The flow of spiritual energy between heaven and earth seemed to have undergone a subtle shift. Within the several dozen li of terrain enclosed by the six mountain peaks surrounding the cave, an invisible pulling force was slowly emanating outward, drawing the ambient spiritual energy from all directions toward this place.
It wasn't violent, but it was ceaseless and unending.
Yu Feng's expression changed, and he called out in a low voice, "You deployed a Spirit Gathering Array?"
Yang Kai nodded with a smile.
"Incredible! You can set up a Spirit Gathering Array without even using sacred crystals?" Yu Feng exclaimed. The other warriors all stared at Yang Yan, who had flown back from the distance, their faces full of admiration.
The Heike Family had some secret locations of their own where spiritual energy was dense, places reserved exclusively for the family's disciples to cultivate. However, establishing those locations had cost the Heike Family an enormous amount of wealth, manpower, and resources, requiring a great many sacred crystals and other rare materials to maintain their function.
But this Spirit Gathering Array on Dragon Lair Mountain — Yu Feng and the others had all been involved in its construction, and they hadn't seen Yang Kai or Yang Yan use many materials, nor had they spotted a single sacred crystal. That was somewhat inconceivable.
"The terrain here is quite good. If it weren't suitable, the array couldn't have been set up," Yang Kai explained casually. "As for how effective it'll be, that still depends on the test of time."
Yang Kai genuinely didn't know how effective this newly established formation would turn out to be. It might be mediocre at best. But this place was only a temporary base for him — he hadn't invested too much of his effort into it, so even if the results fell short, he wouldn't be disappointed.
"Time… Given enough time, this place will become the location with the densest spiritual energy within a thousand li. And as time goes on, the spiritual energy here will only grow richer." Yang Yan, having flown back, was brimming with confidence in her creation. "The warriors here really have no discernment. This stretch of mountains is an exceptional Crouching Dragon site, and you people didn't even know to make use of it."
"Crouching Dragon site?" Yang Kai looked at her quizzically.
"A special terrain formation," Yang Yan answered offhandedly. "Even if I tried to explain, you wouldn't understand. All you need to know is that it's perfectly suited for a Spirit Gathering Array. This place is called Dragon Lair Mountain?"
Yu Feng nodded from the side.
"Mm, the name wasn't chosen without reason — you just never came across anyone who recognized its value." Yang Yan tilted her chin upward, supremely arrogant, as though she were the only person in the world with an eye for such things.
Yang Kai and Yu Feng exchanged glances. After a long moment, Yang Kai said, "You might want to let Wu Yi know about this? She said she was giving me this mountain. If she wants it back now, I wouldn't mind."
"While it's not my place to make decisions for the Young Miss, I think once she gives something away, she doesn't take it back." Yu Feng grinned broadly. "Just settle in here comfortably. If you need anything, come find us at the estate. And if the spiritual energy really does get dense around here in the future, I'll be moving in too — just don't kick me out when that happens, brother."
Yang Kai laughed and agreed, saying he'd welcome visitors anytime.
Yu Feng and the group of warriors then departed in grand fashion, heading back to the Heike Family.
The array was now fully deployed, and Yang Yan's work had come to an end. As per their prior agreement, Yang Kai produced a hundred high-grade sacred crystals and handed them to her as payment for helping him set up the array.
Yang Yan accepted without the slightest hesitation, counting the crystals one by one with a silly, beaming grin on her face.
Yang Kai shook his head and paid her no further mind. He turned and entered the cave, stepping into the only stone chamber, where he retrieved the Seven-Colored Spirit Gathering Flags and arranged them nearby according to a specific pattern.
These Seven-Colored Spirit Gathering Flags were an artifact he had obtained on Rain Waterfall Star from a middle-aged woman at the Hengluo Trading Company branch — a treasure specifically designed to assist in cultivation, with remarkably effective results.
The reason Yang Kai hadn't been too concerned about Yang Yan's array was precisely because he had these Seven-Colored Spirit Gathering Flags. If the array proved ineffective, he could still rely on this artifact to gather spiritual energy. If the array worked, all the better — the two methods working together would only speed up the process.
He had just finished arranging the seven small flags of different colors when Yang Yan appeared without a sound, her voluminous robe enveloping her entire figure. She crouched down, staring fixedly at one of the flags, her beautiful eyes shimmering with an unusual gleam. It was almost unsettling to watch.
"Why haven't you left?" Yang Kai asked, surprised.
"I still need to forge a spirit-grade artifact for that Yu Feng — it was part of the agreement," Yang Yan replied quickly. Then, fixing Yang Kai with a burning gaze, she asked eagerly, "A Void-grade low-quality artifact! Where did you get that? You've only reached the third level of the Entering Saint Realm — how could you possibly have such a high-grade artifact?"
Yang Kai frowned slightly. "Someone gave it to me."
"Do you want it refined? Want me to refine these seven little flags for you? Oh, there are so many impurities inside — let me refine them and I can boost their effectiveness by at least fifteen percent!" Her gaze grew even more intense, bordering on manic.
Yang Kai's expression darkened. He had finally realized that this woman underwent a complete transformation the moment she laid eyes on a high-grade artifact. No matter what kind of artifact it was, in her eyes it was always refinable, always improvable — and he had no idea whether that was actually true.
He didn't know the true extent of her abilities and naturally wouldn't take the risk. These Seven-Colored Spirit Gathering Flags would be his greatest aid in cultivation going forward — there was no way he'd let her casually refine them.
He hurriedly shook his head in refusal.
Yang Yan's face fell with disappointment, her small mouth puckering as she muttered discontentedly, "None of you ever believe in my abilities! None of you are willing to give it a try — how will you ever know how amazing I am?"
She sounded utterly forlorn, like someone whose passionate efforts had been entirely wasted. As she spoke, she kept stealing glances at Yang Kai, hoping he would change his mind.
"Do you… have nowhere to go?" Yang Kai suddenly asked.