After a brief silence, someone stepped forward to stand before Yang Kai. He was a man of roughly forty or fifty years of age, and upon approaching, he cupped his fists with a solemn expression. "I am Wang Taizhen, Sect Master of the Extreme Dao Sect. I am willing to submit to Lingxiao Sect and follow Sect Master Yang's orders from this day forward!"
"My Fire Guard Alliance pledges to follow Sect Master Yang's lead. We will brave mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation."
"Wuji Pavilion is willing to..."
And so on.
More than a dozen sects, large and small, declared their allegiance one after another, stepping forward to bow to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai stood in place, his attitude neither cold nor warm, maintaining an air of inscrutable mystery.
As time passed, more and more factions pledged their submission.
Before absolute overwhelming power, if they still refused to face reality, they would be courting death! These people had fought tooth and nail to escape into Lingxiao Sect's territory for shelter. The last thing they wanted was to die now.
Yang Kai's methods might be somewhat domineering and his attitude far from pleasant, but at least they could keep their lives.
"The Glazed Glass Sect wishes to join Lingxiao Sect. From this day forward, the Glazed Glass Sect shall cease to exist on the Dark Star. I humbly ask Sect Master Yang's magnanimous compassion to accept us!" A beautiful woman walked up to Yang Kai, her gaze luminous and her expression sincere.
The moment those words left her lips, the powerhouses who had previously expressed willingness to submit all showed visible shock, turning to stare at the speaker with disbelief.
Yang Kai likewise looked over with considerable interest, only to realize he actually recognized her.
The current Sect Master of the Glazed Glass Sect — Gong Aofu!
Strictly speaking, she was something of a master to Dai Yuan. However, for certain reasons, Dai Yuan had never been favored by Gong Aofu. Instead, it was Yin Sudie who had won the elder's favor, always kept at her side and given every opportunity for advancement.
At this very moment, the lavishly adorned Yin Sudie stood beside Gong Aofu, even bold enough to cast several flirtatious glances toward Yang Kai.
A faint smile played at the corner of Yang Kai's lips as he regarded Gong Aofu with deep meaning, speaking slowly: "Sect Master Gong, do you understand what you're saying?"
Gong Aofu pursed her lips into a smile and reached up to brush the long black hair from her ear. Her tone was light and composed. "I am no child, so naturally I understand. Sect Master Yang need not worry — I will take full responsibility for my words."
Submission and integration. Those were two entirely different things. The sects that had previously pledged submission to Yang Kai meant they would follow his commands, but they would not become members of Lingxiao Sect. They would retain their own sect names and their positions within their own organizations. One day, they would leave Lingxiao Sect and return to their own headquarters.
But Gong Aofu's intention to integrate was something else entirely. To join Lingxiao Sect meant the current Glazed Glass Sect would have to be dissolved. In other words, the Glazed Glass Sect's lineage would end with her generation. If Yang Kai was willing to accept them, they would become disciples of Lingxiao Sect from that point forward.
Yang Kai would have absolute control over their fate. Without his permission, they could never leave Lingxiao Sect or revive the Glazed Glass Sect. Any unauthorized departure would constitute betrayal of the sect — a transgression no one could tolerate.
It was a decision of extraordinary boldness. On the square, the array of Return Void Realm cultivators let their expressions shift after the initial shock. Before long, most of them showed looks of admiration.
They understood perfectly well what Gong Aofu was thinking. Yang Kai had returned in overwhelming force, displaying terrifying combat strength, and the entire Dark Star had only one truly safe haven left — Lingxiao Sect. Joining now was unquestionably the wisest choice, one that would bring them far better care and protection.
But understanding was one thing. Truly asking them to abandon their own sects and join Lingxiao Sect — very few among them would be willing to do the same.
Martial cultivators had always placed immense value on their inherited legacy. Each of them bore the mark of their respective sects. That mark represented centuries, even millennia, of honor — a source of pride and identity.
Even Yang Kai was no exception.
That was precisely why the force he had established on the Dark Star was called Lingxiao Sect, not the Nine Heavens Holy Land or the Tianxiao Sect! Though both of those organizations were closely tied to him, and he was even the master of the Nine Heavens Holy Land himself.
But no matter how one looked at it, Lingxiao Pavilion was his true master's sect. He held a special affection for Lingxiao Pavilion that neither the Nine Heavens Holy Land nor the Tianxiao Sect could ever replace.
The fact that Gong Aofu was willing to dissolve the Glazed Glass Sect and join Lingxiao Sect showed that this beautiful woman saw further and more clearly than most present, and possessed an iron will. Otherwise, she could never have made a decision that would bring dishonor upon her ancestors' legacy.
Yang Kai met her gaze directly, his eyes deep and profound, as though seeking to peer into the innermost depths of her heart.
Gong Aofu showed no intention of avoiding his stare, nor did she exhibit any guilt. She held Yang Kai's gaze with eyes clear and unwavering.
"Does Sect Master Yang consider the Glazed Glass Sect too weak and few in number?"
When Yang Kai remained silent for some time, a flicker of unease crossed Gong Aofu's face. "The Glazed Glass Sect has suffered greatly in this calamity. The number of remaining disciples is indeed small — only fifty made it here with me. But among those fifty, ten are at the Return Void Realm, and the rest are all at least at the Saint King Realm."
"Fifty of you made it here alive. That's rather impressive in its own right," Yang Kai offered a casual compliment, still showing no sign of committing to a response.
Gong Aofu grew somewhat embarrassed. "I know that there may have been some unpleasantness between the Glazed Glass Sect and Sect Master Yang in the past. But if Sect Master Yang would be gracious enough to accept us, I swear I will devote my very life and soul to your service with absolute sincerity!"