"Then I thank you, sir." Yang Kai cupped his fists lightly, his eyes narrowing as he said indifferently, "However... I won't choose either path."
"You're courting death!" The figure's expression darkened, killing intent surging forth.
Though the figure's words were harsh, he showed no intention of attacking Yang Kai. Instead, he stared at him with icy coldness.
Yang Kai laughed. "In that case, why don't you send me on my way?"
He looked utterly fearless, goading his opponent without restraint.
The figure's expression grew ever more sinister.
"What's wrong? Do you not dare... or can you not?" Yang Kai's gaze suddenly sharpened to a razor's edge, like a blade aimed straight at the heart of the figure, seeking to pierce through to the truth of his condition.
The figure remained as still as a mountain.
Yang Kai's energy settled like an abyss, and he sneered repeatedly. "If your true self had descended here, I probably wouldn't stand a chance. I don't know exactly how strong you are, but it's likely beyond what a martial artist at my level could withstand. But you think a mere wisp of soul consciousness can make me surrender? Are you an idiot? This is my Sea of Consciousness—I am the master here!"
As his words fell, the calm sea below abruptly churned violently, coalescing into monstrous water pillars like dragons awakening in fury. An overwhelming aura of slaughter permeated the entire Sea of Consciousness.
The figure took a light breath and regarded Yang Kai with a calm nod. "The brat truly is extraordinary. I underestimated you. Since you've seen through my hand, there's nothing more to say. Boy, hold on to your life—I will come for you again. Don't go and die on me."
As he spoke, he suddenly began forming intricate hand seals with both hands, his entire form gradually fading.
"Trying to leave?" Yang Kai roared. "My Sea of Consciousness is not a place where you can come and go as you please!"
Brilliant golden light suddenly blazed forth. The Demon Eye of Annihilation, suspended above the Sea of Consciousness, unleashed its golden radiance of annihilation, shrouding the figure.
The fading silhouette abruptly froze, as though it had been sealed by the golden light of annihilation.
The figure's brow furrowed. "What is this power? It's so peculiar. Disperse!"
He shook his body once. The golden light of annihilation, which had never failed before, was directly scattered, retreating and unable to draw near him.
Roar, roar, roar...
At that moment, dozens of malevolent dragons formed from the energy of Yang Kai's Sea of Consciousness surged in from every direction, biting ferociously toward the figure.
An expression of extreme gravity appeared on the figure's face. His left hand traced a half-arc before him, and a shield-like barrier of light materialized upon his soul form.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM...
The dragons crashed against the barrier, and the entire Sea of Consciousness shuddered violently. Yang Kai's spiritual body instantly became incredibly weak.
This was a direct clash of souls. Regardless of who won, both Yang Kai and the figure would suffer tremendous damage.
Yang Kai was in agony, and the figure was no better off. This was no ordinary Divine Sense—it was the power of mutated fire-attribute Divine Sense. Though he hadn't been obliterated in this fierce onslaught, the searing heat that burned at his very soul left him in excruciating pain.
After enduring the attacks of the dozens of dragons, the figure had become translucent, as though he might collapse at any moment. Moreover, scorching fire could be faintly seen coursing through his form, continuously devouring his soul power.
"Good, you're quite something!" The figure gnashed his teeth and glared at Yang Kai with hatred. "A mere ant dares wound my soul body? I will remember this grudge. The day will come when you pay it back a hundredfold!"
With that, he formed hand seals once more, his entire form fading completely.
But just before he departed, Yang Kai caught a glimpse of him forming a mysterious seal and casting it into his Sea of Consciousness.
Three breaths later, the turbulent Sea of Consciousness gradually calmed.
Yang Kai stood in place with a grim expression, carefully probing his surroundings. The inexplicable figure was gone. There was no doubt about it—no trace of his presence remained.
However... what seal had he left before departing? And where was it hidden? Yang Kai couldn't sense it at all.
A deep sense of powerlessness washed over him, making him incredibly uncomfortable.
The opponent had been nothing more than a soul body—perhaps just one of countless wisp-consciousnesses among billions—and yet he had been able to come and go freely within Yang Kai's own Sea of Consciousness. This was something that even a Void King Third Stage expert couldn't accomplish.
Could that fellow be a being on the same level as Yang Yan and the Insect Emperor?
What was certain was that he and Yang Yan, the Insect Emperor all hailed from the same place—and that place was the Star Boundary! A realm far more advanced than the Star Field Yang Kai currently inhabited.
Two other things also caught Yang Kai's attention. First, the figure had seemed particularly interested in the Star Map within his Sea of Consciousness. When he had seen the Star Map, he had been more excited than when he had spotted the Seven-Colored Warming Soul Lotus.