Ten million years had passed. Their names had long since faded into the river of history, and the people living in peace within this world had no idea that, in ages so distant they were almost myth, such a breathtaking battle had once taken place.
Only a solitary old man silently guarded their untitled graves. Only these burial mounds recorded the great deeds they had accomplished. And only here could one look back and remember the sacrifices they had made for this world.
"The outcome of that battle — I'm sure you've already seen it for yourself." Tian Yan's face was tinged with sorrow as he pointed toward the dozens of graves stretching out before them.
Yang Kai straightened with solemn respect and bowed deeply to the graves.
When he rose, he asked, "What about the Soul Devouring Insects? Were they destroyed?"
Tian Yan shook his head slowly, his voice dark with shame. "I'm afraid it's a sore subject. Despite the tremendous price that was paid, the Soul Devouring Insects… they truly cannot be eradicated by any living being in this world."
Yang Kai's expression changed drastically. "You mean… the Soul Devouring Insects are still alive?"
Tian Yan nodded.
"How can that be?" A wave of grief washed over Yang Kai. So many powerful cultivators here had perished trying to exterminate the Soul Devouring Insects, yet after paying with their very lives, they had still failed. Didn't that mean their sacrifice had been largely in vain?
At the thought, a chill ran through him. "Where are the Soul Devouring Insects now?"
"Come with me!" The old man said. Once again he exerted his power, enveloping Yang Kai within it. With a single flicker, they arrived before the pitch-black altar. Tian Yan waved his hand to disperse the thick fog, revealing the altar beneath, and pointed at it with an expression of deep wariness. "The insects that once brought this world to the brink of ruin are all sealed within!"
No explanation was needed. Yang Kai could already sense it.
The moment he had appeared here, the Soul Devouring Insects dwelling inside his Warm Spring Lotus had erupted into violent agitation of their own accord, as though trying to break free from his control and fly out of his body.
At the same time, a droning hum emanated from the altar, forming a strange resonance with the Soul Devouring Insects on the Warm Spring Lotus.
Yang Kai's face went pale.
"So you really do possess Soul Devouring Insects." Tian Yan glanced at him, his gaze complicated. "It was because of their agitation that I sensed something amiss. That is what drove me to journey to Celestial Beast Mountain to find the cause, but by the time I arrived, you were already gone. However… having guarded this place for tens of thousands of years, I am intimately familiar with the aura of Soul Devouring Insects. When I detected that distinctive presence at Celestial Beast Mountain and questioned the Beast King there, I tracked you to Divine Wanderer City."
"Rest assured, Senior. My Soul Devouring Insects are not particularly powerful and won't pose any danger to this world. Besides… when I leave this place, I will certainly take them with me." Yang Kai hastened to explain.
He had assumed Tian Yan brought him here intending to leave the Soul Devouring Insects behind in this world, so he rushed to clarify.
"You've misunderstood, young friend Yang." Tian Yan shook his head slowly. "I have no wish to keep your Soul Devouring Insects. This world nearly met its end because of these creatures — why on earth would I want to leave more of them behind? I brought you here only to ask a favor."
"What favor?" Yang Kai asked, bewildered.
"I ask you… to take them away as well!" Tian Yan said, gesturing toward the pitch-black altar.
The corner of Yang Kai's mouth twitched. He answered dryly, "Senior must be joking." He explained, "My Soul Devouring Insects are still relatively weak, and I obtained them long ago, which is why I can maintain some measure of control over them. But the Soul Devouring Insects sealed here… forgive my inability, but there is nothing I can do."
These sealed Soul Devouring Insects had devoured dozens of Emperors at the third-level Emperor realm. How could Yang Kai possibly dare to tamper with them? If he were to absorb them into the Warm Spring Lotus, it wouldn't be long before he was torn apart from the inside.
"They are no longer as powerful as they once were," Tian Yan said. "They have been sealed for tens of thousands of years, deprived of any spiritual nourishment. They have long since become exceedingly weakened. If you have a method to control your own Soul Devouring Insects, why couldn't you find a way to control these as well?"
Yang Kai smiled bitterly without end. "Senior gives me far too much credit… I was barely able to manage my own Soul Devouring Insects, yet after entering this place for less than twenty days, they have already started to defy my commands. Once I get out of here, I'll still need to figure out a way to deal with them myself…"
At that point, Yang Kai suddenly fell silent, sinking into deep thought.
Seeing him like this, Tian Yan perked up, gazing at him with hopeful anticipation.
He had guarded this place for tens of thousands of years, never once leaving the Mist Valley. Partly to watch over the graves of his old friends, and partly to keep watch over the Soul Devouring Insects.
But leaving the Soul Devouring Insects in this world was always a latent threat. If they could be sent out of this world entirely, eliminating the danger once and for all, that was absolutely what Tian Yan wanted most.
That was why, the moment he sensed the Soul Devouring Insects within the altar stirring to wakefulness, he had rushed off without a moment's rest to find the cause, located Yang Kai, and made this request.
After a long while, Yang Kai finally raised his head, his eyes gleaming brightly. "May I ask, Senior — how powerful are the sealed Soul Devouring Insects at present?"
Tian Yan answered carefully, "By my estimation, even if they are slightly stronger than your own Soul Devouring Insects, the difference would be negligible."
"Just that much?" Yang Kai's eyes lit up. "If that's all, then there might still be a chance."
"What do you mean?" Tian Yan asked, puzzled.
Yang Kai said with a serious expression, "Senior must know that the outside world is vastly different from this place. Though the Soul Devouring Insects are practically unstoppable here, out there there are still many techniques and methods specifically designed to counter them. In my possession, I happen to have a rare treasure that is the natural bane of all manner of strange insects and exotic creatures…"