"Here's what we'll do — I'll find an opportunity to speak with him. At the very least, we need to find out whether Lord Luo Hai came to Chilan Star because of him, and what exactly the matter is. If it has nothing to do with him, we can still try to recruit him later. But if Lord Luo Hai truly came because of him..." Bing Long sighed softly. "Then we'll have no choice but to hand him over, in exchange for the safety of our Ice Heart Valley."
"The Valley Master is wise!" the elders responded in unison, none objecting to this decision.
Yang Kai's aptitude and potential were indeed outstanding — able to fight above his realm, he had a very real chance of advancing to the Void King Realm one day.
But that was merely the future. For now, he was merely at the second level of the Return to Void Realm.
When weighing their wariness of a second-level Void King star lord against a beautiful but insubstantial future, everyone could clearly tell which way the scales tipped.
"When the Valley Master goes to see him, this Elder would like to meet him as well!" Outside the Ice Palace, Ran Yunting's voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned to look and saw Grand Elder Ran Yunting striding toward them.
"Oh? The Grand Elder is interested in him too?" Bing Long was somewhat surprised.
Though Ran Yunting's strength didn't match hers, the gap between them was not great. Ever since she had brought Su Yan back to Ice Abyss Island over thirty years ago, she had devoted herself entirely to cultivating this personal disciple and had shown no interest in other people or matters.
Now she actually wanted to go meet Yang Kai of her own accord, which naturally surprised Bing Long.
"Interested? A talent as outstanding as this — of course this Elder is interested!" Ran Yunting said with a light laugh.
For reasons no one could explain, everyone felt a bone-piercing chill. They exchanged bewildered glances, their faces blank with confusion.
Meanwhile, far beyond Ice Abyss Island — tens of millions of miles away — at the headquarters of the Huo Yao Sect, which stood as Ice Heart Valley's equal.
The Huo Yao Sect's headquarters occupied the finest cultivation ground on Chilan Star. Within its grounds, mountains stood clear and waters ran pure, the land was blessed with exceptional people and abundant spiritual energy. The scenery was beautiful and spiritual qi was rich. Disciples who cultivated here advanced rapidly.
The two great powers of Chilan Star had always been evenly matched, but in recent years the Huo Yao Sect had gained an edge in its rivalry with Ice Heart Valley. The reason was the rumor that Ice Heart Valley's Supreme Elder had suffered injuries from a cultivation mishap.
A figure at the Supreme Elder level was naturally a Void King Realm powerhouse. Though she wouldn't involve herself in the younger generation's conflicts, such news was enough to shake Ice Heart Valley's morale.
Over the past few years, the Huo Yao Sect had also been steadily consolidating its position, subtly pressing down on Ice Heart Valley.
To the south of the Huo Yao Sect's headquarters, nestled within a bamboo grove, stood several thatched huts.
These huts were built with extreme simplicity, looking utterly unremarkable. Mountains rose behind them and a lake lay before them, giving them a fine location. All around the huts, fire-red bamboo grew in abundance.
At this moment, two men sat cross-legged on stone stools before the huts, a chessboard placed on the stone table between them. Black and white stones clashed back and forth.
On the left sat an elder whose hair and beard were both the color of flame. He appeared quite old, but his complexion was smooth and rosy, like a newborn's, and an immense aura radiated from his every gesture.
Across from him sat a middle-aged man wearing a golden crown and golden robes.
Some thirty yards away, a refined-looking man stood silently, motionless as a statue. Only when he looked toward the two did a hint of longing occasionally flicker across his face.
The red-haired elder and the golden-crowned man continued their battle. From the specially crafted chessboard seemed to come the sounds of clashing steel and ten thousand galloping horses, shaking the soul.
The red-haired elder played with astonishing speed, placing his pieces seemingly without thought. The golden-crowned man, by contrast, often furrowed his brow in deep contemplation before setting down each stone with utmost deliberation.
On the board, the black and white auras grew ever more pronounced. The red-haired elder's black stones held a dominant advantage, pressing in from all sides to encircle the white.
As time passed, the golden-crowned man's thinking grew longer and his expression more solemn.
The red-haired elder did not rush him. While waiting, he simply closed his eyes and meditated.
At one point, the golden-crowned man suddenly wore a strange smile. He reached out and placed a white stone, and the crisis engulfing his pieces dissolved like dead wood meeting spring, resolving in an instant. The black stones, which had been pressing forward aggressively, suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage.
The red-haired elder's eyes went wide, his face filled with astonishment.
After thinking for a long while, he slowly shook his head and smiled bitterly. "Brother Luo Hai, your chess has truly improved. I am no match for you."
The golden-crowned man smiled faintly. "Chi Huo, it's not that my chess has surpassed yours — it's that you're too hasty. Your intentions and movements are all laid bare on the board. I merely need to respond to each move."
"That's what makes it fun — straightforward and to the point!" The red-haired elder shook his head cheerfully. "Life is short. Who has the time to overthink everything? Hmm, I concede this game."
"You're too kind!"
The red-haired elder turned to look at the figure nearby and waved him over.
The refined man, who had been standing some thirty yards away, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Wei Qing greets the Supreme Elder! Greetings, Senior Luo Hai!"
Luo Hai nodded slightly and made a courteous gesture of raising him up.
The refined man was Wei Qing, Sect Master of the Huo Yao Sect — a position of considerable standing. Though Luo Hai was the star lord of Cuiwei Star, he couldn't afford to be overly casual. Moreover, he was on good terms with the Huo Yao Sect's Supreme Elder Chi Huo, making Wei Qing something of a junior to him.
"What brings you here?" Chi Huo looked up at Wei Qing.
Wei Qing answered respectfully, "Reporting to the Supreme Elder — the matter that Senior Luo Hai entrusted us with may have a lead."
A sharp glint flashed through Luo Hai's eyes, then vanished almost immediately.