Ordinary cultivators encountering a Spirit Sea could only sigh with longing — there was no way they could afford to waste precious time lingering here to soak up the rich spiritual energy.
Yang Kai wouldn't do that either.
But he had the Mystic World Bead!
The spiritual energy inside the Mystic World Bead wasn't exactly sparse, but it was still far inferior to what existed here. If he could use the Mystic World Bead to absorb all the spiritual energy in this place, the cultivation environment within the Small Mystic World would improve considerably.
It had been a sudden inspiration on Yang Kai's part. After all, the last time in the Five Color Pagoda, the Mystic World Bead had absorbed a massive amount of remnant Heavenly Laws. If it could absorb even the power of Laws, there was no reason it couldn't draw in spiritual energy.
And sure enough, when he tried, it worked.
A massive vortex formed directly on the surface of the Mystic World Bead, and as it spun and pulled, all the surrounding spiritual energy was drawn into this Emperor Treasure, flooding the Small Mystic World within.
Yang Kai was overjoyed.
The success of this experiment meant that in the future, he could elevate the cultivation environment of the Small Mystic World to rival the finest blessed caves and secret realms in the Star Realm — though the prerequisite was finding more existences like this Spirit Sea.
He handed the Mystic World Bead to Liu Yan, asking her to hold the Emperor Treasure while keeping an eye on Zhang Ruoxi.
Liu Yan understood without a word. She took the bead and stepped back a short distance, not wanting the commotion from the Mystic World Bead to interfere with Zhang Ruoxi's cultivation.
Only then did he tilt his head toward Hua Qingsi, gesturing for her to step aside for a private word.
Hua Qingsi fumed, "Am I your pet? Is that why you can order me around at will?"
Yang Kai said, "If you don't want to, forget it. Go back and stay put."
"Fine, fine, fine... You've really got guts!" Hua Qingsi was so angry smoke practically rose from the top of her head, her blood roiling, yet she had no choice but to swallow her pride for the time being...
After leading Hua Qingsi a fair distance away and confirming they wouldn't disturb Zhang Ruoxi, Yang Kai glanced around while speaking: "What I asked you to consider before — have you thought it over?"
"Thought about what?" Hua Qingsi replied absently, all the while scanning for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack.
But what puzzled her was that Yang Kai, a mere Dao Source First Stage cultivator, kept his back to her the entire time, his whole body riddled with openings. It was as if he didn't consider her a threat at all. Combined with his earlier arrogant words and confident demeanor, Hua Qingsi couldn't help but waver with uncertainty.
She had no idea what would happen if she actually struck!
She had had enough of being locked inside the Small Mystic World. If she were thrown back in, she would go mad.
"Pretending not to understand?" Yang Kai stopped and turned to look at her.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Hua Qingsi wore the expression of a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
Yang Kai grinned. "Let me explain first. I just feel that keeping you locked up in there indefinitely is rather inhumane. After all, we have no grudge and no enmity between us..."
"You're actually this reasonable?" Hua Qingsi's beautiful eyes lit up as she gazed at Yang Kai eagerly. "In that case, then..."
"You're dreaming!" Yang Kai snorted coldly, turning back and continuing forward. "But you already know my greatest secret, so without some means to keep you in check, I can't very well let you out for some fresh air. This time was an exception — next time you won't be so lucky. If you really don't want to surrender your Soul Imprint, then be prepared to remain locked in there for the rest of your life."
Hua Qingsi's lovely face shifted slightly. After a moment of silence, she said, "Would you surrender your own Soul Imprint to someone you barely know, giving them power over your life and death?"
"No!" Yang Kai shook his head.
"Exactly. If you wouldn't, why should I?"
"Because... I'm stronger than you!" Yang Kai answered matter-of-factly.
Hua Qingsi's mouth twitched. "A mere Dao Source First Stage cultivator dares say such things to my face! Where do you get your confidence?"
"No need to probe me. If you truly believed you could beat me, you would have attacked long ago. Why keep trying to feel me out?" Yang Kai sneered. He turned around once more, his gaze cold and devoid of emotion as he stared at Hua Qingsi. "My patience has its limits. Right now, you must give me an answer. If you don't want to surrender your Soul Imprint, then prepare to endure eternal imprisonment! For the rest of your life, I will never give you this opportunity again!"
Seeing him so serious, Hua Qingsi's heart sank. She realized that before Yang Kai's final ultimatum, there was no way she could weasel her way out any longer.
She gritted her teeth, her lips parting and closing slightly, as though she wanted to say something but didn't know where to begin.
Yang Kai said, "The reason I didn't force you last time was to give you time to think it over carefully. I would have thought you'd have come to a conclusion by now. It's just one choice — is it really that difficult?"
"You're right. I've thought it through!" Hua Qingsi replied, pressing her lips together.
"Oh? And your answer is...?" Yang Kai examined her with evident interest.
Hua Qingsi clenched her teeth. "If I surrender my Soul Imprint to you... damn it, could you stop making that look like your scheme just succeeded? It makes me feel like I'm being swindled!"
"Go on," Yang Kai replied with a perfectly straight face, smoothly schooling his expression.
"Will you make me do things that put my life in danger?" Hua Qingsi asked sharply.