"What's with all the long faces?" Yang Kai surveyed their expressions and understood exactly what Chang Qi and the others were worried about. He grinned and said, "It's just Dragon Cave Mountain. If it's gone, it's gone. There's no point fretting over it."
"But it's our home," Wu Yi sighed deeply.
"There's an old saying — out with the old, in with the new!" Yang Kai smiled at her. "Even without Dragon Cave Mountain, we'll have somewhere else to settle down, and the environment there is a thousand times better than Dragon Cave Mountain's."
Wu Yi and the others stared at him with suspicion, clearly not buying it.
Dragon Cave Mountain had originally been nothing more than a small hill with thin spiritual energy, hardly suitable for living or cultivation. But after years of meticulous work by everyone, it had become a well-known cultivation site. Many martial artists without sect affiliation had once longed to join Dragon Cave Mountain and secure a place to cultivate.
It was only because Dragon Cave Mountain had never accepted outsiders, politely turning them all away, that it hadn't grown beyond its current scale — otherwise it would likely have become a small sect of over a thousand members by now.
Yang Kai was now claiming they had a new place to settle, one that was a thousand times better than Dragon Cave Mountain. No wonder Wu Yi and the others didn't believe him.
"Even Shadow Moon Hall's headquarters couldn't be a thousand times better than Dragon Cave Mountain," Wu Yi pouted, instinctively assuming Yang Kai was simply trying to console them.
"What if that place really were better than Shadow Moon Hall's headquarters?" Yang Kai gazed at her with a smile.
"How is that possible? If such an amazing place existed, why wouldn't some other power have already claimed it? On the Dark Star, every location with dense spiritual energy has already been occupied by a sect or some other force. How could it possibly be our turn?" Chang Qi was equally incredulous.
"Old Chang is right about that, but this particular place isn't something you can just occupy. Aside from us, I'm afraid no one else could even set foot inside." Yang Kai wore a mysterious expression. "Truthfully, even without this battle, Yang Yan and I had been planning to relocate everyone there eventually. This whole affair has simply provided a convenient opportunity, so there's really no need to worry about Dragon Cave Mountain."
"Sister Yang Yan, is he telling the truth?" Wu Yi turned to Yang Yan in surprise.
Yang Yan gave a slight nod, confirming that what Yang Kai had said was correct. When the others saw her nod, expressions of disbelief spread across their faces.
"Then what exactly is this place? If the environment is that good, why hasn't some force already claimed it?" Wu Yi was growing even more confused.
"Like I said, even if they wanted to claim it, they couldn't." Yang Kai smiled faintly. "Because that place is located within the Flaming Scorch Desert!"
"Within the Flaming Scorch Desert?" Wu Yi and the others exclaimed in unison.
The woman surnamed Ye, by contrast, showed a look of thoughtful realization and asked in mild surprise, "The remnants of the Profound Mystery Sect?"
"Oh? You know about it?" Yang Kai was somewhat surprised. He had only learned it was the Profound Mystery Sect's ruins because Yang Yan had told him. The fact that this woman surnamed Ye also knew was rather peculiar.
"Of course I know. Though I only read about it in ancient texts. After all, that place was a sect once supported by the Great Emperor — before the Great Emperor became who he was." A flicker of something unreadable passed through the woman's beautiful eyes as she glanced, casually or deliberately, toward Yang Yan.
"I see." Yang Kai nodded gently. Though he didn't press further about the exact relationship between this woman and Yang Yan, it was clear she knew Yang Yan's identity — otherwise, with her level of cultivation, she would never have shown such deference to Yang Yan.
It seemed this woman surnamed Ye indeed knew certain secrets.
But now wasn't the time to probe. He could ask Yang Yan about it when the opportunity arose later.
Chang Qi and the others, having overheard the exchange between the woman surnamed Ye and Yang Kai, wore expressions of shock and wonder — clearly they hadn't expected that a sect's ruins lay within the Flaming Scorch Desert. Their faces were all full of astonishment.
"Once we arrive, you'll see for yourselves what the place is like. Let's not discuss it further for now." Yang Yan's tone was calm and composed as she issued her instructions. "Go and keep the warship running. I've already set the course — you just need to maintain our current speed."
Chang Qi and the others acknowledged the order and took their leave one after another.
Before long, the grand hall held only Yang Kai, Yang Yan, the woman surnamed Ye, and Ge Qi.
Yang Yan cast a glance toward the woman surnamed Ye, who understood at once. She waved at Ge Qi and said, "Little Qi, you may leave as well."
"Yes, Grandmaster!" Ge Qi bowed slightly and withdrew.
Once only three remained, Yang Yan hurriedly extended a hand toward Yang Kai. "Let me see what you obtained earlier."
Yang Kai blinked, then quickly caught on. He retrieved a palm-sized jade token from his spatial ring and tossed it to Yang Yan. She caught it, examined it carefully, and murmured, "It really is Imperial Jade!"
"Imperial Jade?" Yang Kai furrowed his brow. "What's it used for?"
"It serves as protection against Imperial Might, and it's also the pass required to enter the Imperial Garden. Without one, no one can enter the Imperial Garden at all." Yang Yan provided a rapid explanation. "When the Imperial Garden opens, only those who possess an Imperial Jade will be able to enter safely."
"Oh? Does that mean there will be quite a few Imperial Jades appearing?" Yang Kai immediately seized on the key point.
If the Imperial Garden were to open, it wouldn't be limited to a single entrant. And since the Imperial Jade was the required pass to enter, that meant quite a number of them would surface.