After a long round of haggling with the Ghost Ancestor, Yang Kai finally got him to return all of the Spirit Devouring Crystals — on the condition that once they returned to Lingxiao Sect, he would have his Junior Sister refine a few more Void King-grade pills for him.
The Ghost Ancestor had no idea that having Void King-grade medicinal ingredients to work with was something the Junior Sister actively welcomed, nothing like the grueling toll it took on ordinary alchemists. Had he known, he would likely have screamed about how cunning and devious Yang Kai truly was.
The Spirit Devouring Crystals the Ghost Ancestor brought back numbered roughly forty to fifty. Yang Kai shattered every last one of them, converting them back into energy and returning it to the world.
The Tongxuan Continent was now linked to the entire Star Field, able to continuously absorb the power of the stars. With someone like Xia Ningshang serving as a Star Master, it was only a matter of time before it flourished once more.
Next, Yang Kai summoned Lin Yuhao and Yi Zhengkai from their seclusion and handed each of them a Transmission Token he had personally refined. He told them to guard the Nine Heavens Holy Land going forward — should any outsiders threaten the Tongxuan Continent again, they were to take the Transmission Token, activate the Space Formation, and travel to Blue Wood Star to relay the word.
The two had only just broken through to the Saint King Realm, so their strength was not particularly high. For that reason, Yang Kai also left behind a Blood Beast — a Steel Flame Ghost Spider whose power reached the tenth rank. Although its strength had dipped somewhat after being refined into a Blood Beast, it was still an existence without equal below the Void King Realm. Even against a Void King, it could hold its own for a time.
With this Steel Flame Ghost Spider guarding the Nine Heavens Holy Land, Yang Kai could finally depart without worry.
On this trip away from the Dark Star, he had set up several Super Space Formations along the way, thoroughly connecting the Dark Star to his homeland. From now on, traveling back and forth — or heading to other cultivation stars — would be incredibly convenient.
This was only the beginning. Yang Kai's vision was to blanket the entire Star Field with Super Space Formations, linking every thriving cultivation star together.
But such a thing consumed time, effort, and vast quantities of Void Spirit Crystals. It could not be rushed.
After settling matters on the Tongxuan Continent, Yang Kai finally stepped onto the Space Formation with the Ghost Ancestor. He poured his Saint Yuan into it and activated the formation's operation.
Lin Yuhao and Yi Zhengkai saw them off respectfully.
Blue Wood Star. Twin Shark Island. Yang Kai's palace.
In the innermost chamber of the palace, He Zao and He Miao — the two sisters — sat cross-legged facing each other. It was unclear what profound technique they were cultivating, but their palms were pressed together, their Saint Yuan intertwining as it circulated ceaselessly through their bodies. The spiritual energy of the surrounding heaven and earth poured continuously into their acupoints.
There was no wind inside the great hall, yet their long hair billowed and their robes snapped and fluttered.
Just then, the Super Space Formation in the hall emitted an unusual sound, and the normally still formation began to glow with a pearly white light.
He Zao and He Miao were startled at once. Both opened their beautiful eyes and rose to their feet, gazing toward the formation.
"Someone else has come from the Dark Star," He Zao murmured thoughtfully. Ever since Yang Kai had left with Luo Lan, warriors from Lingxiao Sect had been arriving from the Dark Star in a steady stream. Every person who came possessed peak cultivation at the third level of the Void Return Realm. There had even been a Void King Realm expert. The sisters had gradually come to understand just how powerful and deep-rooted Lingxiao Sect was, and took great pride in having joined such an organization. Seeing the formation triggered once more, He Zao immediately assumed it was another arrival from the Sect.
The moment she finished speaking, two hazy figures materialized at the center of the formation. As the formation continued to operate, the two figures gradually sharpened, and once the white light faded, Yang Kai and the Ghost Ancestor appeared side by side.
"Oh! It's Big Brother Yang Kai!" He Miao cried out with undisguised delight.
He Zao rapped her on the head from the side, reproaching her. "It's the Sect Master!"
He Miao stuck out her tongue, looking sheepish.
The two sisters quickly made their way before Yang Kai and offered a graceful bow. "Greetings, Sect Master," they said, faces bright with joy.
"You two are the ones standing watch here?" Yang Kai glanced around and asked with a smile.
"Yes," He Zao answered sweetly.
"You've worked hard." Yang Kai gave her a gentle nod.
Only at that point did the Ghost Ancestor recover from the long-distance teleportation. He shook his head and said with a grimace, "That feeling is truly dreadful — it's as if the Void is about to swallow you whole."
Even someone as powerful as he could feel discomfort during such an extreme long-distance transfer. Those whose cultivation fell below his required time to stabilize their breath after every teleportation.
Without the Transmission Tokens that Yang Kai had personally refined, anyone who stepped onto the Space Formation would be cast into the endless Void, never to find a way out.
"And this person is…?" He Zao frowned as she studied the Ghost Ancestor. The aura emanating from him was sinister and malevolent, deeply unsettling to her — clearly not the mark of anyone good. She could not fathom why Yang Kai would be traveling with someone like this.
"Heh heh, are these two little ladies Sect disciples?" The Ghost Ancestor spoke up before Yang Kai could explain.
"Yes. He Zao, He Miao, and their master Yue Xi have already been accepted into Lingxiao Sect," Yang Kai confirmed with a nod. As he spoke, he beckoned the sisters over. "Come — pay your respects to our Sect's Supreme Elder."
"Supreme Elder?!" He Zao and He Miao were stunned, never having imagined that this old man who radiated villainy from head to toe was actually their Sect's Supreme Elder.