Though excitement filled the air, everyone knew that leaving the Tongxuan Continent and entering the Star Domain was no simple matter.
Even when Ling Taixu and Meng Wuya had joined forces, they had failed — the difficulty was self-evident.
Hearing that Yang Kai dared to make such a promise, their spirits soared.
"Quiet, quiet!" Ling Taixu raised a hand and made a calming gesture. "If Little Yang Kai says so, then he must have a foolproof plan, right?"
As he spoke, he looked toward Yang Kai with a smile.
"Grandmaster sees clearly. Bringing you all into the Star Domain truly isn't much trouble. Hmm, let me put it this way — it's not just everyone present here. I can take your clansmen as well, even every single person from the Nine Heavens Holy Land. It will just take some time."
"Everyone?" Even Ling Taixu was stunned.
Setting aside War Spirit Hall and Broken Profound Manor, where three to four thousand people had come from Zhongdu in one sweep back then, the Nine Heavens Holy Land alone had over two thousand disciples. Combined, that was five or six thousand people. How could Yang Kai possibly transport such a massive number on his own? The power of the stars was extraordinarily fierce — even if Yang Kai had reached the Returning Void Realm, he couldn't possibly protect that many people.
"I have my method, so please don't worry, Grandmaster." Yang Kai grinned. "The real question is whether you're willing to go."
"Of course we're willing!" Huo Xingchen immediately called out, pressing urgently, "When do we leave?"
"There's no rush, Brother Huo. You may be the patriarch, but this is something you should discuss with your clansmen. Some may not wish to leave — those who want to come along can join me, and those who don't can stay behind. The same goes for the Qiu family, the Yang family, and the Dong family. Miss Qiu, Big Brother, Cousin — you're each the heads of your households now, so handle it yourselves. Hold a proper discussion with your elder councils."
"We understand," Yang Wei and Dong Qinghan nodded.
Qiu Yimeng echoed their agreement from the side. Her once-dimmed eyes seemed to regain a measure of their brilliance at this news.
If she could enter the Star Domain, she might reach a higher realm. She didn't aspire to stand shoulder to shoulder with Yang Kai — she only wished to close the distance between them. Perhaps one day she could finally reach him…
She saw a sliver of hope, and it made her suddenly radiant.
"Does that mean I won't have to be separated from you like this anymore — so far apart for so long?" Dong Suzhu gazed at Yang Kai, moved.
Yang Kai was her only child. Ever since he had entered Lingxiao Pavilion at the age of thirteen, she and her son had rarely been together. In the past it had been somewhat better — though she couldn't see him, she at least knew he was alive and well at Lingxiao Pavilion. During the succession war, Yang Kai had been barely a hundred li away.
But ever since Yang Kai had left the Tongxuan Continent and ventured deep into the Star Domain, more than thirty years had passed during which she couldn't see him and hadn't heard a single word from him.
If Master Yang Si hadn't spent all these years carefully tending to her health and spirits, Dong Suzhu would likely have crumbled long ago.
To learn today that she too could accompany her son to the Star Domain filled her with boundless joy.
Yang Kai looked at her and gave her a gentle nod.
Dong Suzhu smiled warmly — a smile that came from the very depths of her heart.
"No time to waste. I'll go find those old fellows for a discussion right now." Huo Xingchen didn't want to delay and rose immediately to leave, looking for all the world as though he would throw a punch at anyone who disagreed.
"I'll go too." Yang Wei stood and departed.
Qiu Yimeng followed close behind.
None of them wanted to lose a moment.
Their yearning for a higher level of martial arts drew them toward the wonders of the Star Domain.
Soon, only Ling Taixu and Master Yang Si's family remained in the great hall.
At last, the family was reunited.
There were words that could never be said enough, and longing that could never be fully expressed.
When Dong Suzhu learned that Yang Kai still hadn't found any trace of Su Yan, she sighed and spoke words of comfort.
She had always been fond of Su Yan as a daughter-in-law.
"Boy, I have no issue with you being devoted to Su Yan. But have you given any thought to how you're going to deal with the people here?" Master Yang Si suddenly fixed Yang Kai with a meaningful look.
"Little Senior Sister?" Yang Kai chuckled. "I've already seen her, but Little Senior Sister seems to be having some sort of trouble. Once she wakes up, I'll need to have a good talk with her."
"Don't play dumb!" Master Yang Si shot him a glare. "It's not just Xia Ningshang here — there are several others."
"Where are you getting all these from?" Yang Kai protested loudly, looking utterly wronged.
"Hmph! There's one over at War Spirit Hall, and two more from Twin Pavilion! You think your old man knows nothing?" Master Yang Si scoffed continuously, then declared with pride, "Your father may not say a word, but I know better than anyone."
Yang Kai's face turned scarlet.
Dong Suzhu giggled at the side and quietly gave Yang Kai a thumbs up. Master Yang Si had been devoted to her alone his entire life, and her life had been happy and fulfilling — but she hoped her son would have many beautiful companions. Ideally, they would give her seven, eight, even ten grandchildren, so that she and Fourth Master would never be bored in their later years. Even if Yang Kai couldn't always be at their side, they could help raise the grandchildren.
"All right, all right. Don't meddle in the affairs of the young. Yang Kai is not an unreasonable person — I'm sure he won't let those girls' hearts be broken," Ling Taixu interjected from the side.
With the Grandmaster speaking, Master Yang Si immediately shrank back and nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Every person within the ruins of War Spirit Hall and Broken Profound Manor had been mobilized. The several great families that had followed Yang Kai here held frequent elder council meetings over the past few days — each clan seemed to be deliberating over some momentous matter.
Everyone had learned of Yang Kai's return, and everyone had learned of the plan to travel to the Star Domain.
No one was forced. It was entirely voluntary.
The Nine Heavens Holy Land had also received Yang Kai's transmission, and the instructions were the same as those given to War Spirit Hall. In addition, Yang Kai had sent word to the Tianxiao Sect.
Two days later, Yang Kai returned to the Nine Heavens Holy Land.