There was only one person Mo Xiaoqi would call an old trickster.
An old man who had swindled her out of some Origin Crystals back in Maplewood City.
This old man used to haunt the black market in Maplewood City, his skills of swindling, deceiving, and stealing honed to perfection. When the Star God Palace's Five-Colored Treasure Tower opened that time, this old trickster had entered too, peddling his so-called ancestral Nine Revolution Soul-Returning Pills to numerous warriors!
As an Emperor-grade Alchemist, even now Yang Kai had never heard of such a pill as the Nine Revolution Soul-Returning Pill.
Later, Yang Kai had crossed paths with this old trickster a few more times. The most recent occasion was when Maplewood City was surrounded by demonic energy, and the old trickster had run over from the nearby Forest City to seek help.
The old fellow gave Yang Kai a very strange feeling, radiating a sense of oddity everywhere.
Yang Kai always felt there was some secret hidden about him, but this old fellow came and went without a trace, carrying himself with an air of mystery that made it impossible for Yang Kai to investigate further.
As time passed, Yang Kai had gradually forgotten about him.
He never expected to see him again here in this Origin Sea.
It was just that the old trickster's appearance was vastly different from before. In the past, he wore ragged clothes, his hair was a sallow yellow, and a mouthful of yellow teeth made one nauseous—he looked exactly like a beggar.
But now, the old fellow was dressed in bright, fine clothes, his hair was neatly groomed, and he wore a black robe. Combined with his kind face and gentle gaze, he gave off an air of immortal, sage-like refinement.
Yang Kai nearly popped his own eyes out of his head.
He never imagined someone could change so drastically. He had no idea where this old trickster had made his fortune these past years to become so rosy-cheeked and healthy.
What shocked Yang Kai even more was that this old trickster actually possessed a cultivation base at the third level of the Dao Source Realm, comparable to his own.
This discovery left Yang Kai unable to believe his eyes.
Back in Maplewood City, this old fellow had only been at the Void King Realm. How had he achieved such powerful cultivation in just a few short years? Could his aptitude truly be that heaven-defying? If so, why had he only erupted with such potential now in his old age? If his talent were really that remarkable, it should have shown itself when he was young.
Yang Kai couldn't figure it out at all, which only deepened his sense that the old fellow was bizarre.
As he pondered this, Yang Kai suddenly felt a chill run through him, realizing a problem he had overlooked.
When he had scouted the surroundings earlier, for some reason, he hadn't noticed the old man's presence at all. It wasn't until Mo Xiaoqi pointed it out that he came to his senses. Or rather, he had seen him but hadn't realized it was someone he knew.
For this to happen to him personally, Yang Kai found it utterly incredible.
Just as Yang Kai was growing suspicious, wondering what kind of mysterious being this old trickster really was, a sudden shout came from the other side: "It's you again, kid!"
Yang Kai turned his head and saw Liang Qiu from the Western Domain's Hundred Savage Mountains glaring at him with fury. Liang Qiu sneered, "Where's your big cousin? Didn't he come with you?"
"My big cousin had something to do and left ahead!" Yang Kai fibbed without hesitation. "Do you need him for something?"
Liang Qiu snorted. "I have no business with him, but you're in trouble!"
Yang Kai asked, puzzled, "What trouble could I be in?"
Liang Qiu said, "Kid, don't think you can look down on the world's powerhouses just because you have a bit of skill. Earlier, I was focused on refining and absorbing the Origin Force and didn't want to bother with you. Now that you still dare to show your face here, don't blame me for not being polite!"
As he spoke, he shook his spear, pointing it directly at Yang Kai, and a powerful spear intent suddenly exploded outward.
Yang Kai sneered inwardly, knowing this guy couldn't find a suitable opponent and was just trying to squeeze him like a soft persimmon to scare the chickens and warn the monkey.
He felt no fear, only looking at Liang Qiu calmly and saying, "What do you mean by pointing your spear at me? Are you going to attack me?"
Liang Qiu bellowed, "Kid, you know perfectly well what I mean! I see your talent isn't bad, and cultivation isn't easy, so I'll give you a chance. Take your few female companions and get out of here now, otherwise, when you lose face later, you won't be able to look these beauties in the eye for the rest of your life."
As he ranted, he was also cursing inwardly, because Yang Kai was currently surrounded by several beautiful women, slender and curvaceous alike, and there was even a seven-or-eight-year-old girl. It was truly... enviable, infuriating, and hateful!
"You want to bully the weak with your strength? Hmph, I'm not afraid of you. If you've got the guts, come at me and let's see who loses face later!" Yang Kai stood firm against Liang Qiu's imposing aura, declaring righteously: "If you want me to leave, keep dreaming! Warriors of our kind would rather die standing than live kneeling!"
"Good, this little brother speaks well! We're behind you!"
"Don't be afraid of him, little brother. If he dares attack you, we'll go up there and fight him!"
"Exactly! We're all your backup. Don't you be afraid!"
A group of warriors who had been driven away in the distance began to shout all at once, though it was unclear whether they were jeering or genuinely cheering Yang Kai on. The latter was probably more likely. Regardless of Yang Kai's background or abilities, his willingness to resist Liang Qiu's tyranny was naturally exciting and inspiring.
Whether Yang Kai ended up dead or alive was something they wouldn't care about.
Liang Qiu's face grew dark, his nose twisted with rage. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he was losing face, and he roared: "Good! Since you're so full of backbone, I'll grant your wish!"