Such were the laws of the Dark Star — the power of heaven and earth's laws, profound and unfathomable, beyond even the reach of Void King Realm powerhouses. Though Yang Kai had become the Star Lord, he still found himself powerless against these laws.
He attempted to break through them, or to disperse them, but failed.
With a soft sigh, Yang Kai withdrew his spiritual sense and ceased his futile efforts. Though these laws restricted the path of advancement to the Void King Realm for the martial artists of the Dark Star, they posed no actual harm to anyone, so there was no need to dwell on them further.
Another day passed, and the Sea Palace still hadn't sent any reply!
This was beginning to wear on Yang Kai's patience. Just as he was considering whether he should pay a personal visit to the Sea Palace's main hall, his brow suddenly furrowed and his spiritual sense spread outward.
Roughly several thousand li from Radiance Island, a colossal wave nearly a hundred zhang tall was surging rapidly toward the island. The wave stretched from sea to sky, its momentum absolutely staggering. And atop that towering wave, figures rode the surf — at least a hundred of them, their silhouettes drifting in the spray.
Of these hundred or so individuals, there were both men and women. The males were burly in build, clearly not of the human race — each stood four or five chi tall, their features ugly and grotesque enough to send a chill down one's spine. The women, however, were stunningly beautiful, with flawless porcelain skin, supple waists that seemed boneless, and looks that ranged from sultry to pure to fiery, leaving the imagination running wild.
What caught Yang Kai's attention was that every single one of these people was a powerhouse at the Return to Void Realm or above!
He had initially assumed they were experts from the Sea Palace, but upon closer inspection, that proved not to be the case.
These people weren't human at all!
A thoughtful look crossed Yang Kai's face as something suddenly clicked.
In the deep seas of the Dark Star, humanity was not the only thriving race — there was also a race known as the Sea Clan.
"Sea Clan" was merely a collective term encompassing many sub-branches. They were innately gifted in water-attribute techniques and martial skills, and within the depths of the ocean, they were titans.
However, the Sea Clan rarely interacted with humans, so martial artists living on the Dark Star's mainland might never encounter one in their entire lives. Even those dwelling in the deep sea seldom had the chance to cross paths with such beings.
Yang Kai observed them for a moment and noticed that this group appeared to include at least four or five different sub-branches. Some had scales covering their bodies. Others sported long, hooked tails behind them. Still others had arms that were shaped entirely like crab claws — an odd and bizarre sight.
It was his first time seeing members of the Sea Clan, and he found himself marveling at the spectacle, wondering what had prompted them to charge toward Radiance Island with such aggressive intent. After watching for a while longer, the burly Sea Clan leader riding at the forefront of the great wave seemed to sense something. His eyes shot out a terrifying gleam as he peered into the void, as though trying to locate Yang Kai's hidden position.
Yang Kai smiled faintly and withdrew his gaze.
To him, anyone on the Dark Star was beneath notice. These hundred-odd Sea Clan warriors at the Return to Void Realm might represent a formidable fighting force for the Sea Palace, but in his eyes, they were hardly worth mentioning.
Atop the great wave, the burly Sea Clan leader frowned deeply. He stared into the void with a contemplative expression, his face full of suspicion.
"Shang Ao, did you sense something?" asked a woman nearby who wore provocative attire, with over sixty percent of her skin exposed to the air. Her brow was furrowed with concern.
Shang Ao shook his head slowly. "It felt as though someone was watching us, but there were no clear signs. Perhaps I sensed wrong."
The woman was taken aback. She knew full well how powerful Shang Ao was — as one of the commanders of the Sea Clan's Palace of the Sea God, he was among the most formidable figures on the entire Dark Star, and it was exceedingly rare for him to misjudge a sensation.
But since Shang Ao had said so, the woman didn't press further. Her pretty brows knitted together in a tight frown. "Still, this matter won't be easy to resolve. The Princess disappeared near Radiance Island. While it's highly likely she was taken by humans, what if they refuse to admit it?"
Shang Ao snorted coldly. "If they dare deny it, I'll raze Radiance Island to the ground! These humans should have been driven out of the Boundless Sea long ago. This is our Sea Clan's domain!"
"Ai!" The woman let out a deep sigh, her brow clouded with worry. Gazing toward Radiance Island in the distance, she prayed silently that their princess had indeed been captured by humans — because if not, they wouldn't even have a direction to search. This march on Radiance Island was nothing more than a desperate gamble, their last resort after exhausting all other options. If it weren't for that, given the Sea Palace's influence, the Palace of the Sea God would never dare provoke a war so lightly.
But Shang Ao seemed utterly convinced that the princess had been taken by humans. This visit was unlikely to end peacefully. If they could recover the princess, that would be for the best. If they couldn't, then a true war between the two great races of the deep sea would be inevitable.
The great wave surged forward at tremendous speed, covering a hundred li in the blink of an eye.
When the wave drew to within a thousand li of Radiance Island, Pang Zhen and the others also detected the disturbance in the ambient spiritual energy. They rushed out from their respective residences one after another, gazing toward the distant horizon.
After a moment, Pang Zhen's expression changed drastically. "These arrogant Sea Clan — they dare attack Radiance Island! Activate the defensive formations!"
At his command, Radiance Island immediately hummed to life. In moments, the massive island was enveloped by a layer of translucent energy. The martial artists within the island mobilized as well, gathering around Pang Zhen, their faces solemn and tense.
Yang Kai had no idea what was happening, and curiosity drove him to Pang Zhen's side as well.