Strangely enough, whether it was because they had taken root and sprouted thanks to his Golden Blood, the Blood Sword Grass bore absolutely no hostility toward Yang Kai. Even when he passed straight through their midst, they didn't react in the slightest.
But for any other living creature that entered their ranks, the grass would erupt into a frenzy of wild dancing, slicing the intruder apart until not even bones remained. Those pale golden blades, sharp as knives, gave off a cold glint that sent chills down one's spine.
After this discovery, Yang Yan was both startled and elated. She immediately began making preparations near the Blood Sword Grass, planning to turn the area into a restricted zone—and perhaps even use the grass to construct a massive trap.
A patch of Blood Sword Grass like this… even if a Return to Void Realm cultivator stumbled into it, they'd be severely injured even if they didn't die.
Three days after Yang Kai's return, Qian Tong of Shadow Moon Palace personally brought Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er to Dragon Den Mountain. Once they confirmed that Yang Kai had indeed returned safely, all three breathed a considerable sigh of relief.
Qian Tong had also learned from Wei Guchang that Yang Kai had saved both his and Dong Xuan'er's lives in the Flowing Flame Sand. Setting aside his original intentions of befriending Yang Kai, that single act of rescue was enough to fill Qian Tong with boundless gratitude.
Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er were both Shadow Moon Palace's most talented disciples. Had they perished in the Flowing Flame Sand, the loss would have been immeasurable.
They were all tactful enough not to ask Yang Kai why he had taken so long to reappear after the Flowing Flame Sand closed, though they all vaguely guessed that he must have encountered some other opportunity. This only made Qian Tong view Yang Kai in an even more favorable light, his attitude growing as warm and cordial as that of a family elder.
Moreover, Dragon Den Mountain and Shadow Moon Palace now enjoyed a close partnership. Yang Yan and the others were constantly purchasing large quantities of materials from the palace, which had genuinely earned it a great deal of profit. For all these reasons, Qian Tong had already come to regard Dragon Den Mountain as a cooperative partner and ally.
After an enjoyable conversation, Yang Kai learned from them about the harvests and losses sustained by the various powers after this opening of the Flowing Flame Sand.
The losses were substantial. Over ten thousand cultivators had entered the Flowing Flame Sand, but fewer than seventy percent returned safely. A full thirty to forty percent of the elite disciples from various factions had perished inside—a truly devastating toll.
Though such losses cast a shadow over every faction, the treasures brought back by the surviving disciples were more than enough to compensate for the personnel losses. Nearly everyone had reaped at least some gain, and in particular those sect disciples who had managed to bring back Red Candle Fruit pulp each received generous rewards from their respective sects.
The appearance of Red Candle Fruit pulp had likewise set the Dark Star ablaze with frenzy. Several alchemy masters from Medicine Pill Gate had repeatedly traveled between the major powers, hoping to purchase the fruit pulp at enormous prices. When that failed, they proposed that they be allowed to refine pills from it instead.
But no one was willing to entrust such a heaven-defying spiritual fruit to another faction—not even Medicine Pill Gate. So after half a year of fruitless efforts, those alchemy masters could only return in disappointment.
This was probably the first time the major powers on the Dark Star had so firmly refused to oblige Medicine Pill Gate, and the matter had caused quite a stir half a year ago.
Shadow Moon Palace had even seen a few traitors attempt to steal the Red Candle Fruit pulp, only to be exposed and eliminated on the spot.
The situation in other sects was roughly the same, though after half a year the storm surrounding the Red Candle Fruit pulp had gradually subsided. But as for how each major sect was actually handling their portions of the fruit pulp—not a single whisper had leaked.
After finishing this topic, Yang Kai took the opportunity to ask Qian Tong numerous questions about cultivation at the Saint King Realm. Qian Tong had no intention of hoarding his knowledge, and proceeded to share his cultivation insights in detail. Yang Kai, Wei Guchang, Dong Xuan'er, and the others listened intently at his side, all gaining considerably from the exchange.
Half a day later, Qian Tong and his party took their leave.
Before departing, Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er told Yang Kai that upon their return, they would enter closed-door cultivation to attempt breaking through to the Return to Void Realm. Both had experienced growth during their time in the Flowing Flame Sand, so now was the perfect time to make the attempt.
Yang Kai knew full well that if they hadn't been waiting for news of him, they would have started their closed-door cultivation long ago. It was only because they couldn't confirm whether he was alive or dead that they had delayed until now, missing the optimal window.
Yang Kai was well aware of this but chose not to mention it.
It was Dong Xuan'er who, just before leaving, suddenly sidled up to Yang Kai with a mysterious air and whispered, "Senior Brother Yang, Sister Dai Yuan has sent me messages many times over the past half year asking about your situation. Unfortunately, you never showed up, so I couldn't give her any definite news. Now that you've returned safely, I'm sure Sister Dai Yuan will be much relieved."
"Dai Yuan…" Yang Kai paused, and a face of extraordinary ugliness surfaced in his mind. His expression turned peculiar in an instant.
Why was she so concerned about him? Though they hadn't spent much time together, Yang Kai felt that someone with Dai Yuan's personality wouldn't go out of her way like this without reason. Moreover, when they had parted on the fourth floor, Dai Yuan had said something quite intriguing—she had said she would come to thank him in person. It seemed that hadn't been just a casual remark after all.
Just as Yang Kai was silently mulling this over, Wei Guchang let out a low chuckle, clearly having misunderstood something—apparently thinking that something must have happened between Yang Kai and Dai Yuan in the Flowing Flame Sand.