"This is also territory belonging to your Lingxiao Sect?" someone's eyes nearly popped out of their head.
"That's right. From this flame barrier onward, extending outward for one hundred li — all of it is territory belonging to my Lingxiao Sect!" Yang Kai's expression was solemn. "Anyone who sets foot here without permission will be treated as having provoked and encroached upon my Lingxiao Sect!"
The moment these words left his mouth, everyone's brows furrowed deeply.
Feng Pozi of the Myriad Beast Mountain slammed her dragon-headed cane into the ground and let out a cold snort. "Young man, aren't you being just a touch too dismissive of the heroes of this world? To speak so shamelessly!"
"Shamelessly?" Yang Kai tilted his head toward her and chuckled. "Then let me ask you, Senior Feng — how far around the headquarters of your Myriad Beast Mountain are outsiders forbidden to set foot? One hundred li? A thousand li? Or perhaps even more?"
Feng Pozi's expression darkened, and for a moment she was struck speechless.
"And the War Heavenly Alliance?" Yang Kai turned to look at Mo Xiaosheng. Mo Xiaosheng's face was grim, and he likewise said nothing.
"What about the Thunder Platform Sect?" Yang Kai shifted his gaze to Cheng Pengxuan, who merely let out a cold hum before falling silent.
Yang Kai laughed heartily. "All of you esteemed seniors are figures of great renown — there's no need for riddles in front of junior. Leaving aside the first-tier forces you come from, even second- and third-tier powers don't allow outsiders to set foot within a hundred li of their own headquarters. And from what this junior knows, the forbidden zones around first-tier Sects extend to at least a thousand li around their headquarters — perhaps even more! I, Yang, am not asking for much. This hundred li must be marked out. Or are you esteemed seniors taking advantage of my youth, dismissing my newly established Lingxiao Sect, and refusing to take us seriously?"
Toward the end, Yang Kai's voice grew progressively colder, and his expression turned sharp and severe.
" Sect Master Yang, surely you can't put it that way?" A sweet, delicate voice suddenly rang out, clear and pleasant to the ear, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Yang Kai turned his head to find the willowy young woman standing beside Feng Pozi gazing at him with a winsome smile.
He didn't know who this young woman was, but since she was standing with Feng Pozi, she had to be a disciple of the Myriad Beast Mountain.
"What guidance would this young lady offer?" Yang Kai regarded her coolly.
The young woman stepped forward and offered a graceful curtsy — she clearly had impeccable manners. Combined with her striking beauty and sweet smile, it was difficult to muster any real dislike toward her.
Her vermilion lips parted softly as she spoke with a sugary tone: "Allow this junior to introduce herself. My name is Feng Yan, a disciple of the Myriad Beast Mountain."
"Feng Yan." Yang Kai's brow furrowed slightly. He cast a thoughtful glance at Feng Pozi. The two shared the same surname, and this woman's cultivation was not particularly high — at the same level as his own, the third step of the Sacred King Realm. Yet Feng Pozi had kept her close at hand all along. She was clearly one of Feng Pozi's descendants, and one she thought highly of at that. No wonder she dared speak up so boldly at an occasion like this without fear of reprimand.
"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance," Feng Yan said lightly. "This junior simply wished to inform Sect Master Yang that the Scorching Flame Sand Sea is originally a forbidden zone of the Dark Star. It is unclaimed land — one could say it is a treasure shared by all martial artists of our Dark Star. Every time the Scorching Flame Sand Sea opens, many people reap benefits and opportunities within it. For Sect Master Yang to so rashly claim this territory as his own and furthermore establish a hundred-li restricted zone — wouldn't that be rather inappropriate?" Feng Yan was quick-witted and articulate. In just a few sentences, she had pinpointed the crux of the matter, causing the many powerful figures present to light up with interest. They nodded in agreement and looked at her with keen anticipation. Feng Yan, for her part, remained composed and unperturbed — clearly she had weathered many a grand occasion. She let out a soft laugh before continuing: "If we're going to be fair about it, every faction on the Dark Star has a share in the Scorching Flame Sand Sea. What Sect Master Yang has done is essentially seize something that belongs to everyone. If the Myriad Beast Mountain were to seize something of yours, Sect Master Yang, you probably wouldn't be pleased either. By the same logic, if your Sect wishes to occupy the Scorching Flame Sand Sea, you really ought to consult the esteemed seniors present here and hear their opinions."
"Precisely!" Mo Xiaosheng immediately seized the opening, nodding from the side in support. "The Scorching Flame Sand Sea is one of the three great forbidden zones of the Dark Star — it is a treasure shared by all martial artists of our Dark Star. No one can claim sole ownership!"
"A shared treasure?" Yang Kai sneered and curled his lips. "That's old news. As of now, the Scorching Flame Sand Sea is the territory of my Lingxiao Sect! If anyone disagrees, you're welcome to come and take it! If anyone truly has the ability to conquer the Scorching Flame Sand Sea, I, Yang, will hand it over with both hands — what of it?"
"Sect Master Yang…" Feng Yan's delicate brows knitted together, a look of displeasure crossing her face. She offered a cool reminder: "Why must you be so overbearing? If you carry on like this, you'll invite the wrath of everyone present. Has Sect Master Yang considered what the consequences might be?"
Yang Kai let out a cold laugh. "My Dragon Cave Mountain hadn't done anything to provoke the wrath of everyone either, and still I was besieged by a great many people. If my luck hadn't held, I'd probably already be buried on that little hill. Inviting everyone's wrath? So be it. Little girl, don't play word games with me, and don't try to frighten me with tall tales. You don't have the standing to converse with this Sect Master. Have your elders speak instead."
"You…" Feng Yan bit her red lip, her face flushed with indignation. "You're being completely unreasonable!"
"Unreasonable?" Yang Kai regarded her with a mocking smile. "Don't you know that in this world, whoever has the biggest fist is the one who gets to define reason?" The look on his face sent Feng Yan trembling with fury, her cheeks burning crimson, yet she didn't dare fire back with anything sharp.
Without giving anyone else the chance to press the attack, Yang Kai let out a cold snort. His gaze swept over the crowd as he declared in a booming voice: "I, Yang, have said all there is to say. If any of you remain obstinate, this Sect Master will not hesitate to pay a visit to your respective headquarters at his leisure. As the saying goes, courtesy demands reciprocity. Since you won't heed my warnings and insist on trespassing upon the territory of my Lingxiao Sect, I won't extend you any courtesies either. Only, when your Sects suffer losses in the future, don't blame me for failing to give you fair warning."
The unvarnished warning left everyone looking grim.
Yang Kai surveyed the crowd, satisfied with their reactions. As long as they still feared him, they wouldn't go looking for trouble on their own. After all, the battle at Dragon Cave Mountain had just showcased their formidable combat power — and that Void King-grade warship in particular. No Sect Master could afford to ignore it. The devastating volley of crystal cannon fire was something any Sect-protecting formation could be broken by.