An hour later, Yang Kai had fully recovered and led the group forward by tearing through the void once more.
Each time he used this technique, he first had to determine their direction by locating the thread of consciousness he'd left behind earlier. Otherwise, there was simply no way to advance through this multicolored domain.
Everything was proceeding far more smoothly than expected—none of the various problems Yang Kai had worried about actually materialized.
The six people following behind him also heeded his instructions carefully, not daring to use any of their strength. Even Gui Zu was behaving himself remarkably well, cooperating without complaint.
It seemed that if they kept going like this, everyone really could reach the Chaos Abyss before long.
Hope was right before their eyes, and every person's expression grew more and more excited.
Above a certain point in the multicolored sky, Yang Kai materialized once again. After the other six appeared, the spatial rift slowly sealed itself shut behind them.
He smiled at the group. "This is the last stretch. One more tear through space, and we'll arrive at the Chaos Abyss!"
At his words, everyone's eyes lit up, filled with eager anticipation.
"Boy, hurry it up—I can't wait to see the world out there." Gui Zu flashed a wide grin and urged him on.
"I still need to recover a bit more," Yang Kai said flatly.
"Fine, but make it quick!"
Yang Kai sat cross-legged without another word. He hadn't been lying to them—there really was only one last stretch ahead, and with a single more spatial tear, he was confident they would reach the Chaos Abyss. But now that the moment had arrived, he still felt a knot of unease.
His unease stemmed from Gui Zu.
He had no good way to restrain this monster who had lived for over two thousand years from breaking his word once he was safe.
All he could do was passively choose to trust him and pray that he wouldn't go back on his promise.
This feeling made Yang Kai very uncomfortable.
"Senior, could you take back the mark on my arm?" Yang Kai suddenly opened his eyes and addressed Gui Zu. "You'll be free soon—there's no need to keep watching me anymore, right?"
Gui Zu chuckled softly, saying nothing much. With a nod, a wisp of resentful spirit suddenly shot out from the human-face mark on Yang Kai's arm and plunged back into Gui Zu's body. The mark vanished.
Yang Kai felt his body and mind lighten, as if some invisible restraint had been released.
"Boy, behave yourself, and I won't do anything to you," Gui Zu snorted lightly.
"I'm grateful for your magnanimity." Yang Kai chuckled and rose to his feet. He took a light breath, and under everyone's watchful gazes, casually tore open space before him.
He was still the first to step through, leading the way.
The moment he set foot in the chaotic spatial currents, Yang Kai's expression suddenly grew solemn. He stopped where he was instead of advancing, quietly probing his surroundings.
"What are you dawdling for? Don't tell me you're planning some last-minute trick?" Gui Zu followed him in and, seeing his strange behavior, let out a low bark.
Yang Kai didn't answer. He continued probing.
Suddenly, his face changed and he shouted sharply, "Move! Don't stop! The spatial currents here are more chaotic than anywhere else—it must be because we're approaching the Chaos Abyss!"
His demeanor, as though facing a mortal enemy, wiped the color from all six of their faces. They hurried to keep up with him, surging forward at top speed.
Wherever Yang Kai passed, the spatial currents were temporarily smoothed, preventing them from being torn apart by the chaotic space. But now, everyone could faintly feel that what should have been stable ground beneath their feet had grown sticky and viscous, pulling at their bodies. The spatial walls on all sides writhed grotesquely, and streams of turbulent energy whipped past them like locusts swarming—enough to make one's blood run cold.
Crack... crack... crack...
Dense, overlapping sounds of something fracturing echoed deep into their minds. The spatial barriers in every direction seemed to be splintering apart, and rift after rift sprang into existence without warning.
From within those spatial rifts came an overwhelming suction force, threatening to swallow them all whole.
None of them were experts in the mysteries of space, but anyone knew the terror of spatial rifts. Such tears existed without trace—no one knew where in the star field they actually led. Once swallowed into one, it was likely that no one would ever find them again.
So they all pushed themselves to the limit, staying right on Yang Kai's heels, not daring to fall behind by even a fraction.
Yang Kai's expression was grave as he ignored everything else, his figure flashing forward at breakneck speed. He suddenly arrived at a point ahead and reached out to tear.
The spatial barrier was ripped open, and through the rift, a familiar scene came into view.
Those enormous, energy-rich stars scattered throughout the Chaos Abyss, just as mesmerizing and magnificent as ever.
The Chaos Abyss!
Yang Kai's face brightened with joy, and he moved to dart through.