Chi Ri seemed entirely unfazed by Bing Yun's cold demeanor. Quite the opposite — he found it admirable, thinking the colder she was, the more interesting she became. Smiling, he said, "Then this seat won't disturb your cultivation, dear sister. In one month, this seat will return, and I promise you won't be disappointed!"
With that, he let out a hearty laugh and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Bing Yun sat there with a frosty expression, her lovely face so dark it seemed as though it would drip water.
After a long while, she reached down and knocked on the hidden compartment beneath the seat. "You can come out now."
Hearing this, Yang Kai immediately leaped out. Looking around, he found that the furnishings in the pavilion showed no signs of disorder whatsoever — it was as though the clash between two Emperor Realm Third Stage powerhouses moments ago had left not the slightest mark on the place. This left Yang Kai clicking his tongue in amazement, for he had clearly felt extraordinarily violent waves of force clashing ceaselessly within this very area, yet now there was not a single trace. It was clear that both Bing Yun and Chi Ri had reached the absolute pinnacle in controlling their own power.
On the table nearby sat a cup brimming with tea, though quite a bit of it had apparently overflowed, spilling across the table surface.
"Senior, that Chi Ri..." Yang Kai opened his mouth but hesitated, unsure how to continue.
Bing Yun sighed. "You've probably noticed — he has certain... intentions toward this palace."
"That old bastard is nothing but a toad lusting after swan meat," Yang Kai said indignantly.
Bing Yun glanced at him, knowing he was standing up for her, and smiled faintly. "A toad, perhaps not — Chi Ri is quite capable. This palace is no match for him at present."
Yang Kai was startled. "If it were a real life-or-death battle, what are your chances of winning, Senior?"
Bing Yun frowned in thought. "Less than thirty percent." She sighed. "He is the Lord of Tongtian Island, commanding the entire island's cultivation resources. Over the years, his cultivation has declined somewhat as well, but compared to him, mine has fallen far more. If we were both at our peaks, I would naturally have nothing to fear. But now... the gap only widens."
Understanding dawned on Yang Kai's face.
Although the spiritual energy within the Silence Void Realm was extraordinarily rich, it was not conducive to cultivation. After spending a long time in this place, no matter how powerful one's cultivation, it would gradually decline. However, the cultivation resources Chi Ri possessed were far beyond anything Bing Yun could compare with, so his decline was much slower — leaving her at a growing disadvantage.
"But it's impossible for him to take me by force. That is why, a hundred years ago, I made a wager with him."
"What kind of wager?" Yang Kai asked curiously.
Bing Yun pointed at the cup of tea on the table beside her. "If he can snatch this cup of tea from before my eyes and drink every last drop without spilling a single drop, then this palace will submit to his will. But if he fails, he must leave!"
Yang Kai looked at the teacup and the tea stains splattered across the table, finally understanding why Bing Yun had earlier said "the tea was spilled."
So these two powerhouses had been competing over this single cup of spirit tea, and unfortunately Chi Ri had come up just short, ultimately failing.
Bing Yun's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "At first, he would bother me only once every few years at most. But over the years, he seems to have gradually lost patience. The last time he came was only three months ago, and this time he was even harder to handle than before. In another month he'll come again, and I may not be able to hold him off."
Speaking of this, she couldn't help but look worried.
Making such a wager with Chi Ri back then had been a desperate measure. Both of them were at the Emperor Realm Third Stage — they couldn't truly fight to the death. If they did, the entire Tongtian Island would be leveled.
Inside the Ice Heart Pavilion, she still had several Disciples. She herself wasn't afraid of offending Chi Ri, but what would happen to those Disciples?
The wager had bought her a hundred years of peace, but it was no permanent solution.
"Chi Ri is also extremely petty. If he were to see you and me alone in the same room, it would not bode well for you."
Hearing this, Yang Kai finally understood why Bing Yun had hidden him in the hidden compartment. This Lord of Tongtian Island was apparently the jealous type — a young man like himself alone in a room with Bing Yun would surely make the man jump to conclusions.
Yet the man hadn't even won her over yet, and he already treated Bing Yun as his exclusive prize. This Lord of Tongtian Island seemed to be a shameless man indeed, caring only about his own satisfaction and utterly indifferent to what others might think.
"Then what do you plan to do, Senior?" Yang Kai grew nervous when he heard she might not be able to hold him off in a month's time.
"That is precisely why I need someone to help me refine Hundred Revolutions Emperor Origin Pills!" Bing Yun said in a grave voice. "As long as I have enough Hundred Revolutions Emperor Origin Pills, I can leave Tongtian Island — even leave the Silence Void Realm — and never have to worry about Chi Ri again."
"Leave the Silence Void Realm!" Yang Kai's spirits lifted at the news, but he immediately realized something and exclaimed, "Senior, do you intend to fly all the way to the exit?"
Sander had said that the exit was extremely far from Tongtian Island. Even a Third Stage Emperor Realm cultivator who knew its location might not be able to reach it — the biggest reason being insufficient endurance of one's own power.
Flying over the open sea consumed vast amounts of energy, and without being able to replenish along the way, one would inevitably become completely exhausted.
But on the ocean, one couldn't stop frequently, let alone use Source Crystals to replenish power. The only solution was spirit pills.
The Hundred Revolutions Emperor Origin Pill was the perfect choice!
After only a brief moment of contemplation, Yang Kai understood what Bing Yun needed the Hundred Revolutions Emperor Origin Pills for — clearly, they were to replenish power at critical moments.