In his chamber, Yang Kai extended his Divine Sense into the Insect Slave Bracelet to check on the Soul-Devouring Insects.
The battle today had left him extremely satisfied with the Soul-Devouring Insects' performance — their results had even exceeded his expectations.
These bugs were absolutely devastating in group combat! Even Third-level Dao Source Realm powerhouses couldn't withstand their swarming assault. If he continued nurturing them for a while longer and allowed them to evolve once more, even Emperor Realm cultivators might be forced to give them a wide berth.
But raising Soul-Devouring Insects took an exorbitant amount of time, and the cost was certainly no small matter. Yang Kai would need to purchase large quantities of spirit herbs and toss them into the Insect Slave Bracelet, letting the Emperor Treasure convert the medicinal essence of those herbs into nutrients suited for the Soul-Devouring Insects' growth.
This was not something that could be rushed.
The Soul-Devouring Insects were ranked remarkably high in the Strange Insect Tome — eleventh on the Heavenly List, no less. Inside his Insect Slave Bracelet, he still had many other exotic insects and strange creatures. Their rankings might not match the Soul-Devouring Insects, but they could still prove to be of considerable use.
Yang Kai felt that if he found free time in the future, he should take the opportunity to study those exotic insects and strange creatures sealed within the bracelet. Who knew — at some critical moment, they might deliver an extraordinary effect.
Today's battle had allowed the Soul-Devouring Insects to devour a substantial amount of Divine Sense and Source Power from various cultivators, and they seemed to have experienced some growth, though it wasn't particularly obvious.
What truly delighted Yang Kai was that the Soul-Devouring Insects could now devour Source Power as well. Previously, they had only been able to consume Divine Sense. This development proved they had genuinely grown.
Three days later, Ye Hen came to visit.
Yang Kai naturally welcomed him with full hospitality.
The Thousand Leaves Sect's situation had now been settled. The sect's deceased and injured disciples had all received proper arrangements. Though the sect had suffered grievous losses this time, it might not necessarily be a bad thing. The Reformist Faction led by Shi Cangying had been completely annihilated, and only those disciples and Elders loyal to the sect remained. Now the entire Thousand Leaves Sect was united in purpose, and with the Heaven puppet at their command, given sufficient time, they would surely be able to restore their former glory.
Ye Hen's injuries had not yet healed. The battle several days ago had nearly torn him apart. When Yang Kai saw him, his complexion was still pale and his aura unstable. Ye Jinghan had been constantly staying by his side.
Yang Kai knew full well what he had come for. So after they sat down, he dispensed with pleasantries and directly handed over the ring that Ye Chong had entrusted to him.
Ye Hen accepted it with trembling hands, gazing at Yang Kai with desperate hope, yearning for the answer he wanted to hear.
Yang Kai smiled. "This is the ring that Senior Ye Chong gave me. It should contain many of your sect's cultivation techniques and secret arts."
Upon hearing this, Ye Hen's body shuddered, and tears streamed down his weathered face in an instant.
His ancestors' wish spanning tens of thousands of years had finally been fulfilled in his generation. But soon, he caught himself and exclaimed in shock, "Young Master Yang, did you just say that Ancestor Ye Chong personally handed you this ring? Could that mean…"
Yang Kai waved his hand. "Senior Ye Chong has long since passed. I merely communicated with a wisp of his lingering Divine Sense. He instructed me to deliver this ring to you."
After hearing Yang Kai recount everything he had encountered inside the secret realm, Ye Hen's face was a mask of astonishment. He murmured, "Ancestor Ye Chong actually ventured into the path of Corpse Puppetry. This…"
Had it not been Yang Kai telling him, he would have found it nearly impossible to believe. The art of Corpse Puppetry was an explicitly forbidden technique within the Thousand Leaves Sect — how could Ye Chong have studied it? And to go so far as to refine himself into a Corpse Puppet, no less. Yet Yang Kai clearly had no reason to deceive him. The fact that he had retrieved Ye Chong's ring and brought it back was proof enough.
After a long moment of dazed silence, Ye Hen rose to his feet and bowed deeply. "Young Master Yang has shown the Thousand Leaves Sect a kindness beyond measure. Ye Hen will never forget it for as long as he lives. Please accept my bow!"
Ye Jinghan hurriedly bowed as well.
Yang Kai helped him up. "Sect Master Ye, you're too kind. It was the least I could do."
Ye Hen knew full well this was anything but a trivial favor. Yang Kai had entered the secret realm and encountered Ye Chong's Corpse Puppet — a harrowing battle must have ensued. But Yang Kai had not described the specifics of the fight, and Ye Hen had no idea just how perilous that confrontation had truly been.
"Young Master Yang is now a friend of the Thousand Leaves Sect. Should you ever have need of us, we will never refuse!" Ye Hen declared solemnly.
Yang Kai smiled. "Sect Master Ye, why don't you first check whether the contents of this ring match what you've been hoping for?"
"Very well!" Ye Hen was himself rather impatient to discover whether the sect's lost cultivation techniques and secret arts truly resided within the ring. Without the slightest notion of discretion, he immediately set about breaking the ring's restrictions.
Ye Jinghan stood nearby, watching with a mixture of anticipation and unease.
The ring required bloodline power to open, so the restrictions were not particularly difficult to break. Without bloodline power, however, any forced attempt would instantly destroy the ring.
In less than ten breaths, a streak of flowing light swept across the ancient spatial ring, and Yang Kai immediately knew the restrictions had been lifted.
Ye Hen surged his Divine Sense into the ring, his expression shifting continuously as he surveyed its contents.
A long time passed before he finally withdrew his Divine Sense and let out a heavy sigh.
"Father…" Ye Jinghan's heart lurched when she saw his reaction. She feared the ring's contents had disappointed him, and her face went pale.
Ye Hen waved his hand. "Everything that was lost to us — it's all here."
"Then why are you sighing like that, Father?" Ye Jinghan gazed at him in bewilderment. The return of their lost techniques and secret arts was wonderful news — it meant the Thousand Leaves Sect now had the foundation to grow stronger, and no one would ever be able to oppress them helplessly again.