When Dai Yuan said this, the other three unconsciously quickened their pace.
Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er began asking about the spectacular phenomenon of the Three Yang Rising, and Yang Kai pretended to listen with great interest from the side.
After Dai Yuan's explanation, Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er finally understood what the Three Yang Rising entailed. But Yang Kai's expression grew peculiar.
He had realized that although Dai Yuan had recognized the Red Candle Fruit and knew about the spectacular Three Yang Rising phenomenon, she didn't seem to know the full story…
Whether the others were in the same position, he couldn't say. But Yang Kai was certain that he and Dai Yuan weren't the only ones who had identified the Red Candle Fruit. The most elite cultivators from across the Dark Star had all converged on the third layer, and among them there were surely others who could recognize it.
A full two hours later, the four arrived at a valley. It wasn't large, covering roughly a hundred zhang in area. The valley floor was dark-red earth as far as the eye could see, riddled with cracks and ravines. Strangely, a number of withered trees grew within, their bark the same deep red hue, appearing utterly lifeless. Yet upon closer inspection, one could discover that these trees were clearly not dead—some peculiar force sustained them, allowing them to cling to existence in this harsh environment.
The valley was ringed on all sides by hills both large and small—at least twenty or more.
When Yang Kai and the others arrived, roughly half of these hills were already occupied. Each group had claimed one of the small hills as their base, organized by their respective sects.
Most cultivators' gazes lingered on the withered trees within the valley, their eyes filled with longing and burning desire. Yet strangely, not a single person had ventured deeper into the valley—no one knew what they were all wary of.
When Yang Kai's group appeared, countless gazes swept their way. Many faces showed vigilance and distaste. After all, with a heaven-defying spirit fruit about to ripen, the fewer people who showed up, the better.
But everyone knew this was wishful thinking. Before the Red Candle Fruit had even matured, the spectacular vision of the rising red sun had already thrown the entire third layer into a frenzy, and everyone was probably heading this way. So despite their wariness and resentment, there was nothing they could do—they merely glanced at Yang Kai's group before looking away.
Yang Kai swept his gaze across the scene and felt a chill settle in his heart.
The scale of things this time was truly magnificent. Not only were there many people, but every single one was an elite from the major sects.
He spotted members of the Zhantian Alliance, the Leitai Sect, the Liuli Gate, and other young prodigies he didn't recognize. All told, there were at least seventy or eighty people.
They had arrived relatively late, and there were certainly more on the way. By the time everyone gathered, this place would grow even more chaotic.
Yang Kai also spotted the cold, aloof warrior who had previously claimed the prime position at the Soul-Washing Divine Water. The man had brazenly occupied an entire small hill by himself, acting as though no one else existed. Hands clasped behind his back, expression as detached as ever, figure straight as a sword—he stood there in solitary arrogance, and not a single person dared cause trouble for him.
Those who had come here could more or less guess the man's identity, and none wanted to court misfortune. So despite disliking his airs, not a word was spoken against him.
Over at the Liuli Gate, Yin Sudie's expression turned rather odd upon seeing Dai Yuan—as if she hadn't expected her senior sister to be traveling with others. But once she recognized Dong Xuan'er, she seemed to understand. After that, she paid them no further attention, showing no intention of greeting Dai Yuan.
Wei Guchang scanned the area and pointed at one of the smaller, overlooked hills. "We'll take that one."
Before long, the four had made their way up. Like the others, they turned their gazes toward the valley below, observing with focused attention.
"Where's the Red Candle Fruit?" Wei Guchang looked around but couldn't find any trace of the spirit fruit. All he saw were countless withered trees, and he was thoroughly baffled.
"You can't see the Red Candle Fruit before it matures," Dai Yuan said, slowly shaking her head. "But it's definitely somewhere in this valley. Once it ripens, it will naturally reveal itself."
"So that's how it is!" Wei Guchang nodded gently.
"Hm? Senior Brother Li Younan from the Yaodan Gate is heading this way. I wonder what he wants." Dong Xuan'er murmured, turning her gaze toward a nearby slope. A man in green robes with a jade sash, looking refined and scholarly in the manner of a middle-aged literatus, was rapidly approaching. Before he even arrived, he raised his hand in a friendly wave.
The Yaodan Gate—Yang Kai had heard of them.
In any region, there were always sects or organizations that specialized in refining pills for a living. In Zhongdu there was Medicine King Valley, on the Profound Spirit Continent there was the Alchemist Association, and on the Dark Star, the most renowned was the Yaodan Gate.
Such entities were generally not offended lightly, because at any moment one might find themselves needing their help.
Within the Yaodan Gate alone, there were no fewer than five Void-grade inferior-tier alchemists—the most on the entire Dark Star. Every one of them was a grandmaster of renown throughout the Dark Star, revered by all and treated as an honored guest wherever they went.