The red-haired elder let out a cold huff and said with a displeased expression, "A single human is indeed nothing to make a fuss about. But Scarlet Moon, have you perhaps gotten something wrong? This time we're sending our Demon Race youngsters to the Blood Prison. He came here—is he perhaps also heading to the Blood Prison?"
"More or less," Scarlet Moon replied with a light nod.
The red-haired elder's face darkened, anger already showing on his features. The burly man also spoke with a cold, stern expression: "Why haven't Brother Kuangshi and I heard anything about this?"
"It was a trivial matter. I didn't think it was important enough to mention to you two," Scarlet Moon said with an indifferent air. "This little one is an old acquaintance of my Qingluo. He's only passing through my spatial formation to reach Cuiwei Star. There's no need for you two to concern yourselves."
The burly man furrowed his brow and stared deeply at Scarlet Moon, his voice low and heavy: "Scarlet Moon, what exactly are you playing at?"
"What could I possibly be playing at? Can't you two see that he's only at the second stage of the Return Void Realm? The boy is overestimating his own abilities. Relying on his old acquaintance with my Qingluo, he's harboring delusions of courtship far above his station. I've made a deal with him: if he can walk out of the Blood Prison alive, I'll permit him to court Qingluo. He's determined to throw his life away—I can hardly stop him. Well? Are you two satisfied with that explanation?"
The red-haired elder and the burly man exchanged a glance. Though neither fully believed Scarlet Moon's words, they couldn't very well press the matter further.
The spatial formation leading to the Blood Prison had been built tens of thousands of years ago by the previous Scarlet Moon Territory Lord. It belonged exclusively to the Scarlet Moon Territory, and the fact that she opened it for prodigies from other territories to use was already an act of tremendous generosity.
Scarlet Moon had always held complete dominion over this spatial formation.
If they pressed further, they might end up losing more than they gained. Should Scarlet Moon grow angry and refuse passage to other territories' disciples next time, the prodigies of those territories would have no chance at the Blood Prison trial.
"That kid certainly has some nerve!" the red-haired elder scoffed, regarding Yang Kai with disdain. "How dare he spout such nonsense. Since he's bent on seeking death, I naturally have no objections. However, Scarlet Moon—if there's a next time, please inform me in advance!"
"Agreed!" the burly man echoed with a nod.
Scarlet Moon let out a delicate laugh. "I was a bit rash this time. I promise there won't be a next time."
Hearing this, the red-haired elder and the burly man had no choice but to let the matter drop, turning a blind eye and pretending they hadn't noticed a thing.
"Qingluo, come pay your respects to Senior Kuangshi and Senior Nuxie. These two are among the most illustrious figures on Emperor Star." Scarlet Moon beckoned to Shan Qingluo.
Shan Qingluo acknowledged and quickly stepped forward to bow.
Yang Kai's expression shifted slightly. He immediately realized that these two Void King Realm powerhouses must be Territory Lord Kuangshi and Territory Lord Nuxie, though he couldn't fathom why they were here.
As he was mulling this over, a venomous gaze suddenly bore into him from the side. Yang Kai turned his head and caught Xue Lian looking his way. Yang Kai flashed a grin, and Xue Lian's face twitched, as if recalling the unpleasant memories of his recent clash with Yang Kai.
That battle had completely shattered his pride.
"Yang Kai, over here!" Ba He called out, looking enthusiastic.
Yang Kai nodded and walked over to take a seat beside him.
Some days ago, Ba He had gone to the tower to ask Little Senior Sister to refine pills, and the result had naturally delighted him. The herbs he had painstakingly gathered hadn't gone to waste—they had been successfully refined by Xia Ningshang's masterful hands.
So he was deeply grateful to Xia Ningshang, and by extension, extremely warm toward Yang Kai.
"Yang Kai, you'd better be careful in the Blood Prison this time. Everyone in there should be at least one minor realm above you. Don't go being too arrogant when you get there," Ba He advised in a low voice.
"I've always been very low-key," Yang Kai said with a chuckle.
Ba He couldn't help but roll his eyes.
"Oh right, Senior—who are those two?" Yang Kai cast his gaze toward the two unfamiliar Demon Race prodigies and asked.
Ba He naturally held nothing back and immediately introduced them in a low voice.
The plump woman was called Xue Sun, from Nuxie Territory—apparently one of Lord Nuxie's most capable subordinates. The bright-faced young man was called Lie Feng, from Kuangshi Territory, also one of Lord Kuangshi's top fighters.
Neither Lord Nuxie nor Lord Kuangshi had produced any worthy heirs, so they could only send their best subordinates to participate in the Blood Prison trial. Both Xue Sun and Lie Feng were renowned in their respective territories.
Yang Kai nodded slightly, committing their names to memory.
These two Demon Race powerhouses also seemed quite interested in Yang Kai, glancing his way from time to time. When their eyes met, Lie Feng even gave Yang Kai a friendly smile.
This guy shouldn't be hard to get along with, Yang Kai quietly noted.
The great hall fell silent. Time trickled by bit by bit as everyone sat with eyes closed, conserving their energy while they waited.
Yang Kai's divine sense continuously swept through the super spatial formation in the great hall, probing its intricate mysteries. He suddenly discovered that this formation's layout bore some striking similarities to the altar that connected Emperor Star to the Spider Mother's lair, though he couldn't fathom what connection the two might share.
At some point the next day, the three Territory Lord-level powerhouses—Scarlet Moon among them—simultaneously opened their eyes, brilliant light flashing in their gazes.
"It's beginning!" Territory Lord Kuangshi called out in a low voice.
All eight Return Void Realm cultivators waiting to depart were jolted to attention and rose to their feet in unison.