"Void Return Realm?" Yang Kai was stunned.
"Above the Saint King Realm is the Void Return Realm, and above that is the Void King Realm... I've told you before — every cultivation star has a Star Lord presiding over it, and every Star Lord is a powerhouse of the Void King Realm! What was the highest cultivation level among the warriors on the continent you came from?"
"Entering Saint Stage Three..."
"Truly a low-grade continent. Who knows which forgotten corner of the Star Domain it's sitting in!" Shentu curled his lip with open disdain. "Still, there are plenty of such continents in the Star Domain. They don't even have the ability to explore beyond their own borders, so generation after generation, their descendants are trapped on their own continent, never witnessing the wonders of the Star Domain."
These words resonated deeply with Yang Kai. Thinking back to the warriors of the Tongxuan Continent, it really was exactly like that.
"Well, if that's really the case, then there's nothing to hide from — none of them dare do anything to me now!" Once Shentu learned the situation, he immediately dropped the weight he'd been carrying. His tightly wound nerves loosened all at once, and he sat cross-legged right where he was with a carefree air, beginning to digest the medicinal effects of the Saint Pill.
He healed himself while making idle conversation with Yang Kai, asking about everything that had happened over the past day.
He seemed particularly interested in that old man and kept pressing for details.
"That old geezer... ahem, that old senior — why would he collect so many warship fragments?" Shentu furrowed his brow in thought but couldn't figure it out.
"That's something you'd have to ask him."
"Hey Yang Kai, tell me... if we could get that old senior's protection, wouldn't we never have to fear Purple Star and the Sword Alliance again?"
"Someone of that caliber — what could you possibly have that would move him?"
"Where there's a will, there's a way!" Shentu flashed a mysterious smile. "Just wait — once I've recovered, I'll see if I can break the seal inside your body. It's far too inconvenient for you like this."
Yang Kai gave a slight nod. Though he harbored no real hope, he appreciated the kind gesture.
The two fell silent. Shentu began focusing on his recovery, while Yang Kai sat nearby keeping watch.
About two hours later, Lü Guichen and Yue Xi returned. Both wore expressions of helpless frustration, suggesting things hadn't gone well, and they retreated to their respective camps.
"Master, what did the elder have to say?" Wei Wu stepped forward and asked respectfully.
Yue Xi shook her head with a bitter look. "We didn't even get to see his face."
"What?!"
"Lü Guichen and I sent him a Divine Sense transmission from fifty li away, requesting an audience, but he never responded. I don't even know if he was there." Yue Xi sighed.
Dealing with such a mysterious powerhouse was truly exhausting. Without knowing his identity, his background, or the height of his cultivation, both Yue Xi and Lü Guichen had tread on eggshells during this attempted visit, proceeding with utmost caution.
Yet the result was still deeply disappointing.
The only silver lining was that the old man, despite his savage appearance and utterly malevolent power, hadn't gone on a killing spree. Otherwise, on a continent like this, they wouldn't have had anywhere to hide.
"We'll try visiting again tomorrow. Let's call it a day for now." Yue Xi shook her head and was about to rest when Miao suddenly cried out, "Master!"
"What is it?" Yue Xi turned to look at her.
Miao pointed toward the distant sky, a hint of fear crossing her pretty face. "That elder seems to be coming this way."
Yue Xi's delicate frame shuddered. She quickly looked in the direction Miao had pointed and indeed saw the mysterious old man hurtling toward them at great speed. Her expression turned tense immediately. She hurriedly issued a few instructions to the Sword Alliance members while bracing herself with solemn readiness.
Lü Guichen of Purple Star had clearly noticed as well. With a flicker of movement, he appeared at Yue Xi's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
Without a word being exchanged, an uneasy alliance had formed between them — after all, the pressure of facing that old man was simply too great for either to bear alone.
In the blink of an eye, the old man landed before Yue Xi and Lü Guichen.
"Senior!" Lü Guichen immediately clasped his fists and forced a smile. "Just now, the two of us went to pay our respects, but it seemed the senior wasn't at that mountain peak!"
"Do I need to report my whereabouts to you?" The old man shot him a sidelong glance.
"I wouldn't dare!" Lü Guichen's expression shifted and he fell utterly silent.
"Mm. I've come to ask you for something." The old man spoke as if to himself. "This continent has abundant spiritual energy and plentiful resources, but there's one frustrating thing — no rare minerals!"
Lü Guichen's eyes lit up. "I wonder what kind of minerals the senior needs? If it's not too much trouble, perhaps you could tell us — we might have what you're looking for."
Yue Xi also looked at the old man with eager anticipation and chimed in, "Please don't stand on ceremony with us, Senior."
"Of course I won't!" The old man snorted. "Void Crystals — do you have any?"
Lü Guichen and Yue Xi, who had been full of hope and eager to use this opportunity to build a good relationship with the old man, couldn't help but grimace at the mention of Void Crystals.