The Ghost Ancestor's speech had been delivered with impeccable propriety, but what left him stunned and embarrassed was that not a single person responded afterward. Nearly ten thousand disciples across the entire plaza seemed to have been struck dumb, staring blankly ahead as though someone had cast an immobilization technique on them—utterly motionless.
He stole a glance back toward Yang Kai, only to discover that the brat had sidled up to Su Yan and Xia Ningshang, muttering something in low voices, putting on the most shamelessly lovey-dovey display imaginable.
Bastard! Utterly unreliable! The Ghost Ancestor cursed silently in his heart.
But in the very next instant, a thunderous roar erupted across the plaza.
"We humbly obey the Grand Elder's instructions! We will not let the Grand Elder or the Sect Master down!"
"We are willing to advance and retreat together with the Grand Elder, to live and die with the Sect!"
"Grand Elder and Sect Master, rest assured—we will cultivate with all our might, so that our Sect may soon surpass the three great powers of the Star Domain and rise above the entire Star Domain!"
"Grand Elder is mighty! We eagerly await the Grand Elder's command!"
The Ghost Ancestor's arrival seemed to have injected a dose of vital energy into the entirety of Lingxiao Sect, setting every last person ablaze with fervor.
Only then did the Ghost Anstructor quietly exhale. For reasons he could not fathom, he was struck by a peculiar sensation—like an ugly bride finally meeting her in-laws and receiving their approval…
What a mess this was. Wasn't he a two-layer Void King? Hadn't he come here to be worshipped and enjoy himself? How had things turned out like this?
Ten thousand questions swirled through the Ghost Ancestor's mind, none of them finding answers.
He made a show of composure, putting on the bearing of a true expert as he smiled faintly. "Today marks my first meeting with all of you. Hmm, I haven't prepared any gifts, so let me do this instead—I shall expound upon the Dao right here for three days, sharing my personal understanding of the martial cultivation realms. If any of you have difficulties in your cultivation, you may raise them all, and I shall do my best to answer."
The moment these words left his lips, the nearly ten thousand disciples grew even more excited. Though their emotions ran high, each of them struggled to contain themselves and, with remarkable unanimity, sat cross-legged on the ground, lifting their gazes toward the Ghost Ancestor's position.
An opportunity to hear a two-layer Void King expound upon the Dao did not come often. Every warrior, in the course of their cultivation, would inevitably encounter difficulties of one sort or another—sometimes in their cultivation techniques, sometimes in their martial skills, perhaps in the refinement of an Artifact, or even in their personal comprehension of the martial Dao. Without guidance or exchange, relying solely on one's own efforts to puzzle things out was bound to waste a tremendous amount of time.
Now here was a two-layer Void King, present and ready to impart wisdom and resolve doubts. This was the sort of opportunity one could not hope for in several lifetimes. How could the disciples not be thrilled?
The overwhelming respect shown by the disciples brought the Ghost Ancestor great satisfaction. He cleared his throat, and then his resonant, ethereal voice began to echo across the plaza. In a matter of moments, every disciple wore an expression of enraptured absorption, completely immersed in his exposition of the martial Dao and the Heavenly Dao.
"Senior Sisters, it's been so long—your little brother has missed you both terribly. Come, come, let's find somewhere quiet and have a proper chat." Seeing that the Ghost Ancestor was handling things with ease, Yang Kai saw no reason to linger. He grabbed Su Yan with one hand and Xia Ningshang with the other and shamelessly began walking off.
"Junior Brother!" Su Yan's lovely face flushed crimson as she shot him a reproachful glance. "There will be plenty of time for that. The Grand Elder is expounding the Dao and resolving doubts today—it's a rare opportunity. I'd like to stay…"
"I'd like to stay too…" Xia Ningshang gazed at Yang Kai with imploring eyes.
"There will be plenty of chances. If you want, I'll have him give you a private session another day," Yang Kai chuckled.
Up on the platform, the Ghost Ancestor—who had been enjoying a moment of triumph—nearly stumbled and fell flat on his face when he overheard this. He shot Yang Kai a murderous glare, thinking to himself that a person of his stature was being used by this brat to court women. What an utter humiliation!
"That doesn't seem right, Grand Elder is the Grand Elder after all…" Xia Ningshang said with some worry.
"There's nothing wrong with it." Yang Kai ignored the Ghost Ancestor's glare entirely and chuckled softly. "He still needs you to refine pills for him. When you do, you can ask him to expound the Dao for you then."
"The Grand Elder wants me to refine pills?" Xia Ningshang cast a glance toward the Ghost Ancestor.
The Ghost Ancestor's heart jolted. Could this woman be the Void King-level Alchemist Yang Kai had mentioned? Of course—back then, he had said his senior sister was a Void King-level Alchemist, and this woman did indeed carry a rich medicinal fragrance about her, the unmistakable scent of someone who had spent years working with pills.
It really was her!
The realization hit him, and the Ghost Ancestor quickly arranged a warm smile on his face, nodding graciously toward Xia Ningshang with not a trace of carelessness, all while his voice never faltered as he continued to expound upon the Dao.
"See? The Grand Elder has already agreed." Yang Kai seized the moment, pulling Su Yan and Xia Ningshang away at a brisk pace before either woman could waver. Both women's faces flushed a deep shade of red as they lowered their heads, falling silent.
Halfway there, Xia Ningshang suddenly remembered something and spoke up. "Oh, Junior Brother, Miss Yang Yan…"
"I know!" Yang Kai cut her off.
When he had returned to Lingxiao Sect earlier, he had already sensed Yang Yan's divine sense sweep across his body—a fleeting brush, gone in an instant. So he was almost certain that Yang Yan had awakened!
The legendary Starry Sky Great Emperor had returned!
But he had no time to deal with Yang Yan right now. Talking with Su Yan and Xia Ningshang came first.