Seizing someone else's headquarters without so much as a word was an extremely serious matter. Even though the Nine Heavens Holy Land had been deserted all these years, that didn't mean anyone could simply occupy it. If Yang Kai ever decided to hold them accountable, Lin Yuhao and Yi Zhengkai wouldn't have enough lives to pay for it.
That was why, the moment Lin Yuhao learned Yang Kai's identity, he immediately wanted to flee.
"Why leave? Stay, stay," Yang Kai said with a chuckle.
Lin Yuhao's expression shifted, and he said in a panic, "Holy Master Yang, Brother Yi and I truly had no idea you were still on the Tongxuan Continent. We thought you had already…"
"No need to explain. And I'm not here to cause you any trouble." Yang Kai waved a hand, cutting him off, and said mildly, "If you like this place, I'll just give you the Nine Heavens Holy Land."
"Give it to us?" The two were genuinely stunned, completely unable to figure out what Yang Kai was playing at.
"That's right, give it to you." Yang Kai nodded. "But you'll have to do something for me in return."
Lin Yuhao was silent for a moment before asking carefully, "What might that be? Could Holy Master Yang elaborate?"
"Nothing major. No need to be so tense." Yang Kai smiled warmly. "Just keep an eye on this place. Don't let outsiders wander in freely. I'll set up an array formation here, and from now on, all you need to do is guard it."
"That's it?" Yi Zhengkai asked, still suspicious.
"That's it," Yang Kai confirmed. "Of course, I won't force anyone. If you're not willing, that's fine. I'll find someone else to watch over this place."
Lin Yuhao and Yi Zhengkai exchanged a glance, struggling to make up their minds.
Even though Yang Kai made it sound trivial, they both knew the array formation had to be of enormous importance. If they failed to guard it properly, wouldn't they have offended Yang Kai for no reason? Given the strength he'd demonstrated earlier, that was not a burden they could afford to bear.
The two locked eyes and communicated through divine sense for quite some time without reaching a conclusion.
"Oh well, you two don't seem too keen. In that case, forget it. I'll just go find a few people outside. It doesn't matter if their strength is low — I'll throw in some artifacts and spirit pills, pass along a few cultivation techniques. That'll be more than enough to guard this place." As he spoke, Yang Kai turned to leave.
"Wait!" Lin Yuhao called out, his expression solemn. "Holy Master Yang, please stay. My brother and I have considered it thoroughly."
"Oh?" Yang Kai turned back to look at them.
"That's right." Yi Zhengkai nodded hastily. "When Holy Master Yang led the three races against the Bone Clan to defend the continent, his meritorious deeds were without compare, and his name will be remembered for all eternity. My brother and I may be weak, but having received Holy Master Yang's guidance, we're no longer content to merely eke out an existence. We wish to contribute our part to the peace of the continent."
"We don't know what array formation Holy Master Yang wants us to guard, but since it's set by Holy Master Yang, it must be related to the continent's safety. We consider it our duty, and we respectfully ask Holy Master Yang to entrust us with this task!" Lin Yuhao's voice rang out with conviction.
"Don't force yourselves," Yang Kai said, rubbing his forehead. "I'm the last person who likes forcing others. Guarding an array formation here is tedious and dull, and you might have to do it forever — generation after generation."
"What's difficult about that?" Yi Zhengkai said proudly. "Brother Lin and I have never cared for crowds. We prefer solitude. This holy land is blessed with beautiful mountains, clear waters, and rich spiritual energy — it's exactly the kind of place we've been searching for. Being able to stay here is already a tremendous honor. Where's the tedium in that?"
"Brother Yi speaks the truth," Lin Yuhao said earnestly, nodding. "This matter is of great importance. If Holy Master Yang lacks suitable candidates, we respectfully ask that you consider us."
"But your strength is a bit low," Yang Kai said, stropping his chin with a look of deliberate deliberation.
"We're not that old," Lin Yuhao replied, gazing at Yang Kai with eager eyes. "And we've already broken through to the Saint Realm. As long as we keep cultivating diligently for the rest of our lives, we'll gradually grow stronger."
Yang Kai fell silent in thought. After a long pause, he sighed. "Fine. Since you're so insistent, I'll entrust this important task to the two of you. I only hope you won't take it lightly — you must guard this place well."
"Rest assured, Holy Master Yang. As long as the two of us draw breath, we will never allow a single outsider to set foot in this holy land. Should anyone dare force their way in, we will spill our blood to stop them!" Lin Yuhao declared in a low, resolute voice.
"Good, good. With that kind of resolve, I'm at ease. The holy land is in your care from now on. Please see to it well."
Hearing these words, Yi Zhengkai and Lin Yuhao were overjoyed. The former suddenly broke into a wide grin and said with a sheepish laugh, "Holy Master Yang, you mentioned earlier that you'd bestow some secret techniques and spirit pills and such, so, well…"
"And cultivation techniques…" Lin Yuhao added with an embarrassed cough.
"Let me find some that suit you." With that, Yang Kai began rummaging through his spatial ring.
His spatial ring was packed with all sorts of things — spoils of war taken from those he'd killed. Naturally, there was no shortage of items suitable for Lin Yuhao and Yi Zhengkai. Before long, he produced several Saint King-grade artifacts and a great number of spirit pills, along with two cultivation techniques well-suited to them and several secret martial skills.
The two had never so much as laid eyes on Saint King-grade artifacts and spirit pills, let alone cultivation techniques and secret arts that seemed tailor-made for them. In an instant, they were so excited they could barely contain themselves.