminal’s head back to the Master Sect first. Junior Brother Xu doesn’t come back home frequently, so he’ll stay here for a bit longer.”
“What about you, Senior Brother Hu?” Someone asked.
Hu Xun replied, “During our mission, I sensed a turning point in my cultivation, so I want to spend some time comprehending it. This place is peaceful and serene, which suits my needs. I’ll remain here for a short time. Go back now and tell my Master about it.”
“Yes,” they all agreed immediately.
After seeing his Fellow Brothers of Spirit Sea Temple off, Hu Xun turned his gaze to Xu Hao, “Junior Brother Xu, how have I treated you over the years?”
Xu Hao replied firmly, “Other than my parents, Senior Brother Hu has treated me the best. You were the one who took care of me when I first joined the Sect. I’ll never forget the favour you’ve shown me.”
With a gratified expression, Hu Xun patted the other man’s shoulder, “I know you’re a grateful person. I’ve always focused on Martial Dao, so although I’ve come of age, I’ve never considered getting myself a partner. However, life is full of surprises. Since the right woman has appeared, I should give it a serious thought. Will you lend me a hand, Junior Brother?”
“Do you have your eyes on that woman, Senior Brother?” Xu Hao wasn’t a fool. Although Hu Xun had never made it clear, Xu Hao could understand what the other man was trying to say.
Anyway, no man wouldn’t be tempted by such an alluring woman. Last night, he was in a dazed state while cultivating as he couldn’t help thinking about the woman’s slightly pale face. Although the woman was clearly older than him by a few years, cultivators typically enjoyed a very long life; hence, the difference in their age didn’t matter.
If he was able to marry such a woman, Xu Hao was willing to pay half of his lifespan in exchange.
However, at this moment, Hu Xun was expressing his thoughts right in front of him.
Xu Hao was displeased and furious as someone else had his eyes on the woman he was interested in; nevertheless, when he was facing this Senior Brother, who had been taking care of him since he was a young kid, he had no way to vent his anger.
“Junior Brother, if you can lend me a hand and make it happen, I’ll put in a good word for you in front of Honoured Master. I’ll ask him to teach you the second part of the Tempest Art.”
Xu Hao was immediately tempted.
Although he was also a disciple of Spirit Sea Temple, his status was not comparable to that of Hu Xun. While Hu Xun was a Core Disciple in Spirit Sea Temple, Xu Hao was a less important Common Disciple. That was why Hu Xun was the leader that was in charge of the mission they were given by the Master Sect.
Over the years, he had only cultivated the first part of the Tempest Art and made it to the Third-Order True Element Boundary. In order to improve his cultivation, he had to get the second part of the Tempest Art.
However, his Master didn’t seem to have the intention of teaching it to him any time soon as he still wanted to give him more tests. This mission was one of the tests.
If Hu Xun was willing to put in a good word for him, Xu Hao could easily get the second part of the Tempest Art.
There wasn’t a lack of beautiful women in the world, but there was only one Tempest Art. Moreover, even if he competed with Hu Xun, he might not be the one who would marry the woman in the end.
Although he wasn’t really willing to give up, Xu Hao soon made up his mind and nodded, “Senior Brother, you’ve treated me like a real Brother all this time. If there’s any way I can help, just tell me right away.”
Hu Xun smiled and nodded before patting the other man’s shoulders, “You’re indeed my good Junior Brother. That woman is severely wounded, so it will take her a month or two to recuperate. En, help me find out about her background first.”
A curious Xu Hao asked, “That guy named Zhao Ye Bai said he hasn’t joined any Sect. I suppose the two of them had started cultivating due to some opportunity.”
Hu Xun replied, “That’s just what he said, we’d better find out more first.”
“Alright. Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I’ll look into it.”
In the next few days, Zhao Ya stayed in the room to recuperate. Zhen Xue Mei would visit her every day and stay for a few hours each time. She would talk to Zhao Ya when the latter was awake, and she would keep guard by her side when she was asleep.
On the other hand, Zhao Ye Bai felt apologetic as he thought that they had been troubling Zhen Xue Mei.
During this period of time, Xu Hao once brought Hu Xun to look for Zhen Xue Mei. They also visited Zhao Ya while they were there.
However, after that, Zhen Xue Mei would make sure to meet them outside the room whenever they came. She wouldn’t allow them to disturb Zhao Ya.
During Zhao Ya’s thirteen-year stay on Azure Jade Peak, her cultivation had been deliberately suppressed by Yang Kai, but while her cultivation improved slowly, her physique had been significantly improved.
Just like Zhao Ye Bai, her physique was one of the strongest among the cultivators in the same age and Realm; however, her frail-looking figure could easily fool others.
Although she was severely injured, it only took her five days to get out of bed, and it only took her another few days to start walking.
While her strong physique contributed to her rapid recovery, the Spirit Pills given by Yang Kai were another reason.
Following Hu Xun’s order, Xu Hao had asked his mother some indirect questions and found out more about Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya. Nevertheless, they rarely revealed any personal information, so the information Xu Hao could get was limited as well.
“They’re from Seven Stars Town?” Hu Xun frowned as the candlelight flickered in the room.
“Although I’ve never heard of Seven Stars Town before, I know a thing or two about Seven Stars Sect. It’s said that they were still a Second Class Sect in the past; then, all of a sudden, a Third-Order Emperor Realm Master became their Ancestor. That’s how they instantly became a First Class Sect.”
Hu Xun nodded, “I’m aware of that as well. I suppose Seven Stars Town relies on Seven Stars Sect to exist.”
“In that case, they’re probably the disciples of Seven Stars Sect.”
Hu Xun gently knocked on the table, “That guy has a terrible aptitude as he’s only in the Qi Transformation Realm at such an age. He might be speaking the truth when he said that he has never joined any Sect. He probably has nothing to do with Seven Stars Sect. On the other hand, Zhao Ya might be from Seven Stars Sect. However, even if it’s true, she must be a Common Disciple.”
Xu Hao bowed his head, “You have a point, Senior Brother.”
Zhao Ya was older than him by a few years, but she was only in the True Element Boundary Ninth Stage, so he supposed that her aptitude was no better than his. Even if she was really a disciple from Seven Stars Sect, she wouldn’t be an important figure.
Following that, Xu Hao fawned over him by saying, “Given your cultivation and status, Zhao Ya is extremely lucky to have gained your favour.”
Hu Xun shook his head, “But that woman is pretty cold and dispassionate. It won’t be easy to win her heart.”
Over the past few days, they had been trying to come into contact with Zhao Ya, but during their rare encounters, she always sported an indifferent expression and wouldn’t even spare them a glance. On the other hand, she seemed very concerned about Zhao Ye Bai, which infuriated Hu Xun.
As a Core Disciple of Spirit Sea Temple, he managed to make it to the Immortal Ascension Boundary Third Stage at such a young age. In the Sect, he was always surrounded by Senior Sisters and Junior Sisters. There had never been a woman who dared to treat him coldly.
“Let’s not forget about your Mother,” Hu Xun glared at him as he spoke.
For some reason, Zhen Xue Mei had always stayed by Zhao Ya’s side in the past few days, which made Hu Xun unable to reveal his charm in front of the alluring woman.
There was a meek expression on Xu Hao’s face as he changed the topic by saying, “Zhao Ya has recovered pretty quickly. Despite her injury, she could start walking after a few days.”
Hu Xun said coldly, “I can’t stay here for a long time as we need to head back to the Master Sect as soon as possible. No one will be able to take responsibility if Honoured Master blames us.”
“What should we do, then?” While secretly taking pleasure in the other man’s misfortune, Xu Hao never revealed any emotions on his face. Although he didn’t have a chance to get Zhao Ya, he wouldn’t want to see Hu Xun getting together with her either. Returning to the Sect without achieving anything would be the best outcome for him.
There was a dark expression on Hu Xun’s face as a sense of coldness flashed through his eyes, “In that case, I’ll have to go hard on her. A woman will become obedient after she’s bedded.”
Xu Hao was stunned, “Senior Brother, you…”
Hu Xun said grimly, “You have to help me, Junior Brother.”
Upon hearing that, Xu Hao became anxious.
The next day, Zhen Xue Mei was talking to Zhao Ya in the room, and as usual, she was the one who did all the talking while Zhao Ya listened in silence.
Certainly, Zhen Xue Mei could see that Zhao Ya wasn’t paying attention to her, but she didn’t mind it. Fortunately, Zhao Ye Bai would join the conversation from time to time.
Whenever that happened, Zhao Ya would be all ears as she smiled with her mouth covered.
Just then, footsteps were heard rapidly approaching them. They turned their heads and saw Xu Hao rushing over.
“Hao’er!” Zhen Xue Mei rose from the chair, “What are you doing here?”
Xu Hao replied with a smile, “Father wants to see you, Mother.”
“Your Father is looking for me?” Zhen Xue Mei was surprised.
Xu Hao nodded, “Yes. I don’t know what the matter is, but he seems anxious.”
Zhen Xue Mei furrowed her brows, but she soon set herself at ease. She then said to Zhao Ya and Zhao Ye Bai, “Get some rest now. I’ll have a look.”
Zhao Ye Bai got up and said, “See you later, Aunty Mei.”
After she was gone, Zhao Ye Bai cupped his fist at Xu Hao, “We’re sorry for troubling you these past few days, Senior Brother Xu. Xiao Ya has mostly recovered, so we’ll be leaving soon.”
“You’re leaving so soon?” Xu Hao was shocked as he took a glance at the dispassionate Zhao Ya. He wasn’t willing to part ways with her.
Zhao Ye Bai nodded, “The reason we’ve come all the way here is to look for someone. Unfortunately, we haven’t had any clues yet, so we’ll have to keep searching.”
Xu Hao subconsciously nodded.
“This Hu can lend you a hand if you’re trying to look for a specific person; after all, this area is the territory of Spirit Sea Temple. If the two of you don’t mind, you can come to Spirit Sea Temple with me. I’ll definitely find the person you’re looking for.” Hu Xun’s voice was heard coming from outside. The next moment, he stepped into the room.
Zhao Ya slightly narrowed her eyes as she turned her face away.
On the other hand, Zhao Ye Bai frowned. This was Xu Hao’s home, so he could be forgiven for coming into the room without invitation; however, Hu Xun had crossed the line by doing so. With that said, Zhao Ye Bai wasn’t someone who liked to make things difficult for others, so he still politely cupped his fist, “Senior Brother Hu.”
Hu Xun didn’t even spare him a glance as he stared fervently at Zhao Ya as though he wanted to eat her alive, “Are you willing to come back to Spirit Sea Temple with me, Sister Zhao Ya?”
Zhao Ya didn’t even lift her gaze as she said coldly, “Scram!”
Hu Xun’s expression changed, then he took a deep breath and put on a grin, “Sister Zhao Ya, you’re a beautiful and intelligent woman, so I don’t believe you haven’t realised my feelings for you. Although I’ve met countless women in the past, you’re the only one who could make me fall in love. I sincerely want you to come to Spirit Sea Temple with me. Don’t worry, I’ll ask my Master to hold a wedding for us. We’ll live together forever, and you’ll be my only woman.”
Zhao Ye Bai was dumbfounded upon hearing that as he had never expected that a man could speak to a woman like that. This was something completely new to him.
At the same time, he felt displeased in his heart as he had the urge to beat someone up for the first time. He initially had a good impression of Hu Xun, but looking at him now, he just felt that the man was despicable and hideous.
“I told you to get out. Are you deaf or what?” Zhao Ya finally lifted her eyes. Her gaze was like an ice sheet that had been frozen for thousands of years.
Hu Xun let out a sigh, “Since you’ve refused a toast, you must drink a loss. Junior Brother Xu!”
There was a conflicted expression on Xu Hao’s face, but the next moment, he subdued Zhao Ye Bai.
A dumbstruck Zhao Ye Bai called out, “Senior Brother Xu?”
Xu Hao appeared guilty as he lugged Zhao Ye Bai away in silence.
A loud bang was heard coming from behind Zhao Ye Bai as Zhao Ya and Hu Xun exchanged moves. Seeing that Zhao Ye Bai was captured, she wanted to save him, but the well-prepared Hu Xun wouldn’t let her succeed.
After intercepting her, Hu Xun said, “If you’re obedient, Zhao Ye Bai will be fine; however, if you resist, I can’t guarantee whether that brat will survive.”
“I’ll rip your corpse into 10,000 pieces if Big Brother Ye Bai loses a single strand of hair,” Zhao Ya shot him a piercing glance.
Hu Xun roared, “Why are you so concerned about such a useless waste? I was already a True Element Boundary Master at his age, but he’s only in the Qi Transformation Realm! Only this Hu has the right to spend the rest of his life with you!”
“You’re the waste here!” Zhao Ya sneered as she extended her hand and summoned a silver spear before pointing it at him, “Tell Xu Hao to send Big Brother Ye Bai back, and I’ll spare your life.”
Hu Xun let out a sigh, “Since you’re so obstinate, don’t blame me for not treating you gently.”
Outside the court, Zhao Ye Bai sighed, “What’s the point of him doing all this?”
After lugging him out of the court, Xu Hao directly released him. He didn’t intend to restrict him in any way. Given the fact that he was a True Element Boundary Master, Zhao Ye Bai could never make a scene in front of him.
As he listened to the noises of the battle and sensed the clashes of powers, he felt bitter in his heart; after all, the alluring woman would belong to Hu Xun in just a moment.
When he turned his head and saw Zhao Ye Bai looking all calm, he frowned, “Aren’t you worried about Zhao Ya?”
A puzzled Zhao Ye Bai asked, “What’s there to worry about?”
On top of numerous healing pills, the pair had also brought two Artifact Armours with them when they left Azure Jade Peak to venture into the outside world.
Those Artifact Armours were given to Zhao Ya during the Disciple Recruitment of Seven Stars Sect in the past. At that time, Yang Kai kept those gifts for her.
It wasn’t until she had to leave the mountain that he gave some of the artifacts back to her.
However, both Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya had never thought about putting the artifacts on all along. They didn’t want to rely on any external aids during their journey as they wanted to push their limits and test themselves.
A few days ago though, Zhao Ya was severely injured, and she still hadn’t fully recovered even now. Worried that something might happen while she was in a weakened state, Zhao Ye Bai told her to put on her Artifact Armour.
Naturally, Zhao Ya wouldn’t disobey him.
The Artifact Armour was made by an Elder from Seven Stars Sect who was in the Dao Source Realm, so it was extremely valuable to a cultivator in the True Element Boundary. One could be well protected by putting it on. Even someone in the Transcendent Realm would not be able to harm Zhao Ya, not to mention that Hu Xun was only in the Immortal Ascension Boundary.
Perhaps only people in the Origin Returning Realm and Origin King Realm could break through the defensive power of the Artifact Armour.
Xu Hao was dumbfounded as he gazed at Zhao Ye Bai. He couldn’t believe that such a person existed in the world. His Sister hadn’t fully recovered, and she was now locked in an intense battle with a stronger foe. If she was defeated, her modesty would be violated; however, this man was not anxious at all.
All of a sudden, Zhao Ye Bai appeared worried, “Xiao Ya hasn’t recovered yet. Her wound would be irritated by making a move.”
“That’s all you’re worried about?” Xu Hao thought that there must be something wrong with this guy’s head as the latter hadn’t realised the severity of the matter.
After giving it a thought, Zhao Ye Bai replied in a nervous tone, “Xiao Ya has a rather ruthless personality. I hope she doesn’t kill Senior Brother Hu.”
At that moment, Xu Hao no longer wanted to talk to him.
Just then, Xu Liang Cai and Zhen Xue Mei rushed over and a flustered Xu Liang Cai asked, “Hao’er, what’s going on?”
He was perplexed when Zhen Xue Mei looked for him just now. Before they could figure out what their son was up to though, they heard the noises of a battle, which was why they rushed over.
There was a meek expression on Xu Hao’s face as he blocked the entrance of the court, “Nothing. It’s just that Senior Brother Hu wanted to exchange some pointers with that young lady.”
“Exchange pointers?” Zhen Xue Mei’s expression changed, “That’s ridiculous! Xiao Ya hasn’t recovered yet, so how is she able to exchange moves with another person? Why didn’t you stop them, Hao’er?”
Upon finishing her words, she was ready to rush in and stop them.
“Mother!” Xu Hao steadfastly blocked the entrance as he pressed his lips together and shook his head.
Zhen Xue Mei’s face turned pale as she gazed at her son’s guilty-looking eyes.
It was apparent that the people in the court were not exchanging pointers.
Upon that realisation, Xu Liang Cai furrowed his brows.
Certainly, he was not pleased with Hu Xun’s action in his house, but that man was his son’s Senior Brother after all, and Xu Hao’s future hinged on him. Hence, despite his displeasure, he wasn’t willing to interfere in the matter.
To him, both Zhao Ya and Zhao Ye Bai were just strangers, so their life or death had nothing to do with him.
“In that case, we’ll just let them do whatever they want,” Xu Liang Cai said, then motioned to his Wife to stay out of it.
On the other hand, Zhen Xue Mei’s face was as pale as a white sheet while she clenched her son’s arms and begged, “Hao’er, stop your Senior Brother right now! Xiao Ya is still injured, she can’t fight with him!”
Xu Hao hung his head low and replied in a small voice, “Mother, I have no right to change Senior Brother Hu’s decision.”
“Why are you trying to interfere in the matter between the two of them? Go back now.” Xu Liang Cai extended his hand to pull Zhen Xue Mei, who flung his hand away.
With a despondent expression, she gazed at Xu Hao and said anxiously, “Hao’er, I don’t want anything to happen to Xiao Ya. Please tell your Senior Brother not to do this. You’re his Fellow Brother after all. I’m sure he’ll listen to you!”
Xu Hao shook his head with a helpless smile, “Mother, you have no idea about my Senior Brother’s temperament. Once he has made a decision, no one else can change his mind other than our Master.”
Xu Liang Cai clenched her arm and snapped, “Why are you being so meddlesome in other people’s affairs!? It’s completely normal that cultivators exchange pointers, so why are you making a scene here?”
“Don’t touch me!” Zhen Xue Mei flung his hand away again and attempted to step into the court, “I’ll stop them myself then!”
Following that, a loud noise was heard as Xu Liang Cai slapped across her face. He said through clenched teeth, “You wench! Will you only be happy by making our son lose his footing in Spirit Sea Temple!?”
Zhen Xue Mei covered her face and stared at him while feeling heartbroken. With her tears sliding down her face, she said in a shaking voice, “What do you know? What do you know!? You know nothing!”
Xu Liang Cai’s face fell, “I don’t have to know anything. Hao’er, take your Mother away.”
Zhen Xue Mei gritted her teeth and roared, “The woman in that court is your Daughter!”
Xu Liang Cai’s expression turned from furious to stunned while Xu Hao and Zhao Ye Bai were dumbstruck.
They stared at Zhen Xue Mei as they couldn’t believe what they had just heard.
As soon as Zhen Xue Mei finished shouting, she collapsed to the ground and wailed, “She is Dong’er!”
“W-What nonsense are you spouting?” Xu Liang Cai was trembling as he pointed at her.
Zhen Xue Mei covered her face with both hands as her tears uncontrollably streamed out of her eyes, “There’s a pink birthmark shaped like a plum blossom on her left shoulder. Although many years have passed, I still remember it clearly. There’s no way there’s another person with the same birthmark. Moreover, her facial features are similar to mine, or are all of you just blind?”
Xu Liang Cai staggered as though he had been struck by a hammer. His face turned pallid in an instant.
Disbelief was written all over Xu Hao’s face as he muttered, “She’s my Big Sister? Isn’t she supposed to be dead?”
Zhen Xue Mei explained, “She was injured previously. I saw the birthmark when I dressed her wound. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him,” She then pointed at Zhao Ye Bai.
Xu Liang Cai and Xu Hao turned to look at him at the same time.
A flushing Zhao Ye Bai replied, “Yes, there’s a birthmark on her left shoulder. It looks like a pink plum blossom.” He had seen it when they were little kids, but he never saw it again after they became adults.
“Aren’t you her Brother?” Xu Liang Cai was astounded.
Zhao Ye Bai explained, “We grew up together, but we’re not biological siblings. According to my Mother, a few days after I was born on a particularly stormy night, she heard a baby crying outside our house. When she opened the door, she saw Xiao Ya lying on the ground. She was wrapped in a piece of cloth at that time. Xiao Ya is aware of that as well.”
“How old are you now?” Xu Liang Cai asked.
“Twenty years old.”
The colour drained from Xu Liang Cai’s already pale face.
There was also a great storm on the day he dumped the child on the mountain. It was just like what Zhao Ye Bai had described.
Moreover, now that he thought about it, Zhao Ya’s facial features were indeed similar to those of Zhen Xue Mei, but they hadn’t paid attention to it previously.
“Why didn’t you say anything sooner!?” Xu Liang Cai stomped his foot on the ground.
Zhen Xue Mei couldn’t stop crying, “She was discarded in the mountains to die when she was a baby. Now that she’s a grown woman, what right do I have to say anything?”
She had never intended to expose this secret to anyone. In fact, she was already gratified that her daughter had grown up to be a beautiful young woman instead of being killed as a baby. She wouldn’t dare to ask for more.
Back then, she asked some people to build a log house on the mountain where the child was abandoned. She would stay in that house from time to time, and as she recalled that it was in that place where her child might have been taken away by some beast as a meal, she felt heartbroken and guilt-ridden.
Twenty years had passed, and she had found her child in the exact same place.
There was a moment when she thought that it was fate.
The Xu Family members sported different expressions, and it wasn’t until this moment that Zhao Ye Bai realised why Zhen Xue Mei had been so concerned about Zhao Ya as she would keep her company for a few hours every day.
He now knew that she had recognised her daughter when she was dressing the wound for Zhao Ya.
That must be the reason she exclaimed in the log house at that time.
[Xiao Ya has found her biological parents!] Zhao Ye Bai couldn’t help but put on a grin. He supposed it was good news.
“Hao’er, stop your Senior Brother now! She’s your Big Sister! It’s not too late yet!” Zhen Xue Mei looked pleadingly at her son.
Xu Hao nodded and shuffled towards the court.
Just then, a blast of wind spread around from the court as Xu Hao staggered backwards upon impact, widening his eyes and exclaimed, “Immortal Ascension Boundary!”
The clouds in the sky suddenly darkened as deafening thunder was heard.
World Energy Baptism!
This was a precursor to someone breaking through to the Immortal Ascension Boundary. Of the two people in the court, Hu Xun was in the Immortal Ascension Boundary Third Stage, so he wasn’t the cause of this phenomenon. The only possibility was that Zhao Ya was breaking through!
As lightning struck, the aura of the Immortal Ascension Boundary spread out wildly. The noises of the battle in the court intensified as Hu Xun could be heard crying out.
Xu Hao had no idea what was going on inside, and although he wanted to have a look, he was unable to even approach the courtyard.
An incense stick later, the noises slowly subsided.
Half of the manor had been destroyed from the fallout of the battle. Xu Hao immediately rushed towards the battlefield, and what came into his sight caused his pupils to contract.
There was a figure, whose white clothes were stained with blood, standing on the chaotic battlefield with a spear in her hand. Blood was seen dripping from the tip of the silver spear. In front of her, Hu Xun was leaning against the wall as he covered his own throat with both hands. His figure was battered and there were countless wounds all over his body. He was no longer able to speak as blood continuously streamed through the gaps of his fingers. With his eyes widened, he still seemed to be longing for life.
Xu Hao was flabbergasted.
Not only was Hu Xun defeated, but it also seemed that he wouldn’t survive.
The sight was unbelievable to Xu Hao.
It had to be noted that Hu Xun was in the Immortal Ascension Boundary Third Stage while Zhao Ya had just achieved a breakthrough to the Immortal Ascension Boundary.
[How? How is it possible that Hu Xun was defeated?]
The next moment, Xu Hao felt a dense murderous intent fall on him like a tsunami. He instantly felt cold all over his body as though he had fallen into an ice cave.
A cold light expanded before his eyes and blinded his vision.
Zhao Ye Bai, who arrived just in time, hurriedly shouted, “Xiao Ya, stop! He’s your Brother!”
A gale swept past Xu Hao’s face as a spear point came into contact with his forehead, drawing a trickle of blood. His vision refocused as he could finally see that Zhao Ya was standing just three steps away from him while her spear was literally pressed against his head.
He was instantly drenched in cold sweat as he had just escaped from death’s door.
If Zhao Ye Bai hadn’t shouted in time, Xu Hao would’ve turned into a corpse by now. It was then he realised it wasn’t a joke when Zhao Ye Bai said Zhao Ya had a ruthless temperament.
“Xiao Ya!” Zhen Xue Mei wailed and rushed over before clenching her daughter’s arms. She appeared anxious as she examined her, “Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?”
There was a conflicted expression on Xu Liang Cai’s face as he glanced at Zhao Ya, but his attention was soon attracted to the dying Hu Xun. His expression changed drastically as he exclaimed, “Hao’er, check on your Senior Brother, now!”
Following a nod, Xu Hao dashed towards Hu Xun and inspected his wounds.
Zhao Ya’s surging murderous intent instantly dissipated the moment Zhao Ye Bai called out to her. With a caring gaze, she asked, “Are you alright, Big Brother Ye Bai?”
“I’m fine,” Zhao Ye Bai shook his head.
“What were you talking about just now?” Zhao Ya appeared puzzled.
Zhao Ye Bai parted his lips for a moment before letting out a sigh, “Xiao Ya, if I’m not mistaken, Aunty Mei is your Mother, and Uncle Xu is your Father. Also, Xu Hao is your younger Brother.”
“Mother?” Zhao Ya’s pupils contracted as she looked dazedly at Zhen Xue Mei. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard.
Like the pearls after the string snapped, Zhen Xue Mei’s tears slid down her face as she nodded repeatedly, “My child, I’m your Mother!”
In an instant, Zhao Ya’s mind descended into chaos; after all, she had just finished a life-and-death battle, and all of a sudden someone firmly claimed to be her Mother. She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea.
She wouldn’t have believed it if someone else had said it, but she would never doubt whatever Zhao Ye Bai told her.
“When you were injured previously, Aunty Mei was helping to dress your wound in the log cabin. That was when she saw the plum blossom birthmark on your left shoulder. Aunty Mei’s Daughter has the same birthmark. Moreover, your age matches that of her Daughter.” Zhao Ye Bai sighed.
Zhao Ya stared dazedly at the weeping Zhen Xue Mei. All of a sudden, she recalled that the older woman had said she had a daughter who was about the same age as her.
However, during Zhao Ya’s stay in this place, she had never seen this daughter that Zhen Xue Mei had mentioned before. She wasn’t a prying person though, so she had never asked about it.
It now seemed that she was the daughter that Zhen Xue Mei had talked about.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Ya. I didn’t take good care of you,” Zhen Xue Mei felt as if she would never stop crying.
Zhao Ya’s eyes slowly reddened as well. Staring at the woman in front of her, she called out gently, “Mother…”
Zhen Xue Mei covered her mouth as she sobbed. She had been waiting for twenty years to hear her daughter call her ‘Mother’. Now that her wish had been granted, she felt she could die with no regrets.
On the other hand, Xu Liang Cai was standing beside Hu Xun as he appeared apprehensive. Although Xu Hao infused his power into Hu Xun’s body in an attempt to save him, his efforts were in vain.
Initially, Hu Xun could still make some gurgling sounds through his throat, but just a while later, he fell silent as he widened his eyes. His hands went limp as his vitality dissipated.
Xu Hao slowly got to his feet, his face as pale as a sheet.
“He’s dead?” As if struck by lightning, Xu Liang Cai staggered backwards and fell on his bottom, “It’s over… It’s all over!”
Hu Xun was killed in his house, and the murderer was the daughter he had abandoned twenty years ago. There was no way those from Spirit Sea Temple would let them off. Not only was Xu Hao’s future destroyed, but their entire family was also doomed.
He suddenly got up and charged towards Zhao Ya before angrily slapping across her face.
Following a loud slap, a red mark appeared on Zhao Ya’s face.
“Look what you’ve done!” Xu Liang Cai was infuriated.
“What are you doing!?” Zhen Xue Mei quickly stood in front of Zhao Ya and spread her arms like a hen protecting her chick.
Xu Liang Cai snapped, “She’s a jinx! I threw her away twenty years ago, so why did she come back at this point? The moment she came back, she has given us such a calamity! If I had known this would happen, I would’ve strangled her to death myself!”
“Are you out of your mind!?” Zhen Xue Mei exclaimed.
Behind her, Zhao Ya hung her head low as her tears dropped to the ground. She muttered, “So… I was abandoned.”
Xu Liang Cai barked, “Yes, I was the one who threw you away on the mountain! Why were you not taken away by some beast!? Why are you still alive!?”
“Enough! Dong’er is your Daughter!” Zhen Xue Mei was so overwhelmed that she started trembling.
“She has brought such a disaster upon our family once she appeared! I don’t have a daughter like her! Now that Hu Xun is dead, what will happen to Hao’er? What will happen to our family? There’s no way those from Spirit Sea Temple will forgive us! We’re doomed! All this has happened because of her!”
Zhen Xue Mei roared, “Hu Xun was a wicked man. He wanted to violate Dong’er’s modesty! Was she not supposed to resist? He got what he deserved!”
“Shut up, you wretch!”
“Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya suddenly gazed at Zhao Ye Bai and put on a gentle smile, “Will you please go somewhere else for a moment? I’d like to talk to my parents.”
Zhao Ye Bai frowned as he looked at the red mark on her face. Although he was hesitant, he still nodded in the end. He then walked out of the courtyard and disappeared from their sight.
Xu Liang Cai was still cursing when he abruptly stopped. When his vision focused, he found himself staring at the tip of a silver spear that was right in front of his face. In a shaking voice, he said, “W-What are you doing? I’m your Father. Do you want to kill me?”
Zhen Xue Mei was also dumbstruck as she shook her head at Zhao Ya with anxiety, “Don’t make any rash moves, Dong’er!”
Although she had always been resentful of Xu Liang Cai for throwing her child away, Zhao Ya was his daughter after all. It would be totally unacceptable if she decided to kill him.
Xu Hao’s heart leaped to his throat as he had witnessed how Zhao Ya mercilessly murdered Hu Xun. If she decided to kill here, he was powerless to stop her.
It seemed that only Zhao Ye Bai could stop her from doing anything irrational.
It was no wonder that she told Zhao Ye Bai to leave for a moment. It was apparent that she didn’t want the man to see her looking so cruel and heartless.
“When I was a young child, I already knew that I was picked up by Aunty Lu. She is like a Mother to me, and she treats me really well. There’s also Uncle Yang. Big Brother Ye Bai always said that if my Father were still alive, he would be as amiable as Uncle Yang; hence, I always believed that since I had a Mother and Father figure, I was not lacking anything. I left Seven Stars Town at the age of seven and joined Seven Stars Sect. Although my Master seems to be cold-blooded, he’s actually a good man. Moreover, I also have Big Brother Ye Bai.”
“What are you trying to say, Dong’er?” Zhen Xue Mei gazed at her with a horrified expression.
There was a faint smile on Zhao Ya’s face, “I’ve never thought about looking for my biological parents. To me, those who have raised me are my family members. As for all of you… you’re nothing to me.”
Xu Liang Cai gulped as he said meekly, “I’m your biological Father.”
Zhao Ya replied with a smile, “What right do you have to claim to be my Father when you didn’t even bother to raise me? Who do you think you are to give me orders?”
While she pushed her spear forward again, Xu Liang Cai staggered backwards and yelled, “Y-You can’t do this to me!”
“I guess I’ll be considered unfilial and wicked if I stabbed this spear into your head. Do you want to give it a try?”
Zhen Xue Mei’s face turned pale, “Please don’t, Dong’er!”
There was a cold expression on Zhao Ya’s face as she said through clenched teeth, “My name is Zhao Ya!”
All of a sudden, she put her spear away and bent her back to salute Zhen Xue Mei, “Many thanks for taking care of me in the past few days, Aunty Mei. Please take care of yourself in the future.”
Zhen Xue Mei cried, “You have to take good care of yourself too.”
With an impassive expression, Zhao Ya nodded and shuffled forward.
“There’s no way you can escape.” Xu Hao, who had remained silent for a long time, sighed, “Since Senior Brother Hu Xun is dead, his Life Lamp has undoubtedly shattered. Those from Spirit Sea Temple must be aware of his death by now. I suppose my Honoured Master is rushing over to this place.”
Xu Liang Cai nodded repeatedly, “You can’t just leave! Wait for those from Spirit Sea Temple to come and explain everything to them!”
Zhao Ya ignored him, but she soon stopped in her tracks and looked in a particular direction with an alarmed expression.
A figure suddenly appeared beside her as Zhao Ye Bai had returned. He took Zhao Ya’s hand and said anxiously, “We have to run, now! Something’s wrong!”
He was only in the Qi Transformation Realm, so his senses weren’t as sharp as Zhao Ya’s. Nevertheless, he instinctively felt uneasy, as though something terrible was about to happen.
The two of them left in a rush, but just a moment later, a figure descended from the sky along with a horrifying pressure.
As if struck by lightning, a dazed Zhen Xue Mei and a terrified Xu Liang Cai coughed out a mouthful of blood at the same time. It was the same case for Xu Hao, who was only in the True Element Boundary.
The figure landed in front of Hu Xun with his eyes narrowed while his murderous intent surged.
“Disciple greets Honoured Master!” While bearing the pressure forcefully, Xu Hao took a step forward and fell on his knees.
This person was none other than the Temple Master of Spirit Sea Temple, Jia Hong. As the Sect Master of a First Class Sect in the Void Continent, he was a powerful Second-Order Emperor Realm Master and was famous throughout the entire World.
Hu Xun and Xu Hao had the luck to become his Disciples, but Xu Hao was just an In Name Disciple while Hu Xun was a True Disciple. Jia Hong regarded Hu Xun highly because of his extraordinary aptitude. When the other Disciples brought the criminal’s head back to Spirit Sea Temple, Jia Hong was quite pleased; however, he had never expected that he would be informed of Hu Xun’s Life Lamp shattering just a few days later.
He immediately left the temple and arrived at this place. Given his Second Order Emperor Realm cultivation, it only took him a cup of tea’s time to travel from Spirit Sea Temple to this small village.
After examining Hu Xun for a moment, Jia Hong shot a dispassionate glance at Xu Hao and snorted.
He had quite a number of Disciples, and although Hu Xun was not bad, he was not the brightest. Regardless, he was Jia Hong’s Disciple. Since his Disciple was killed, Jia Hong, as the Master, could not just pretend that nothing had happened. The person who had the guts to do this would have to pay a hefty price.
He didn’t even ask Xu Hao who killed Hu Xun, because before he arrived at this place, he could already detect two auras with different strengths leaving this place in a hurry with his Divine Sense.
One of them was in the Immortal Ascension Boundary while the other was in the Qi Transformation Realm.
How could weak cultivators like them possibly escape from his senses?
The next moment, Jia Hong leapt into the sky like a Great Peng and disappeared.
A couple dozen kilometres away, Zhao Ya wrapped Zhao Ye Bai with her True Qi and flew forward. Just a moment later, she felt a fierce Divine Sense locking onto them.
Her expression changed as she yelled, “We should split up, Big Brother Ye Bai!”
She was aware that she was unable to resist the person who was coming for them. Regardless of how many treasures her Master had given her before they left, she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep her life this time. She was the one who killed Hu Xun, so it had nothing to do with Zhao Ye Bai. If they split up now, he would stand a chance to live. By sticking together, both of them would just be killed at the same time.
Without giving Zhao Ye Bai a chance to reject her, she gently pushed out her palm and sent him flying away. In the meantime, she shot off in a different direction.
Zhao Ye Bai fell to the ground and rolled away. With his face covered in sand, he looked up and saw a ray of light chasing after Zhao Ya.
With his eyes widened and he stomped the ground hard as he raced after them.
However, he was only in the Qi Transformation Realm, so he was unable to run as fast as Zhao Ya or as fast as Jia Hong could fly. Just a moment later, they were already out of his sight.
While he was anxious, he kept blaming himself.
They had come across a lot of dangers during their recent adventure, but it was always Zhao Ya who protected him. He felt like he was a burden that was practically useless.
Nevertheless, he knew that his aptitude was ordinary. Since he obtained the Secret Art in his dream three years ago, he had only managed to make it to the Qi Transformation Realm, so he was unable to help Zhao Ya out at all.
Despite that, he still tried his best to catch up.
In front of him, Jia Hong was moving at the speed of lightning as he could see Zhao Ya from a distance. He snorted at the fact that an Immortal Ascension brat had the guts to act impudently in front of him.
He extended his hand and surged his Emperor Qi as he prepared to launch an attack on Zhao Ya.
Instantly, Zhao Ya felt her entire figure stiffening as she was engulfed in the aura of death; however, the next moment, this feeling mysteriously dissipated.
Meanwhile, a myriad of expressions came over Jia Hong, who was behind her.
That was because just as he was preparing to make a move, he suddenly felt a sense of crisis befall him, as though he would suffer a terrible calamity if he dared to push out his palm.
Given his Second-Order Emperor Realm cultivation, Jia Hong knew well enough to not simply ignore this kind of instinctual warning; therefore, he didn’t dare to act rashly.
While feeling doubtful, he dispersed the power he had gathered, after which the sense of uneasiness faded.
He frowned and released his Divine Sense, but he couldn’t detect any anomalies in the surroundings, nor was there a formidable enemy nearby.
[Was it just my imagination?]
Thinking so, he prepared to attack again.
This time, he no longer had that kind of feeling, but after he pushed out his palm, the young woman in front of him staggered at just the right moment to completely avoid his blow, leaving her perfectly fine.
Jia Hong widened his eyes in disbelief.
The move he had just made was meant to end the young woman’s life, and given her mere Immortal Ascension Boundary cultivation, it was absolutely impossible for her to dodge it. However, she really managed to escape from death somehow.
Jia Hong had no idea what was going on.
He had made a move twice just now. The first time, he was stopped by the sense of unease he felt, and for the second move, he actually missed his mark. He had a feeling that something was off, so he wouldn’t dare to make any rash moves again; instead, he kept a fixed distance from the woman and observed her carefully.
These two figures flew forward, seemingly in tandem, at shocking speed.
Presently, Zhao Ye Bai was far behind them. He was initially anxious, but as time passed, he became immersed in a strange feeling while running at full speed.
It was as though he had merged with the World around him.
He had experienced the same feeling once three years ago. At that time, he was agitated by Miao Fei Ping’s words, causing his thoughts to run wild. For some reason, he then fell into a dream-like state where he found himself floating in a vast expanse of nothingness. It was Senior who woke him up in the end.
Senior told him that he had accidentally triggered the power of this World, and that this kind of power was extremely dangerous, so he had to be careful whenever he acted in the future.
Zhao Ye Bai would never dare to forget Senior’s warning and ensure that he never replicated that incident again.
However, none of that mattered at this moment. He was too weak as a Qi Transformation Realm cultivator, and only by leveraging on the might of this World could he possibly lend Zhao Ya a hand.
His eyes were clear and his emotions became as calm as a still tranquil lake.
While he was bolting forward, layers of ripples started spreading from Zhao Ye Bai, though he was unaware of this fact. The Space Dao Essence in the World around him was triggered and resonated with him.
Suddenly, he took a step forward and abruptly disappeared from the spot. When he reappeared, he was already in a faraway place.
While his figure kept flickered and disappearing, Zhao Ye Bai looked steadfastly towards the front as everything around him seemed to be slipping backward rapidly. Letting out a roar with pleasure, he felt as though he was a fish swimming in water for the first time ever.
Half a month later, Zhao Ye Bai finally saw a ray of light on the horizon; it was the powerful Master from Spirit Sea Temple.
[Xiao Ya is right in front of me!] Zhao Ye Bai dashed forward at even greater speed.
In the sky up above, Jia Hong, who had been chasing after Zhao Ya, noticed the anomaly happening to Zhao Ye Bai as well. When he looked down, he saw the little Qi Transformation Realm boy’s figure disappearing from time to time. The person seemed able to ignore the obstacles of space and move from one place to another in the blink of an eye.
Jia Hong widened his eyes in disbelief as he wondered to himself, [What kind of power is that?] He had never seen or heard of anything like that before and all he could tell was that the space around the Qi Transformation Realm boy was warping with each step the latter took.
While he was flabbergasted, he was also feeling extremely vexed and helpless.
During this pursuit, he had repeatedly attempted to kill or capture Zhao Ya; however, whenever he made a move, he would either be forced to stop following an invisible sense of warning, or his attacks would simply be rendered useless for some strange reason.
As an Emperor Realm Master, Jia Hong had actually been chasing after an Immortal Ascension Boundary Junior for half a month, but he still hadn’t achieved his goal. He wouldn’t have believed it if it wasn’t happening to him.
Now that he saw a Qi Transformation Realm brat using some strange power, Jia Hong felt that the experience over the past half a month had turned his worldview upside down.
It only took the boy a short moment to surpass him and reach the young woman. For every step the boy took, he seemed able to borrow some kind of power from this World.
No words could ever describe how astounded Jia Hong was.
“Big Brother Ye Bai!” Zhao Ya was shocked as well, “Why did you follow me?”
Presently, Zhao Ye Bai was covered in blood. Given his Qi Transformation Realm, if he couldn’t borrow this World’s Strength, he would’ve died of exhaustion after manipulating Space Principles so abruptly and frequently and wouldn’t have made it to this place. Despite that, every time he used Instantaneous Movement, his figure still had to bear immense pressure.
If it weren’t because his physique was quite robust, he would’ve been crushed to dust upon breaking through the Void.
“I have no idea why, but I was suddenly able to run really fast,” Zhao Ye Bai replied in a weakened tone.
Zhao Ya felt heartbroken for him as she engulfed him with her strength. At the same time, she fished out some Spirit Pills from her Space Ring and stuffed them into his mouth.
Zhao Ye Bai put on a silly smile, “I’m really glad that you’re okay.”
Ha had been extremely nervous while chasing after them; after all, many things could happen in half a month. He was worried that he would find Zhao Ya in a state he would never have the heart to see.
Zhao Ya snorted, “That bastard behind me is just toying with me. He seems to enjoy watching me run, so he never made any fatal moves!”
If Jia Hong had heard what Zhao Ya just said, he would have beat his chest and roared in indignation. Although he had only made a few moves, he was determined to end Zhao Ya’s life with each one, but for some unknown reason, all his attempts turned out to be futile, and Zhao Ya was still alive and well.
“I guess there’s something wrong with him,” Zhao Ye Bai said grimly, “This place is not far away from Seven Stars Sect. It will only take us a few days to return. With Senior around, that person won’t dare to harm you.”
“En.” Zhao Ya nodded.
In fact, she had been heading in the direction of Seven Stars Sect this whole time. She knew that it was impossible for her to go against an Emperor Realm Master, so she could only go back and seek her Master’s help.
“I’ll bring you out of this place!” Zhao Ye Bai took her hand and activated his new ability, causing the world to contort. The next instant, they disappeared from the spot.
Jia Hong wore a dark expression from a distance as he saw this.
He had faintly realised something during this pursuit, but things had come to a point where he was unable to back down. His Disciple was killed, so there was no way he could pretend that nothing had happened. He could only keep following this young couple and see what was waiting for him.
He no longer believed that he could kill Zhao Ya to avenge Hu Xun’s death, but this matter had to be resolved regardless.
“Seven Stars Sect…”
Jia Hong stopped in his tracks in front of the mountain entrance and looked up at the Sect’s name on its arching signboard.
The young man and woman that he had been chasing had entered Seven Stars Sect. As the Sect Master of Spirit Sea Temple, Jia Hong was naturally aware of Seven Stars Sect because both were First Class Sects. Although both Sects were far from one another, they would come into contact from time to time.
An elderly man was already waiting in front of Seven Stars Sect. When he saw Jia Hong, he cupped his fist, “Welcome, Temple Master Jia. I’m sorry for not receiving you earlier.”
Jia Hong replied impassively, “It’s been a long time, Sect Master Shang Guan.”
Shang Guan Ji said, “Our Ancestor is aware of your arrival and is waiting for you on Azure Jade Peak. This way, please.”
Upon hearing that, Jia Hong narrowed his eyes and fell silent for a moment, “Sect Master Shang Guan, what’s the relationship of the young man and woman with your noble Sect’s Ancestor?”
Shang Guan Ji replied with a smile, “You’ll find out about it after you go up the mountain.”
Jia Hong snorted, “This Jia is going now, then.”
He then strutted towards the peak of the mountain. Shang Guan Ji watched him leave without any intention to stop him.
In just a moment, Jia Hong arrived atop Azure Jade Peak. A man and woman were already quietly standing on the peak, the very two who had fled from Green Mountain Town.
Jia Hong wasn’t surprised to see them here as he furrowed his brows.
If these two people had something to do with the Ancestor of Seven Stars Sect, it explained why he had come across so many anomalies while chasing them.
He now firmly believed he wouldn’t be able to avenge Hu Xun’s death.
“My Honoured Master is waiting for you in the hall,” Zhao Ya said impassively.
Jia Hong arched his brow then went straight inside.
No one knew what Jia Hong and Yang Kai talked about, but just a cup of tea later, Jia Hong left the hall in a respectful manner and leaped into the sky without turning his head. He didn’t even bring up the fact that his Disciple was killed.
Zhao Ya and Zhao Ye Bai exchanged glances before letting out a sigh of relief, knowing that this matter was over.
“You two, come inside.” Yang Kai’s voice was heard coming from the hall.
Zhao Ya’s neck shrank as she was evidently afraid. Zhao Ye Bai took her hand and gave her an assuring look before leading her to the hall.
Although they had cultivated on the mountain for thirteen years, it was the first time they actually stepped into this hall.
Since the door was open, they entered right away and saw a person facing away from them with his hands behind his back.
“Master!”
“Senior!”
They saluted him respectfully.
The person then slowly turned around.
Zhao Ye Bai widened his eyes in disbelief, then called out in a pleasantly surprised tone, “Uncle Yang?”
Presently, the person in the hall was Uncle Yang, who had been like a Father to the young boy since he was born. During Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya’s adventures, they had taken the initiative to look for him in Green Mountain Town; however, instead of finding Uncle Yang, they had inadvertently bumped into Zhao Ya’s biological parents.
Zhao Ye Bai had never expected to come across Uncle Yang here after they were separated for thirteen years.
An excited Zhao Ye Bai asked, “Why are you here, Uncle Yang? Did Senior bring you here? Where is he?”
Yang Kai remained silent with a smile.
On the other hand, Zhao Ya was much calmer. Although she was surprised and doubtful the moment she saw Yang Kai, she soon realised what was going on.
“Big Brother Ye Bai.” Zhao Ya pulled Zhao Ye Bai’s sleeve, “If I’m not mistaken, Uncle Yang is Master, and Master is Uncle Yang!”
“How can that be?” Zhao Ye Bai burst into laughter, “Senior is a powerful cultivator while Uncle Yang is just an ordinary person. Moreover, they look totally different, so how can you mix them up?”
Zhao Ya explained, “Haven’t you always wondered why Master and Uncle Yang look so similar from behind? Moreover, you’ve just said that Master is very powerful, so it wouldn’t be difficult for him to hide his cultivation and change his appearance in front of us. Moreover, Uncle Yang and Master share the same surname. This proves that they’re the same person. It’s just that we were not aware of it.”
Zhao Ye Bai widened his mouth as he still couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“Am I right, Master?” Zhao Ya asked directly.
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “You’ve always been intelligent, Xiao Ya. You’re right.”
Zhao Ye Bai was dumbfounded as he couldn’t grasp why the powerful Senior became Uncle Yang all of a sudden.
While he was puzzled, he saw Yang Kai extending his hand to the side, after which a figure abruptly appeared. The figure looked just like the Ancestor they had been living with on Azure Jade Peak for the past dozen years.
As the two figures stood alongside one another, their frames were the same except for their appearances and temperaments. Zhao Ye Bai tutted in amazement.
“A clone?” Zhao Ya arched her brow.
Yang Kai waved his hand with a smile as the Ancestor of Azure Jade Peak disappeared. He then said, “Strictly speaking, the one you’re seeing now is also a kind of clone. Rather, this is my Soul Avatar.”
“Soul Avatar?!” Zhao Ya gasped as her chest heaved.
She was now an Immortal Ascension Boundary Master who had opened up her own Knowledge Sea, so she was aware of how to use her Divine Sense and what kind of capabilities it should have. That was also the reason she understood the wonders of a Soul Avatar.
Yang Kai’s Soul Avatar, however, had manifested into physical form, and even the Temple Master of Spirit Sea Temple, who was a Second-Order Emperor Realm Master, didn’t dare to make a scene in front of him and left the place without avenging his Disciple’s death. How horrifyingly powerful must his true body be then?
Zhao Ye Bai’s jaw hung so low that an egg could be stuffed into it.
Although he had no idea what Yang Kai and Zhao Ya were talking about, he couldn’t help thinking they were truly incredible. Admiration was written all over his face as his eyes were as bright as stars.
After a gulp, Zhao Ya asked, “How powerful are you really, Master?”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Your Master’s cultivation is higher than the Heavens.”
His words rang a bell as Zhao Ya recalled that he had said the same thing when she agreed to become his Disciple in the past. At that time, she swore that she would become more powerful than her Master one day and let him have a taste of becoming a Worker.
Thirteen years had passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhao Ya couldn’t help but blush. She was young and naive back then, but she wouldn’t dare to have such disrespectful thoughts now. All of a sudden, a realisation dawned upon her, “When I was abandoned in the past, you were the one who picked me up from the mountain and sent me to Aunty Lu’s door.”
“Oh, how did you even figure that out?” Yang Kai was genuinely surprised.
Zhao Ya replied, “When I found out that I was abandoned not long after I was born, I couldn’t understand how I ended up in Seven Stars Town that was hundreds of thousands of kilometres away. I was just an infant at that time, and no beast could or would ever do that. Only a powerful cultivator could achieve such a thing. I was just venturing a guess, but your reply proved that my speculation was right.”
Yang Kai put on a smile and said with some mirth in his words, “A person that is too clever might become exhausted in life.”
Zhao Ye Bai scratched his head, “It’s better than being as foolish as me.”
Zhao Ya pouted, “You’re not foolish. If you were really stupid, Master wouldn’t have spent the last dozen years secretly training you.”
“Huh?” Zhao Ye Bai was perplexed.
Zhao Ya said, “Master is Uncle Yang. Have you forgotten how he treated you over the past dozen years?”
After giving it a thought, Zhao Ye Bai put on a grin, “Uncle Yang must have his reasons for treating me like that.” Although the two of them had spent the last over ten years on Azure Jade Peak, they were treated very differently. While Zhao Ya was treasured like a flower and carefully nurtured, Zhao Ye Bai was ignored like weeds. He had to do all sorts of manual work and would often be punished in Zhao Ya’s stead.
An annoyed Zhao Ya said, “I suppose you’re dumb after all. Uncle Yang doted on you when you were a child. Why do you think he’d suppress you and punish you over the years?”
A puzzled Zhao Ye Bai asked, “Why?”
Zhao Ya turned to look at Yang Kai, “You’ll have to ask Master about it.”
Yang Kai replied with a smile, “Xiao Bai’s aptitude is indeed ordinary, but that’s not the reason I suppressed him. Even if there are ten Xiao Bai’s, they’re not comparable to you, Xiao Ya.”
Zhao Ye Bai flashed a smile at Zhao Ya to show that he was truly dumb.
On the other hand, Zhao Ya had sensitively caught the key part from Yang Kai’s words, “Big Brother Ye Bai might not be comparable to me when it comes to his aptitude, but he must have something that makes him special. Let me take a guess. I’ve always heard that when a powerful Master realizes his time is running out, he will look for a Legacy Disciple before his predestined time of death. Therefore, some unknown young people suddenly receive the inheritances of powerful cultivators and become rising stars. In that case, you’re probably dying soon, Honoured Master, and Big Brother Ye Bai has the chance to receive your inheritance.”
The corners of Yang Kai’s mouth twitched when he heard that.
On the other hand, Zhao Ye Bai was flabbergasted as he asked with anxiety, “Uncle Yang, are you dying?”
Yang Kai felt like he was on the verge of coughing up blood and in a grim voice he snarled, “My vitality is still vibrant. If you two don’t work hard, I’ll live long enough to attend your funerals!”
While reeling from the shock, Zhao Ye Bai let out a sigh of relief.
With a frown, Zhao Ya muttered, “When we were running away, Big Brother Ye Bai used a strange power that could ignore the obstacles of space. It allowed him to move faster than an Emperor Realm Master even though he’s just in the Qi Transformation Realm. Does your inheritance have something to do with this strange ability, Honoured Master?”
Yang Kai let out a sigh. He initially didn’t want to explain these things to them so soon, but Zhao Ya was too clever, which was why he was caught off guard.
He then raised his hand and manipulated the local Space Principles. Zhao Ye Bai and Zhao Ya widened their eyes as they felt that the distance between Yang Kai and them was rapidly widening, as though they were now in different worlds.
However, the next moment, the original distance was restored. When they came to their senses, they realised that they hadn’t moved at all.
They were drenched in cold sweat due to the contortion of space.
“This is the Dao of Space, and usually, only powerful Masters have a right to come into contact with it, much less comprehend it. Xiao Bai had already shown his talent in this regard when he was in his mother’s womb. I didn’t want to waste a talented person like him, and the rest is history.”
Zhao Ya nodded as she finally figured it out, “The Disciple you’ve always wanted to take on is Big Brother Ye Bai.”
Yang Kai smiled, “While Xiao Bai can hope to receive my inheritance, it’s the same for you.”
“Me?” Zhao Ya was surprised, “I’ve never felt that kind of power before.”