Yang Kai didn't try to keep him. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he politely saw him off.
Once Luo Qing had departed, Yang Kai said, "Let's head back too. The changes here are so drastic, you'll all need to give me a proper rundown. Otherwise, if I accidentally trigger some restriction, things could get ugly."
The group chatted and laughed as they made their way into the interior of
Outside the cave Yang Kai had originally used for meditation, within a magnificent hall of imposing stature, Yang Yan,
This object was the Celestial Compass — a special Artifact that Yang Yan had forged by combining her own Artifact Refining mastery with her expertise in formations. It possessed no offensive or defensive capability; it could only monitor the activity within Dragon Cave Mountain.
It was thanks to the Celestial Compass that Yang Yan had detected Yang Kai's return the moment it happened.
Yang Kai behaved like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city for the first time, examining the Celestial Compass with intense curiosity, pointing here and there, asking about all manner of things regarding Dragon Cave Mountain. Yang Yan and the others explained things one over another, and in less than an hour, Yang Kai had a comprehensive understanding of the mountain's current state.
He was shocked inwardly — and equally astonished by the staggering transformation Dragon Cave Mountain had undergone in just over a year.
The mountain was now prepared for both offense and defense, its interior concealing countless wondrous formations. Even a Return Void Realm cultivator who stumbled inside would find it impossible to escape easily. According to Yang Yan, breaking through Dragon Cave Mountain's formations would require at least a dozen Return Void Realm third-stage powerhouses working together — and even then, it couldn't be guaranteed.
Which Return Void Realm third-stage cultivator would have nothing better to do than assault Dragon Cave Mountain? And in a group of seven or eight, no less? Only someone who had eaten too much and had nothing to do would attempt such a thing. Moreover, Dragon Cave Mountain's current formation array was still only in its preliminary form — far from complete. With sufficient funding, Yang Yan could amplify its power even further.
Having learned of Dragon Cave Mountain's transformation, Yang Kai sighed inwardly. Bringing Yang Yan back from Heavenly Origin City had truly been a massive windfall.
She had the ability to turn a place no one had cared about into something like this. If he later brought his friends and family from the Profound Continent over and established a sect, wouldn't her value be even greater?
"However, setting all of this up cost a truly enormous amount of Saint Crystals." Wu Yi said with a slightly pained expression, complaining to Yang Kai. "The hundred million Saint Crystals you left before you departed have been squandered to nothing. On top of that, the thirty million Saint Crystals Elder Chang brought back have been completely spent as well. We purchased massive quantities of materials from the
"Thirty million Saint Crystals from Elder Chang?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow and looked toward Chang Qi, then suddenly understood. The only way Chang Qi could have had that many Saint Crystals was from mining the underground vein in the Scorching Sand Expanse.
It seemed that after his departure, Chang Qi had kept mining there. He probably hadn't come out until the Scorching Sand Expanse closed, which explained the staggering quantity.
"Those Saint Crystals count as my borrowing from Elder Chang. Once I have more, I'll repay them."
Chang Qi put on a stern face and pretended to be annoyed. "Yang Kai, if you say things like that, you're not treating me as one of the family. Setting aside where those thirty million Saint Crystals came from — without you leading the way, how would this old man have ever found that Saint Crystal vein? How could I have had the fortune to obtain so many? At the very least, half of these Saint Crystals are yours. Besides, without you, Old Hao and I would most likely still be homeless right now. Even if we had a fortune in Saint Crystals, what good would it do? With my strength, it would only invite disaster. I couldn't possibly protect that many Saint Crystals — I'd have no choice but to join some other power and hand them over in exchange for shelter."
Hao An chimed in from the side. "That's right, Yang Kai. You took me and Old Chang in even before the Scorching Sand Expanse opened, giving us two poor brothers a place to rely on and call home. That alone is more than enough. The most pitiful thing is growing old with no one to depend on — just for that, we two brothers are endlessly grateful. Those Saint Crystals are just a small token of Old Chang's appreciation. Don't fuss over it any further. We two brothers won't be around much longer, and we have no children — what would we do with so many Saint Crystals? Dragon Cave Mountain has already become a renowned cultivation haven in the area. Many cultivators without sects or families are clamoring to join but can't find a way in. Old Chang and I are more than satisfied just to be here — there's no need to say anything more."
Yang Kai let out a bitter laugh, knowing that pressing the issue further might chill their hearts. He cupped his fists solemnly. "Then I thank both Elders for your generous gesture."
Chang Qi laughed heartily. "Now that sounds right! The two of us are counting on this place for our twilight years. Being able to pass away peacefully here — nothing could be better."
Yang Kai shook his head. "I'm afraid that wish of yours will have to wait a while. Once you both break through to the Return Void Realm, your lifespans will naturally increase."
"Return Void Realm..." Chang Qi's eyes lit up as he recalled the Nine-Bend Crystal Jade Tree. But his expression dimmed again, and he sighed. "Even with that thing, it's not certain that Old Hao and I can actually break through."
"Leave that to me." Yang Kai grinned. "Just spend the next few days resting and recovering, and try to bring yourselves into peak condition."
Chang Qi and Hao An exchanged a glance, their hearts stirred with excitement. They said nothing more, secretly nursing their anticipation.
With Dragon Cave Mountain's finances running tight, Yang Kai naturally wouldn't be stingy. He had also reaped several million Saint Crystals from the underground vein and now took them out, handing them to Wu Yi for distribution.