"I have the Soul-Devouring Insects well in hand," Yang Kai said seriously.
"Good." Wen Zishan looked at him and continued, "You don't strike me as the type to act recklessly, but if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you, Hall Master Wen."
For the next two hours, Wen Zishan continued to inquire in detail about many matters within the Divine Wanderer Mirror world, and Yang Kai answered everything without holding anything back.
Two hours later, Yang Kai finally walked out of the great hall.
Gao Xueting had apparently been standing outside the whole time. When she saw him emerge, she glanced at him and said coolly, "The Hall Master sent a message saying you require a private chamber?"
Yang Kai nodded. "Yes."
Before leaving Wen Zishan, Yang Kai had indeed made this request, because he needed a safe, secure chamber to refine the Slave Insect Bracelet.
This minor request was naturally granted immediately by Wen Zishan, who told him to seek out Gao Xueting upon exiting.
"Follow me," Gao Xueting said, turning and flying off.
Yang Kai followed closely behind.
Half an hour later, they landed on a peak of moderate height within the Azure Sun Mountain Range. This peak wasn't particularly majestic or striking—it looked quite ordinary—but it was clearly enhanced by some kind of formation, as the ambient spiritual energy here was noticeably denser than elsewhere.
There were no buildings on the peak, but large swaths of vibrant purple bamboo were faintly visible, lending the environment a serene and elegant atmosphere.
Gao Xueting led Yang Kai directly to a cave dwelling midway up the slope. With a series of hand seals, she deactivated the protective restrictions and said, "This is Purple Bamboo Peak, where I reside. I have a dwelling higher up. Should you need anything, just call out, and I'll arrive shortly."
Hearing this, Yang Kai felt a bit overwhelmed by the gesture. He cupped his fists. "Thank you, Elder Gao."
He had originally only intended to ask Wen Zishan for any quiet, secure chamber, but Gao Xueting had brought him to her own peak and arranged for him to stay in a neighboring cave dwelling.
This was clearly meant to watch over him.
Gao Xueting nodded faintly and tossed Yang Kai a restriction token. "You may enter yourself."
Yang Kai caught the token and scanned it with his spiritual sense. After thanking her again, he slipped into the cave dwelling.
Looking around, the dwelling was of moderate size, with several private chambers available. Although it hadn't been occupied for some time, it was as clean as new. It seemed this was Gao Xueting's former dwelling, though he didn't know why she had moved.
With a powerhouse like Gao Xueting nearby, Yang Kai felt entirely at ease. This way, he could refine the Slave Insect Bracelet without any lingering concerns.
Time was pressing, so Yang Kai didn't delay. First, he familiarized himself with the restriction token, then activated all the dwelling's protections before entering a chamber and sitting cross-legged to center his mind and spirit.
Refining an Emperor Treasure was not a simple matter.
Unlike ordinary Artifacts, every Emperor Treasure contained Emperor Intent and Emperor Resonance. If one's cultivation was insufficient during refinement, there was a high risk of suffering a backlash from the treasure itself.
Therefore, cultivators with lower realms had to ensure their condition was at its absolute peak before attempting such a task.
After three full days, Yang Kai felt his mind, body, and spirit had reached an optimal state. He took a light breath and retrieved the long-forgotten Slave Insect Bracelet from a corner within his Mysterious World Bead.
Ever since he had obtained the Slave Insect Bracelet, he had never properly studied it or even considered refining it.
It had only proven remarkably effective on two occasions when he was in danger. Once was years ago when he and Xue Yue encountered a swarm of strange butterflies in the Lost Lands; the bracelet had scared them off. The other time was beneath the ice valley of the Jade Feather Sect, when he faced the insect queen mother. Had the bracelet not intimidated the queen, Yang Kai wouldn't have been able to subdue her.
Both incidents had saved his life, and the Slave Insect Bracelet deserved most of the credit.
Although his cultivation was only at the first-layer Dao Source Realm, his Divine Sense had just barely touched the Emperor Realm. Refining the Slave Insect Bracelet shouldn't be a problem.
With that thought, he placed the palm-sized, bracelet-like Emperor Treasure in his hand, pressed his palms together to cover it, and simultaneously channeled both his spiritual sense and Source Energy into it.
There was no reaction. The Slave Insect Bracelet was like a block of wood, refusing to accept any of his power.
Yang Kai wasn't anxious; this was expected.
He gradually released his energy, continuously bombarding the bracelet, attempting to create an opening in this Emperor Treasure and etch his own imprint upon it.
...
Wansheng Peak. Tens of thousands of meters below ground, in a pitch-black secret chamber, Granny You, though her cultivation was sealed by an invisible force, raged like a madwoman, her curses echoing without pause.
"Wen Zishan, you little beast, you bastard! You won't die a good death! Even if this old woman becomes a vengeful ghost, I will never forgive you!"