Upon entering the Guest Reception Hall, host and guests took their seats. Immediately, disciples served tea and fruit platters with the utmost courtesy.
Ye Xiyun and Yang Yan had not followed them here, so Qian Tong and the others were no longer restrained. They sipped their tea while heaping praise upon praise, their words brimming with admiration for the current Lingxiao Sect and its future prospects.
After a long while, Yang Kai smiled brightly and steered the conversation toward the main topic. "I know this may seem forward of me, but I'd still like to ask — when the Emperor Jade appeared recently, how many pieces did each of your sects manage to obtain?"
Qian Tong and Fei Zhitu's eyes glinted. After a moment's deliberation, Qian Tong said, "You're no outsider, young man. Brother Mo and I have known each other for over a century — we know each other inside and out. If anyone else had asked, I certainly wouldn't have answered. But since it's you asking... Well, our Shadow Moon Hall racked its brains and only managed to snatch two pieces."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Mo Yu, who chuckled. "My Qiantian Sect may be quite far from where the Emperor's Domain originally was, but we had decent luck. One piece of Emperor Jade turned up near our sect and was intercepted by other elders. I, Mo, also happened to come across another by sheer chance!"
Two pieces as well — the same count as the Shadow Moon Hall.
From the other side, Dai Yuan parted her cherry lips. "I don't know exactly how many pieces the Glazed Gate has. Master only mentioned that it doesn't seem like many — perhaps one or two at most."
Yang Kai nodded slightly. This information was close to what he had predicted. When the Emperor Jade first appeared, that very first piece had fallen on Dragon Cave Mountain, crashing through its grand protective array, and he had snatched it up. On the way to the Flowing Flame Sands afterward, he, Yang Yan, and Ye Xiyun had joined forces to intercept another piece.
They had given chase after that but found nothing, only wasting considerable time.
In other words, he himself also had only two pieces of Emperor Jade!
The Emperor Jade was the pass to enter the Emperor's Domain, used to resist the Emperor's Might. A single piece could only guarantee safe passage for one person. Given how scarce the quantities obtained by each major sect were, once the Emperor's Domain truly opened, there would certainly be a fierce dispute over who would enter.
Those at the third level of the Void Return Realm went without saying — the Emperor's Domain's reputation was too great, and they desired entry more than anyone else, seeking their own fortune to see whether they could break through to the Void King Realm.
The younger generation of disciples could not be left behind either. After all, every sect's young disciples were the hope of its future, and letting them enter to gain experience would be tremendously beneficial for their growth.
But quotas were limited. How to choose in the end would depend on each sect's own judgment. Yang Kai surmised that the older generation of powerhouses would most likely lead the younger generation in together.
"Ah, the appearance of the Emperor Jade is all well and good, but it has stirred up a bloody storm on the Dark Star as well. It seems quite a few minor factions and small clans have been wiped out lately, all because of this Emperor Jade!" Qian Tong sighed and shook his head slowly.
An innocent man is guilty simply for owning a treasure! Some minor sects and small clans had been fortunate enough to obtain Emperor Jade, but when word leaked, they naturally drew the attention of the powerful, leading to the catastrophe of their annihilation.
Beyond that, the Emperor Jade had also become the most sought-after treasure. Some independent cultivators who had obtained pieces — aware of their own weak strength, or unwilling to risk their lives — had chosen to put their Emperor Jade up for sale.
This naturally sparked a mad scramble among countless buyers.
The price of a single piece of Emperor Jade had already been driven up to over a hundred million Holy Crystals, yet even so, demand far outstripped supply.
Which sect wouldn't want to secure an additional slot? This was nothing like the Flowing Flame Sands. The Flowing Flame Sands only allowed cultivators below the Void Return Realm to enter, but the Emperor's Domain imposed no such restriction.
In short, the sudden appearance of the Emperor Jade had put the entire Dark Star on alert, with dark currents surging beneath the surface.
The Shadow Moon Hall currently had only two pieces, but that didn't mean only two of their people would enter in the end. If fortune smiled and they managed to acquire more Emperor Jade through purchase, they could increase their quotas.
These thoughts flashed through Yang Kai's mind in an instant before he spoke again. "Then may I ask — does anyone know what exactly the Emperor Jade is used for?"
Qian Tong smiled faintly. He swept a finger across his spatial ring, and a palm-sized, pristine white jade token appeared in his hand — unmistakably a piece of Emperor Jade. Unhurriedly, he said, "Although we've never used one before, based on the deductions of the various elders in our Shadow Moon Hall, this Emperor Jade is most likely the key to opening the Emperor's Domain — the pass required to enter."
As he spoke, he suddenly channeled Holy Essence into it. A white light burst forth from within the Emperor Jade, forming a circular halo that enveloped Qian Tong's palm.
The luminous barrier was not large — roughly half a foot in diameter.
"Oh? It's grown a bit." Qian Tong raised an eyebrow with a pleased expression, apparently explaining for Yang Kai's benefit as he said slowly, "The last time I channeled Holy Essence into it, the barrier wasn't this large. It seems the light shield produced by the Emperor Jade gradually expands over time. Once it can fully envelop a person, that's probably when one can safely enter the Emperor's Domain."
"Precisely!" Mo Yu nodded slightly from the side. "Brother Qian's thinking aligns perfectly with mine."