Time lost all meaning when cultivating in the mountains.
Yang Youwei had been quite sensible. Ever since he was dismissed by Zhang Ruoxi that day, he had not shown his face again. Not that Yang Kai feared any tricks from him — the Soul Seal was firmly in his grasp, and Yang Youwei could not escape his control in the slightest. Any stray thoughts of rebellion would be courting death.
Zhang Ruoxi had not visited either. She was in the neighboring dwelling, devoting herself wholeheartedly to Cultivation. She had already reached the third-layer Dao Source Realm and had reaped considerable benefits from the Shattered Star Sea, even obtaining a complete Star Source. Now was the perfect time to fuse her source and comprehend Emperor Intent, to charge toward the Emperor Realm.
One month passed before the sound of knocking came again.
Yang Kai opened his eyes and swept his hand. The door swung open.
Yang Youwei walked in with utmost respect and cupped his fists. "My lord, there is news."
Yang Kai's spirits surged. He rose to his feet in an instant and commanded in a low voice, "Lead the way!"
The matter with the Third could not be delayed. The sooner it was resolved, the sooner he could set his mind at ease and go searching for Little Little. So the moment Yang Youwei reported in, Yang Kai was unwilling to waste even a single breath before setting off.
Once outside, Zhang Ruoxi, who had received Yang Kai's voice transmission, also hurried out. Their eyes met, Yang Kai gave a slight nod, and Zhang Ruoxi followed silently behind him.
A streak of light shot skyward, left the mountaintop, banked in midair, and shot off in a particular direction.
Along the way, Yang Youwei recounted the findings in detail.
Over the past month, the twenty-odd demon race subordinates still alive under his command had been searching for the Third's trail. It was only half a day ago that a minor demon stumbled upon something and hurriedly reported to Yang Youwei. However, they had not dared to alert her — the Third was simply too vigilant. Over the past few decades, they had located her multiple times, yet not once had they succeeded in capturing her. So they had been observing her movements from a distance, tracking her in secret.
That said, even if Yang Youwei's group of demons were to confront the Third head-on, they were no match for her.
Yang Kai suspected that Yang Youwei had no idea the Third had already reached the second layer of the Emperor Realm. Otherwise, he would never have marched out a month ago with such bravado.
According to the subordinate's report, the Third had apparently been hiding beneath a river the entire time. This discovery was pure coincidence — perhaps she had been hidden for so long that she wanted to come up for some air. The moment she left the river, her trail was exposed.
Yang Kai felt a twinge of emotion — more people really did make things easier.
If he had been left to find the Third on his own, who knew how long it would have taken. Not killing Yang Youwei last time and instead subduing him had turned out to be a wise decision after all.
The distance was not great, but before Yang Kai and the others could arrive, a figure came flying toward them from ahead.
Yang Youwei squinted and said quickly, "It's one of our own."
He stepped forward to meet the demon. The two exchanged a few hushed words, and Yang Youwei's expression changed. He turned back to look at Yang Kai with a troubled gaze.
Sensing the shift, Yang Kai's heart tightened. He said in a low voice, "What's happened?"
Yang Youwei said with a grimace, "She was discovered."
"The Third got away again?" Yang Kai's face turned as dark as iron. Last time the Third had fled and hidden for a full month. If she escaped again now, it would likely be another month or more before she surfaced. He simply did not have that kind of time to waste here.
"You could say she got away, and you could say she didn't!" Yang Youwei looked thoroughly conflicted, as if he had no idea how to explain.
"What do you mean?" Yang Kai fixed him with a cold stare.
Yang Youwei opened his mouth, then let out a bitter sigh. "That woman entered the tomb!"
"What tomb?" Yang Kai frowned.
"The Tomb of Myriad Spirits!" Yang Youwei's face was laced with bitterness, and his complexion turned pale as he uttered those four words. His body trembled, as though the very name filled him with dread.
Yang Kai, unaware of the background, said impatiently, "If you know she went in there, why didn't you keep tracking her?"
Yang Youwei's face drained of color. Panic flooded his voice. "My lord, you don't understand! The Tomb of Myriad Spirits is a place no one can enter. It is the burial ground of every living being in the ancient land — no one who goes in has ever come out."
Yang Kai snorted coldly. "I don't care. Tell your people to keep tracking her, or you'll regret it!"
Yang Youwei cried out in alarm, "My lord, please hear me out about what the Tomb of Myriad Spirits truly is! Once you understand, you'll realize that I am truly powerless in this matter."
Yang Kai stared at him coldly and saw that the man was not merely trying to scare him. "Fine. Let's hear what you have to say."
Yang Youwei forced a bitter smile. "I wouldn't dare deceive you. My lord, please understand — the Tomb of Myriad Spirits is a formless place, and it is the grave of every living creature in the ancient land."
"What do you mean, formless?"
Yang Youwei's bitterness deepened. "No one knows where it is. It is a place that simply cannot be found."
Yang Kai's anger flared. "You just said the Third entered the Tomb of Myriad Spirits, and now you're telling me no one knows where it is? Do you take me for a toddler you can fool at will?"
Zhang Ruoxi also regarded Yang Youwei with an icy expression, her gaze less than friendly. The contradiction between his statements was simply too glaring to ignore.
Yang Youwei was terrified beyond measure. Feeling the pressure upon his soul, he knew that if he failed to explain clearly, he would certainly die today. "My lord, please calm down! Every word I've spoken is the absolute truth! The Tomb of Myriad Spirits is something every living being in the ancient land knows about. You can ask anyone you pass, and they will confirm it. How would I dare deceive you?"