"It's not that I'm unwilling to help—there's just far too much going on, I can't be in two places at once. Didn't I tell you I'd go when I had time?" Yang Kai explained.
Ye Qinghan pondered for a moment before gritting her teeth and saying, "To be honest with you, Young Master Yang, within our Thousand Leaf Sect's secret realm, there is a forbidden land... called Emperor Heaven Valley. If one could cultivate there for a time, it would be of tremendous help for advancing to the Emperor rank in the future."
Yang Kai looked at her with a faint, knowing smile.
Ye Qinghan's pretty face reddened. "It's not that I don't trust you, Young Master Yang—this matter is of utmost importance. I dare not reveal it casually, or it would attract the covetous eyes of countless Dao Source Realm warriors. Our Thousand Leaf Sect isn't strong enough right now to withstand that."
Yang Kai chuckled. "Emperor Heaven Valley—what a grand name. But... what does that have to do with me?"
Ye Qinghan stamped her foot. "If you can truly repair the spatial formation and restore the secret realm to the Thousand Leaf Sect, I can personally arrange for you to enter it!"
"Your position in the Thousand Leaf Sect..." Yang Kai narrowed his eyes at her.
Ye Qinghan said, "I am the daughter of the Thousand Leaf Sect's Sect Master! The current Sect Master of the Thousand Leaf Sect, Ye Hen, is my father!"
"So you're the Young Sect Master." Yang Kai cupped his fists. "My sincerest apologies for the lack of respect."
A blush crept across Ye Qinghan's face. "You're making fun of me, Young Master Yang."
To say nothing of the Young Sect Master of the Thousand Leaf Sect—even the Young Palace Master of the Flying Sage Palace had been beaten to a pulp by Yang Kai before, so Ye Qinghan never felt her identity was anything special, and she hadn't originally intended to reveal it to him.
But now she had no choice but to say it—otherwise, she'd never be able to earn Yang Kai's trust.
"Young Master Yang, I'm begging you..." Ye Qinghan's voice was earnest, her expression pleading. "My father is getting on in years. If he can't break through to the Emperor rank soon, I'm afraid he won't have many years left. But advancing to the Emperor rank is far from simple—Emperor Heaven Valley is the greatest opportunity he can obtain, and the one with the best chance of success. Young Master Yang, if you can help our Thousand Leaf Sect this time, I'll agree to any request you make."
As she spoke, she had the air of someone who had thrown all caution to the wind, which caught Yang Kai's eye.
Yang Kai fell silent. Ye Qinghan didn't dare breathe too loudly, standing there with her red lips pressed together, waiting, her heart in turmoil. In the quiet chamber, the sound of her rapid heartbeat filled the air.
After a long while, Yang Kai finally sighed. "Fine. For the sake of your filial devotion, I'll make the trip with you."
"Really?" Ye Qinghan's eyes welled up with tears of joy as she looked at Yang Kai in disbelief.
"But not right now—you know there are still matters to deal with here in Maple Forest City. Once everything's settled, we'll set out."
"No rush, no rush." Ye Qinghan quickly waved her hands. "I've waited this many years already—a little longer won't matter."
"But let me be clear upfront." Yang Kai looked at her with a serious expression. "I can only promise to give it a try—I can't guarantee I'll be able to repair the spatial formation."
"That's all I need to hear, Young Master Yang!"
"Go find yourself a place to rest. When it's time to leave, I'll send word." Yang Kai waved his hand dismissively.
Ye Qinghan said, "Then I'll await your good news, Young Master Yang."
After speaking, she curtsied gracefully and withdrew, carefully closing the door behind her.
Once she was gone, Yang Kai sighed and sat down, muttering to himself, "Another troublesome affair."
He had no relation to Ye Qinghan and no connection whatsoever to the Thousand Leaf Sect—naturally, he didn't want to wade into that mess. But Ye Qinghan was persistently tenacious, and Yang Kai felt that if he refused, she'd likely chase him to the ends of the earth. That would only create more trouble.
If that actually happened—a young woman trailing behind him all day, gazing at him with mournful eyes—anyone who didn't know the situation would think he had seduced and abandoned her. How improper would that be!
That said, the Emperor Heaven Valley Ye Qinghan had mentioned did pique Yang Kai's interest. If it could help warriors advance to the Emperor rank, it must have something to do with comprehending the Heavenly Dao and martial dao. Although Yang Kai's cultivation was only at Dao Source Stage Two, gaining deeper insight into the Heavenly Dao and martial dao could only benefit his growth—and with the aid of the Grand Ascension Pill, his eventual breakthrough to the Emperor Venerable rank would surely be a natural progression.
For a time, there was nothing of note. Yang Kai sat in meditation and cultivated until midnight.
Having just advanced to Dao Source Stage Two, he naturally needed to properly consolidate his gains.
Under the night sky, Yang Kai pushed open the door and stepped out. With a flicker of his figure, he arrived at the City Lord's Manor in just over a dozen breaths.
The guards outside the City Lord's Manor were as good as nonexistent to him.
But the instant he stepped into the City Lord's Manor, Yang Kai felt his skin go cold as several overwhelmingly powerful divine senses swept across his body before vanishing in a flash.
Though the scan lasted only the briefest moment, it still made him shudder from head to toe, breaking into a cold sweat.
Those divine senses belonged to genuine Emperor Venerable realm powerhouses—it was clear that Xiao Yuyang and the others were staying in the City Lord's Manor.
A few of the divine senses merely checked him briefly before withdrawing, but one lingered, subtly drawing him forward.
Yang Kai sniffed and headed in the direction of that divine sense. Before long, he arrived outside a chamber. He raised his hand to knock, but before he could, he heard Gao Xueting's voice from within: "Come in!"
At the sound of her words, Yang Kai pushed open the door and entered.