Half a month later, three streaks of light shot out from the cavern and streaked toward the horizon, vanishing from sight in short order.
After such an extended period of recuperation, Qian Tong had mostly recovered. Yang Kai likewise. The only exception was Fei Zhi Tu.
Although Yang Kai had dragged him back from the brink of death, the aftereffects of the Origin Explosion Pill were simply too severe. Even now, he had yet to make a full recovery. His hair remained snow-white, though his complexion had regained a healthy flush — he no longer looked like someone on the verge of perishing, as before.
As for his cultivation realm, it had finally stabilized at the second level of the Void Return Stage.
What remained could not be healed in a short time. It would take at least another ten or twenty years before Fei Zhi Tu had any hope of breaking through to the third level of the Void Return Stage once more. The outcome, though frustrating, still fell within the range of what could be accepted.
Moreover, this recovery of cultivation was just that — a restoration, not a genuine breakthrough. Fei Zhi Tu would encounter no bottlenecks; all he needed was time.
Given sufficient time, he would inevitably return to his former strength.
With all three of them in no further danger, they held a brief discussion and set off together for Flowing Flame Sand Field.
The Heavenly Martial Alliance and the Thunder Temple had gone to considerable lengths to deal with Yang Kai. Yang Kai had already explained the full story to the other two, and once they learned that the Star Emperor Mountain had a hand in the affair, both Qian Tong and Fei Zhi Tu felt deeply unsettled.
They did not dare return to the Shadow Moon Hall, fearing that their enemies would seize another opportunity to use the Hall as leverage against Yang Kai.
After all, among everyone in the Shadow Moon Hall, only the two of them had any connection to Yang Kai. As long as they stayed away, the Star Emperor Mountain would presumably have no reason to move against the Hall.
Going to Flowing Flame Sand Field was the best option. Its defenses were solid as stone — even if the Star Emperor Mountain committed every last man, they would never breach its interior.
The last time Yang Kai had come here, he had flown the entire way, entering cities along the route and purchasing cultivation supplies in bulk. Things were different now, and he naturally would not waste time on the road.
After a series of teleportation hops, in fewer than ten days the three arrived at the outer perimeter of Flowing Flame Sand Field.
Over those ten days, the trio had made numerous inquiries for news, but turned up nothing at all.
No one in the entire Dark Star knew what had transpired inside Falling Emperor Mountain that day.
What had spread like wildfire, on the other hand, was the news that both the Heavenly Martial Alliance and the Thunder Temple — two great headquarters — had suddenly gone on high alert. No one was permitted to enter; only to leave.
The world at large had no idea why these two great powers would suddenly adopt such a posture. Only Yang Kai and his two companions understood perfectly — they were clearly terrified that Yang Kai would come seeking vengeance, and were already fortifying their defenses.
But did they really think that would be enough to stop him? Yang Kai sneered inwardly.
He had not been one to stir up trouble. There had been no deep enmity between himself and the Thunder Temple or the Heavenly Martial Alliance. But this time, they had struck first. Yang Kai would not let the matter rest.
Before leaving the Dark Star for his long voyage, it seemed he would need to deal with this lingering threat first. Otherwise, he could never depart in peace. This voyage would not be a brief undertaking — who knew what might happen if he stayed away for too long.
Outside Flowing Flame Sand Field, before the palace that housed the spatial formation connecting the interior and exterior, Yang Kai's expression was dark.
There was no other reason than this: the palace containing the spatial formation had been razed to the ground. It was no longer usable. Traces of blood dotted the ground, evidence that a battle had taken place here.
The Lingxiao Sect disciples who had been guarding the site were relatively weak — whether they were dead or alive, he could not yet say.
Unable to use the spatial formation to enter Lingxiao Sect directly, Yang Kai had no choice but to take out his Message Compass and make contact with those inside.
He could have used the Star Emperor Token to pass safely through, but the protective aura it granted could shield only a single person. Qian Tong and Fei Zhi Tu would have no way of surviving the passage through the scorching heat zone.
After waiting less than an hour, a small vessel shaped like a warship came hurtling out of the rolling waves of heat, pierced through the scorching barrier, and came to a stop in front of Yang Kai and his companions.
It was none other than the Flying Shark Battle Shuttle that Yang Yan had previously refined.
The hatch opened, revealing Wu Yi's figure.
"You're finally back, Yang Kai." Wu Yi's face was taut with worry. Upon catching sight of Qian Tong and Fei Zhi Tu, she quickly bowed in greeting.
"We'll talk inside." Yang Kai gave a slight nod and led Qian Tong and Fei Zhi Tu aboard the Flying Shark Battle Shuttle. The hatch sealed shut, the vessel shuddered faintly, and then it shot toward the interior at tremendous speed.
"Who destroyed the spatial formation? Were the guarding disciples killed or injured?" Once inside, Yang Kai asked without preamble.
"I'm not entirely sure who destroyed it, but the guarding disciples only suffered minor injuries — nothing serious. A little over ten days ago, a group of uninvited guests suddenly appeared outside Flowing Flame Sand Field and attempted to seize the spatial formation. Fortunately, the disciples reacted quickly and triggered the self-destruct formation Yang Yan had set up beforehand, then teleported back inside."
"Good. That's a relief." Yang Kai nodded gently. Lingxiao Sect already had too few disciples. They were all warriors who had originally followed Wu Yi away from the Hai Ke Family, supporting one another all the way to the present day. If any had been killed, it would have grieved them all deeply.
"Yang Kai, do you have any idea who's trying to harm our Lingxiao Sect?" Wu Yi asked indignantly.
"Most likely the Heavenly Martial Alliance and the Thunder Temple," Yang Kai replied calmly.
"Them?" Wu Yi's delicate face shifted. "Why would they target us? We've never offended them!"
"Young lady," Qian Tong sighed from the side, "surely you understand the principle that an innocent man who owns a treasure invites trouble. You may not have offended them, but they covet what you possess, so naturally they'll move against you. Yang Kai was ambushed by them during his trip as well."