"Old Qian got struck by lightning?" Yang Kai clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Mm." Qian Tong nodded. "Though I wasn't seriously injured, the might of heavenly lightning is not to be underestimated."
Fei Zhitu gaped and exclaimed, "I thought you were cultivating some secret art last time, which is why you attracted heavenly lightning. So that wasn't the case?"
"What secret art could I possibly be cultivating!" Qian Tong said with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You're well aware of the secret arts in the Shadow Moon Hall. What sort of art could summon heavenly lightning? Besides, even if such an art existed, I wouldn't have time to practice it now. Consolidating my current realm is more than enough to occupy me."
"What about the terrestrial fire last time?" Dong Xuan'er asked from the side.
"Terrestrial fire?" Fei Zhitu looked utterly bewildered.
Dong Xuan'er blinked her large eyes and explained, "A couple of months ago, while Master was in seclusion, terrifying terrestrial fire suddenly erupted from his location, reducing that entire area to ashes."
"Something like that happened too?" Fei Zhitu was utterly astonished.
"It's all because I'm being rejected by the Laws of Heaven and Earth!" Qian Tong said in deep frustration. "Ever since I returned to the Dark Star, this isn't the first time I've encountered such things. Although I've managed to resolve them each time, it's impossible to cultivate in peace under these conditions. Not only that, when I fly through the void, a Soul-Dispersing Gale seeps into my Spiritual Sea, wearing down my soul force. I don't dare maintain flight for too long now, nor do I dare fly too high, for fear of triggering some consequence I can't handle!"
"Heavenly lightning, terrestrial fire, soul gale..." Yang Kai clicked his tongue again. "Old Qian, your life sounds so miserable!"
Hearing Yang Kai's teasing, Qian Tong looked as though he wanted to cry but couldn't.
These days had indeed been filled with anxiety. Fortunately, Qian Tong hadn't attempted any deep seclusion during this period. Otherwise, being interrupted midway could easily lead to Qi Deviation. Even as a Void King Realm powerhouse, that would be difficult to recover from.
"I've never heard of such a thing happening!" Fei Zhitu exclaimed, his face a picture of disbelief. "I've lived for several hundred years, and this is a first for me."
"This is a first for me too." Qian Tong sighed heavily, then looked at Yang Kai with hopeful expectation. "Yang Kai, you are now the master of the Dark Star. Can you think of a way to rid me of these worries?"
He was truly troubled, and since he had no idea when lightning, fire, or wind might strike, he couldn't retreat into seclusion. All his hope now rested on Yang Kai, hoping he could devise a solution.
To his great disappointment, Yang Kai slowly shook his head. "I can roughly sense the Laws of Heaven and Earth on the Dark Star, but breaking or altering them is impossible."
Qian Tong sighed again upon hearing this.
The hall fell silent for a moment, the expressions of everyone present heavy.
It was supposed to be a great honor for the Shadow Moon Hall that Dark Star now had its only Void King Realm expert, but with Qian Tong being rejected by the Laws of Heaven and Earth, it was hardly good news.
After a long pause, Qian Tong suddenly spoke. "It seems... leaving is the only option."
"Old Qian, you're planning to leave the Dark Star?" Fei Zhitu was startled.
Wei Guchang and Dong Xuan'er also looked at Qian Tong with reluctance, seemingly wanting to offer words of dissuasion but not knowing where to start.
"If I don't leave, I'll be plagued by these problems for the rest of my life, and my cultivation will never advance further." Qian Tong smiled faintly. "It took me so much effort to reach the Void King Realm, and I don't intend to remain stuck here forever. I wish to go higher, stand farther, and see even more spectacular sights!"
"At your age, you're still so ambitious," Fei Zhitu said with a wry smile.
"Old Fei, are you content to remain stuck at the Void King Realm's threshold for your entire life?" Qian Tong countered.
"Of course not!" Fei Zhitu snorted. "If my realm hadn't dropped last time, I would have left the Dark Star with you all. Regardless of whether I can glimpse the mysteries of the Void King Realm, one must at least try."
"Indeed, people strive upward like water flows downward!"
"Since you've made up your mind, there's nothing more I can say. Rest assured about the Shadow Moon Hall; I will look after it properly," Fei Zhitu said seriously.
"Yang Kai, if I wish to leave this place, I'll need to rely on your power!" Qian Tong turned to Yang Kai.
"Naturally, no problem," Yang Kai smiled slightly. "Actually, I already had a plan I was preparing to implement recently. It happens to coincide with your thoughts, Old Qian."
"What plan?" Qian Tong's eyes instantly lit up.
"I intend to deploy Space Arrays on other Cultivation Stars!"
"Cross-star, long-distance teleportation?" Qian Tong and Fei Zhitu exclaimed in unison, staring at Yang Kai in utter shock.
Yang Kai nodded. "The Dark Star has been closed off for long enough. It's time we went out and looked around. If this can be achieved, then cultivators from the Dark Star who reach their peak will be able to leave and venture elsewhere to comprehend the mysteries of the Void King Realm."
Qian Tong and Fei Zhitu fell silent for a long time, their eyes wide with astonishment.
After a good while, Qian Tong finally stammered, "Is... is such a thing really possible?"