Yang Kai didn't actually need to recover, but to avoid drawing too much attention, he went through the motions, finding a spot nearby to sit and meditate.
The ambient spiritual energy here was far denser than outside, so recovery was naturally twice as efficient. Before long, several Saint King Realm cultivators who hadn't exerted themselves much had fully recovered.
Sensing footsteps approaching his position, Yang Kai slowly opened his eyes to see Cai He and Du Sisi walking toward him together. Du Sisi still wore that same haughty expression, while Cai He had a smile on his face.
"Do you two need something?" Yang Kai waited until they were close before speaking, feigning confusion. Though he wasn't sure exactly what they wanted, he figured it probably had something to do with that formation board.
Sure enough, Cai He cupped his fists and said, "Brother Yang, don't take this the wrong way. We're all peers here, so I won't stand on ceremony. I've come to ask what you plan to do with the formation board you obtained earlier. Are you considering selling it?"
When he asked this, Du Sisi's beautiful eyes locked onto Yang Kai with eager anticipation, looking as though she'd place a bid the instant he said yes.
Yang Kai smiled and shook his head. "Sorry, I'm doing fine financially. I have no plans to sell it."
A flash of regret crossed Cai He's face. Though he'd had a vague inkling, actually hearing Yang Kai's answer still brought a pang of disappointment.
Du Sisi, on the other hand, let out a cold snort. "Judging by the way you look, you've never had any experience with formations. Do you even know what a formation board is? Do you have any idea what it's used for?"
Yang Kai gave her a flat glance. "Whether I know or not has nothing to do with you, miss. The item is in my hands, and what I do with it is my business."
"You—" Du Sisi's chest heaved with indignation. "You only got that formation board because everyone worked together! Could you have done it on your own? And finding the formation eye was mine and Cai He's contribution! Even if the board is in your hands, I should have a share!"
"Oh?" Yang Kai stroked his chin, looking at her with an amused smirk. "The way you put it, it sounds like you're trying to steal my formation board."
"I never said that! Don't you dare slander me!" Du Sisi's expression shifted, and she couldn't help glancing toward Fei Zhitu. After all, Fei Zhitu had declared that since Yang Kai had obtained the formation board, it was his to keep. If Yang Kai pinned that accusation on her, it would be hard to explain things to Fei Zhitu.
"Then what exactly do you mean?" Yang Kai's expression turned cold. He'd never had any patience for presumptuous women. If they didn't provoke him, fine—but once they did, he couldn't be bothered to be civil.
"I... I just want to buy the formation board from you on behalf of the Du Family!" Du Sisi gritted her teeth.
"I already told you, the formation board is not for sale." Yang Kai shook his head slowly. By now, he knew full well how precious the formation board was. Forget the Du Family—even if the Shadow Moon Hall came knocking, he wouldn't let it go. Until he understood the board's true function, there was no way he'd part with it lightly.
And Du Sisi invoking the Du Family's name was clearly an attempt to bully him into compliance, which only made Yang Kai more annoyed.
When Yang Kai flatly refused, Du Sisi sneered and said, "Don't be so hasty. There's no harm in hearing the price. The Du Family is willing to offer thirty million Sacred Crystals!"
"Thirty million... that's quite a lot of Sacred Crystals." Yang Kai chuckled.
This girl probably had no idea about Dragon Cave Mountain's true resources. Did she think a mere thirty million Sacred Crystals would move him? Cai He, on the other hand, seemed to have heard of Dragon Cave Mountain, and subtly drew in a breath upon hearing the figure.
"You're not satisfied with that price?" Du Sisi was visibly shocked. After all, she'd heard that Yang Kai was just some bandit who'd claimed a mountain as his territory. How could a warrior from such a ragtag outfit have ever seen so many Sacred Crystals? This sum wasn't easy even for the Du Family to gather. She didn't actually have the authority to make this decision on her own, but the formation board was too important—once she reported back to the family, they would surely approve. They wouldn't object.
Even if they had to sell every last possession, they would scrape together this amount.
Du Sisi's delicate brows knitted tightly. She assumed Yang Kai was trying to drive up the price, thinking he had something rare and precious. Silently cursing his shamelessness, her eyes darted and she said, "How about this? If you sell the formation board to the Du Family, we'll not only pay you thirty million Sacred Crystals, but our family's formation masters will also craft several sets of formation discs and bases with impressive power for you. Surely that's a generous offer?"
"Not for sale!" Yang Kai continued to shake his head.
Du Sisi stared at him as though he were an idiot. Honestly, the price she'd offered was more than fair—she just hadn't expected it wouldn't move him in the slightest. For a moment, her teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked. She hesitated, seemingly about to raise the offer further.
But Yang Kai waved his hand, cutting off her chatter. Frowning, he said, "Please go back, miss. No matter what terms the Du Family puts forward, I'm not selling the formation board."
"You'll regret this!" Du Sisi was beside herself with fury. She stomped her foot, spun around, and stormed off, too angry to waste another word.
Cai He opened his mouth as though he wanted to comfort her, but ultimately kept his silence.
After Du Sisi had left, he gave a wry smile. "Brother Yang, please don't hold it against her. Sisi has been pampered since childhood and has a bit of a spoiled princess streak. If she offended you, I apologize on her behalf."
Yang Kai regarded him with a half-smile and nodded. "It's nothing. I won't stoop to her level."
"Then I thank Brother Yang for that." Cai He relaxed visibly, then added, "But from the look of things, it seems you truly don't understand how precious a formation board is?"