Although Yang Kai's actions would inevitably offend quite a few people, he hadn't gone too far — he hadn't killed anyone rashly, nor had he actually robbed them in earnest, so the situation wasn't all that serious.
If he had truly stripped everyone he encountered of all their belongings, then he'd be completely done for the moment he left the Four Seasons Realm. He'd become the number one target of every major Sect…
At that point, unless he joined the Green Sun Temple or Gao Xueting was willing to shelter him, the powerful experts of various Sects would certainly settle the score after the fact.
But the way he'd handled things now ensured that he wouldn't make mortal enemies of everyone while still guaranteeing a solid haul.
Two days later, Yang Kai had already gathered two of the three missing medicinal ingredients. Only the final one remained unfound.
Based on his observations, the Supreme Treasure Lotus would fully mature within a single day. If he still hadn't found that last auxiliary herb by then, he'd have no choice but to simply consume it.
And at this point, only two days remained before the exit to the Four Seasons Realm closed!
Yang Kai was growing rather anxious!
Because if his guess was correct, those truly powerful individuals should already be making their way toward the exit — they ought to be arriving in this area just about now.
As this thought crossed his mind, Yang Kai's expression suddenly shifted. He focused his gaze toward a particular direction, and after a moment, pursed his lips in displeasure. "So they're already here… Seems a bit early!"
On the distant horizon, a dazzling streak of light was hurtling toward this location at tremendous speed. Within that light, the auras were mixed and chaotic — clearly, more than one person was present. And one of them, in particular, gave Yang Kai an extraordinary feeling, as if they were far more powerful than the rest.
This person was undoubtedly one of those Dao Origin Realm experts who warranted Yang Kai's genuine attention.
But until they got closer, Yang Kai couldn't tell who it was.
Even as he watched, the streak of light approached the mountain summit and came to a halt before Yang Kai in short order. The radiance dissipated, revealing a handful of figures.
The moment these people appeared, a man roughly thirty years of age among them pointed straight at Yang Kai and bellowed: "Senior Brother Zhuang! It's this bastard — he robbed me and Junior Sister Xu before, snatching our Spatial Rings!"
As he spoke, a fair-skinned, beautiful woman in the group nodded along, glaring at Yang Kai with a look of deep-seated hatred, as though he'd committed some grave offense against her.
Yang Kai took a closer look and found the speaking man and the nodding woman both looked somewhat familiar — they were precisely the pair he'd encountered just yesterday…
But their fate had been the same as everyone else who had come to this place. Yang Kai had subdued them with his consummate techniques and snatched their Spatial Rings for a cursory inspection.
"Oh? So you two are from the Wuhua Hall… My sincerest apologies!" Yang Kai said with a bright smile, cupping his fists toward the man.
He hadn't previously bothered to inquire about their origins, but now that he saw them together with Zhuang Bufan, he naturally understood.
The Wuhua Hall was, after all, one of the foremost Sects in the Southern Region. As elite disciples of the Wuhua Hall, they were already immensely proud by nature. Having been robbed without provocation — how could they swallow such a bitter pill? No doubt they'd gone to great lengths to contact Zhuang Bufan, their chief senior brother, the moment they'd left yesterday, hoping he would come and vent their anger for them.
Of course, the most important thing of all was that Supreme Treasure Lotus! Having Zhuang Bufan come here would not only put a damper on Yang Kai's arrogance, but might also allow them to seize this heaven-and-earth spirit herb.
"I spit on you!" The man spat in Yang Kai's direction upon hearing his words, then snorted coldly. "Kid, save the act. If you admit your wrongdoing now, there's still time — get on your knees, kowtow a few good ones, slap yourself a few times, and Senior Brother Zhuang might just let you off. The senior brother has always been benevolent and righteous, never killing the innocent. But if you insist on putting up a fight, then hah…"
The implication in his words was plain as day. He was a completely different person from yesterday, when Yang Kai had cowed him into trembling submission. Now, with someone backing him up, his arrogance had swelled to extraordinary heights.
"I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you're saying, friend…" Yang Kai responded casually.
"Stop playing dumb!" the man shouted angrily. "You know perfectly well what you did!"
"Heh…" Yang Kai chuckled softly, then shifted his gaze to Zhuang Bufan. "Brother Zhuang, what do you have to say?"
From the moment Zhuang Bufan had arrived, he hadn't uttered a single word. His eyes had been shifting back and forth between the Supreme Treasure Lotus and Yang Kai, the look of puzzlement on his face growing ever deeper.
His confusion was twofold…
First, there was the Supreme Treasure Lotus. As the chief Dao Origin Realm expert of the Wuhua Hall, his knowledge and experience were far from ordinary. He had vaguely discerned the mysteries and variety of the Supreme Treasure Lotus, but he couldn't be entirely certain, leaving him filled with doubts.
Second, there was Yang Kai. No matter how he observed, the fellow appeared to have only the cultivation of the first stage of the Dao Origin Realm! With such cultivation, he had effortlessly subdued his junior brother and junior sister. If the two of them hadn't been so adamant about it, he might not have believed it himself.
Now, upon hearing Yang Kai's question, Zhuang Bufan furrowed his brow and cupped his fists. "May I ask your name, sir?"