Just as Yang Kai stood there at a loss, a sudden noise came from nearby. A figure shot skyward and landed not far from where he stood.
The moment he saw who it was, Yang Kai's expression changed drastically. He immediately grabbed Liu Xianyun and retreated, putting as much distance between them and the newcomer as possible.
It was Yao Changjun!
When the vortex had swallowed him earlier, Yang Kai hadn't caught sight of Yao Changjun at all. He had no idea whether the man had been devoured before or after him, but judging by his appearance, he clearly hadn't escaped the catastrophe either and had ended up stranded here as well.
And Yao Changjun's condition looked absolutely wretched. His clothes were torn to shreds, his graying hair was a disheveled mess, his entire body was drenched in blood, and his aura flickered unstably—clearly the backlash from resisting that devouring force had been brutal.
Yang Kai, thanks to Liu Xianyun's warning, had given up his resistance in time. Though he didn't look particularly great either, he was undoubtedly in far better shape than Yao Changjun.
The bastard was actually still alive! Yang Kai couldn't help but marvel at the man's formidable cultivation. A Third-Order Emperor Realm cultivator truly deserved the title—even after suffering devastating damage to his soul, he hadn't simply keeled over and died.
"You despicable wretch!" Yao Changjun quickly spotted Yang Kai as well, and his face turned icy cold, killing intent surging around him.
If it weren't for Yang Kai, how would he have charged recklessly into the Desolate Void Ridge? And if he hadn't charged into the ridge, how would he have encountered the Desolate Void Vortex? Now he was stranded in this godforsaken place—and the root cause of it all was none other than Yang Kai. Meeting one's enemy under such circumstances naturally made his eyes burn with rage.
Just as he was about to unleash his fury upon Yang Kai, another soft sound came from nearby. Yet another figure burst out from beneath the earth.
The turn of events startled both Yang Kai and Yao Changjun, and they both turned to look. But once they made out the newcomer's features, they quickly relaxed.
Because the third person to appear here was none other than the City Lord of Gao City, Pang Guang!
Yao Changjun had been aware that Pang Guang was tailing him, but he'd been single-mindedly focused on tracking Yang Kai and hadn't paid the man much mind. When the catastrophe at the Desolate Void Ridge erupted, Pang Guang naturally had no means of resistance either and had been sucked in along with the rest of them.
What mildly surprised Yao Changjun, however, was that Pang Guang looked considerably better than he did. The man was only slightly disheveled at most, without a single visible injury, and his breathing was strong and steady.
"You're both unharmed?" Pang Guang emerged and, upon seeing Yang Kai and Yao Changjun locked in a standoff, was momentarily startled.
Yao Changjun let out a cold snort. "Were you hoping something unfortunate had befallen me?"
He took one look at Pang Guang's condition and immediately understood—the man knew how to avoid the devouring force. That was how he'd emerged unscathed. Meanwhile, Yao Changjun had spent two hundred years hiding in Gao City under an assumed identity, only to end up looking like this. His pride took a sharp blow.
Having suffered at Yao Changjun's hands once before, Pang Guang didn't dare act presumptuously in front of him. He offered an awkward smile and said, "It's wonderful that the Senior is unharmed. I was merely asking in passing, merely in passing."
Yang Kai grinned. "That wasn't very noble of you, City Lord Pang. You clearly knew how to avoid the danger, but you couldn't be bothered to give Senior Yao even a hint. It's almost as though you were hoping Senior Yao would perish as quickly as possible. If I were you, Senior, I wouldn't let that slide—I'd have to teach him a lesson."
Pang Guang's face darkened. He cast a cautious glance at Yao Changjun and, seeing the man's expression remained indifferent with no visible emotion, immediately barked, "Watch your tongue, brat! You killed my subordinates and seized my treasures—I haven't settled that score with you yet! Senior Yao is a reclusive master of extraordinary perception and piercing insight. Do you really think he'd fall for your petty provocations?"
As he spoke, he turned to Yao Changjun and clasped his fists. "Senior, I do have grievances with this brat, but they're trivial matters. This place is all about you. If you wish to kill him or flay him alive, I'll simply sit back and watch the show—I won't interfere in the slightest."
Yao Changjun gave him a languid glance and drawled, "So when you were following me through the ridge, you were also just there to enjoy the spectacle?"
A layer of cold sweat broke out on Pang Guang's forehead. The corner of his mouth twitched as he said, "Senior has misunderstood. I only entered the Desolate Void Ridge because there was something I needed to attend to. I absolutely had no intention of tracking Senior."
Yao Changjun snorted coldly, neither confirming nor denying it, his demeanor arrogant. Though he'd taken considerable injuries when the vortex swallowed him, he still didn't consider either Pang Guang or Yang Kai to be worth worrying about. The fact that Yang Kai had managed to wound him back in the teahouse was only because his guard had been down. Now that he was aware, things would be different.
However, given his current state, it was best not to fall out with Pang Guang. He wasn't at his peak, and Pang Guang was still a First-Order Emperor Realm cultivator. If it truly came to blows, even if he could kill the man, he'd have to pay a considerable price.
"Senior, could this place be... that legendary Desolate Void Secret Realm?" Pang Guang, seeing that Yao Changjun had gone silent, felt a flicker of unease and hastily changed the subject.
"The Desolate Void Secret Realm?" Yang Kai's eyebrows shot up at the mention.
Right now, what he most wanted to figure out was exactly where this godforsaken place was. Unlike Pang Guang and Yao Changjun, he was a complete newcomer. The other two clearly possessed some knowledge about their surroundings, so he perked up his ears and listened with great interest.
"If you already know, why bother asking me?" Yao Changjun snorted, making no effort to hide his disdain for the man.
Pang Guang smiled sheepishly. "I truly didn't expect it—the Desolate Void Secret Realm actually exists. After serving as City Lord for several hundred years, I've finally learned something new today."
"What exactly is this Desolate Void Secret Realm, and how do we get out?" Yang Kai asked eagerly.
Pang Guang's face went stern. "Why does a brat like you need to know so much? Just sit tight and wait to die."
Yang Kai's expression soured. "City Lord Pang, regardless of whatever grudges we had before, we're all in the same boat now. Why not share whatever information you have? It's not like this is some blood feud over a murdered father or stolen wife. There's no need to be so petty."