"So this is the Taiqing Mountain Range where the Glass Gate is located?" Su Yan gazed down at the undulating peaks stretching out below them like a reclining dragon and asked.
"Mm." Yang Kai, standing beside her, nodded and extended his Divine Sense, drawing upon his authority as the Star Lord to sweep across the surrounding tens of thousands of li. He smiled and said, "It looks like the Spirit Corpse Sect's rampage didn't cause too much damage to the Glass Gate's main headquarters. It's about the same as the last time I was here."
Xia Ningshang peered into the distance and said softly, "The spiritual energy of the Dark Star really is something the Profound Continent can't compare to. Everywhere we've visited these past few months—whether the spiritual energy or the scenery—it all surpasses the Profound Continent by a great deal."
She seemed a little downcast.
Yang Kai was the Star Lord of the Dark Star, and she was the Star Lord of the Profound Continent. For every Star Lord, the star whose Origin had been refined by them was like their closest companion, like their own child.
The desolation and decline of the Profound Continent, its lack of spiritual energy, filled Xia Ningshang with a quiet sorrow.
"Star Lords and their stars are intimately connected, Junior Sister. If you keep working hard to improve your cultivation, one day the Profound Continent will flourish again." Yang Kai offered some words of comfort.
"Mm." Xia Ningshang nodded obediently.
"Let's go. Palace Gate Master should have received the news by now." Yang Kai took a hand of each woman, one on his left and one on his right, and flew forward with them.
Since the day they had set out to roam the Dark Star, nearly three months had already passed.
Over those three months, Yang Kai and his two companions had visited virtually every famous scenic spot on the Dark Star, experiencing all manner of local customs and cultures. The vast expanse of the Carefree Sea, the endless stretches of the Silent Desert, the towering grandeur of numerous famous mountains and great rivers—all had been graced by their footsteps and their presence.
This three-month journey would surely become the most cherished memory in the hearts of all three.
The Glass Sect was the final stop Yang Kai had chosen!
Coming here wasn't for sightseeing. Yang Kai wanted to ask Gong Aofu for something.
Although Gong Aofu had led the entire Glass Gate to join the Lingxiao Sect during the Spirit Corpse Sect's rampage, and had herself become one of the Lingxiao Sect's Elders, once the threat of the Spirit Corpse Sect had been eliminated, Yang Kai had sent Gong Aofu back to the Taiqing Mountains.
He understood better than anyone what a martial artist's original sect meant to them.
Just as the sect he had established on the Dark Star was called the Lingxiao Sect—even though Gong Aofu would have had better prospects staying there, she would always have the Glass Gate in her heart, this sect that had raised and nurtured her.
Moreover, when Gong Aofu had originally joined the Lingxiao Sect, Yang Kai had promised that she could one day rebuild the Glass Gate.
Letting her return was simply fulfilling that earlier promise.
Gong Aofu had been moved to tears of gratitude. Although she led the Glass Gate's warriors back to the Taiqing Mountains, she also swore a solemn oath that from that day forward, the Glass Gate would fall under the jurisdiction of the Lingxiao Sect as a subsidiary sect!
This was the Lingxiao Sect's very first subsidiary sect—and a highly significant one at that.
Yang Kai had already sent word to Gong Aofu when he, Su Yan, and Xia Ningshang set out for this place.
By the time they arrived at the main peak of the Glass Gate, a dense crowd had already gathered below. At their head stood a beautiful woman, exuding mature charm. Her figure was full and graceful—it was none other than Gong Aofu herself.
Dai Yuan still had a face full of pockmarks, her skin pitted and uneven, looking utterly ugly. Standing right beside Gong Aofu, she only served to highlight how beautiful and captivating the latter was.
Behind the two of them stood the Glass Gate's remaining Elders and elite Disciples, among whom Yin Sudie was also present.
Upon seeing Yang Kai's streak of light descend, the crowd below immediately straightened their expressions and bowed in unison.
"Subordinate Gong Aofu pays respects to the Sect Master, and greets the two Sect Master's wives!" Gong Aofu hastily said.
"We're all family here—no need to be so formal, Gate Master Gong." Yang Kai waved his hand. Su Yan offered Gong Aofu a gentle smile, accepting the address with composure. Xia Ningshang, however, even behind her veil, still had a visible blush coloring her cheeks, her delicate earlobes flushed crimson as though weeping blood.
After all these years, Junior Sister was still the shy type.
"Miss Dai Yuan, it's been a while." Yang Kai turned his gaze toward Dai Yuan, his eyes sweeping meaningfully across her face. Others had no idea what kind of countenance was hidden beneath that revolting exterior, but Yang Kai knew perfectly well.
Dai Yuan's figure was certainly exquisite, with all the right curves, but that face was thoroughly off-putting and made it extremely hard for anyone to feel any warmth toward her.
Yang Kai and Dai Yuan were as far apart as heaven and earth. A divine dragon soaring through the sky—would it ever spare a glance at an ant crawling on the ground?
That was why practically everyone had no idea why Yang Kai went out of his way to look after Dai Yuan.
In response to Yang Kai's greeting, Dai Yuan simply gave a slight nod, showing no particular enthusiasm.
Gong Aofu smiled at his side and said, "I heard from the Grand Elder that the Sect Master has been roaming the Dark Star these past few months. Have you gained anything?"
"Just taking in the scenery—what could I possibly gain?" Yang Kai chuckled and shook his head.
"The Sect Master and his two wives are a perfect match, truly made for each other. It seems that traveling together is the greatest gain of all."
Yang Kai turned to share a glance with Su Yan and Xia Ningshang, and the three of them smiled in mutual understanding.
Even though they knew Gong Aofu was being somewhat flattering, none of them felt the slightest displeasure.