Damn it, another power outage. Had to run somewhere to update. A bit late, everyone please forgive me!
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"Things have been hectic with the foreign enemy these past few days, so I haven't had a chance to come see you. Have you been settling in okay at the valley?" Bing Yun asked.
"Settling in just fine..." Yang Kai nodded repeatedly. "Ice Heart Valley is blessed with outstanding people and beautiful scenery. There's no way I wouldn't be comfortable here."
"Good." Bing Yun smiled faintly, then suddenly adopted a solemn expression. "But you won't be staying much longer. In a couple of days, I'll personally see you off from here."
Yang Kai froze. "Senior, does that mean you're planning to fight the Wenqing Sect to the death?"
Bing Yun nodded. "They've beaten their way to our doorstep. Ice Heart Valley has no choice but to answer."
"Is there any chance of victory?" Yang Kai asked in a low voice.
Bing Yun shook her head. "None. But destroying Ice Heart Valley won't be so simple for them either. Yang Kai, since we're on this topic, there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you."
Yang Kai straightened his expression. "Please speak freely, Senior."
Bing Yun sighed. "Ice Heart Valley was founded by my own hands. Even though it faces imminent peril, I still hope to leave behind some foundation. When the time comes for me to send you away, I hope you can take some of the disciples with you and bring them out of the Northern Domain. No matter where you settle them, you must tell them — do not attempt to throw eggs at a stone. Before they've grown strong enough, they must not return to the Northern Domain. Even if they wish to seek revenge, they must have absolute certainty of success. If they don't have that desire... then let them live peacefully."
Yang Kai's heart sank as he listened. He understood that Bing Yun was arranging her final affairs. It seemed her resolve to perish together with Ice Heart Valley was absolute.
"When the time comes, those disciples will be led by Zi Yu. You know Zi Yu reasonably well, Yang Kai, so I'm entrusting them to you." Bing Yun looked at Yang Kai with a grave expression.
Yang Kai frowned. "Senior, is the situation... really that dire?"
Bing Yun shook her head. "Seven thousand against one hundred thousand. Ice Heart Valley has no chance of winning."
Ji Yao, standing behind Bing Yun, suddenly spoke up. "Senior Brother Yang, could you call upon those existences from the Eastern Domain? If you could persuade them — it wouldn't take many, just two or three..."
Yang Kai shook his head upon hearing this. "Distant water cannot quench a present fire!"
He knew exactly who Ji Yao was referring to — the great powers within the Desolate Ancient Lands. It wouldn't even need to be someone like Luan Feng. If they simply sent a few Demon Kings, that would be enough to settle the situation. But all of them were in the Eastern Domain's ancient lands, far too distant from here.
If Yang Kai had to go to the Desolate Ancient Lands to bring back reinforcements, Ice Heart Valley would surely have been breached long before he returned.
Moreover, they were demonkind — Sacred Spirits. Rashly intervening in the affairs of a human sect could easily provoke those Great Emperors. Even last time when Luan Feng accompanied Yang Kai to the Huangquan Sect, she hadn't dared to act lightly. It was only because Zhou Yong had provoked her directly that she killed him.
Though the existences within the Desolate Ancient Lands were powerful, once they ventured out, there were still many taboos governing their actions.
Ji Yao clearly understood this as well. She had asked only out of a thread of hope, and hearing Yang Kai's answer, she couldn't help but let out a sigh.
Yang Kai pondered for a moment. "Senior, I've been thinking carefully these past two days. The only reason Ice Heart Valley faces imminent peril is because they brought in a master who can break formations."
Bing Yun nodded. "That's right. That Nanmen Dajun is genuinely skilled. Ice Heart Valley's Grand Protective Formation has already begun to show signs of loosening. Give him another ten days to half a month, and he'll likely succeed in breaking through it entirely."
Yang Kai grinned. "But what if he doesn't have those ten days to half a month?"
Bing Yun looked at him, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
Yang Kai said, "Here's what I'm thinking. The Wenqing Sect has put out a recruitment decree, hasn't they? Perhaps I could feign allegiance to the Wenqing Sect, infiltrate their ranks, and find an opportunity to kill that Nanmen Dajun."
"That's out of the question!" Bing Yun exclaimed, alarmed. "I know you're skilled in spatial power, but right now Ice Heart Valley is surrounded by enemies. There are who knows how many Emperor Realm cultivators among them. If you slip up even once, you won't be able to escape. And don't forget — the higher-ups of the Wenqing Sect certainly know what you look like. Rushing in to join them would just be walking into a trap. Absolutely not. How can we let you put yourself in danger for Ice Heart Valley's sake?"
Yang Kai smiled gently. "You needn't worry about the appearance issue, Senior. As long as I don't cross paths directly with Feng Xuan or Yao Zhuo, I believe the others won't be able to recognize me."
Bing Yun's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "Have you cultivated some kind of body-transformation technique?"
Yang Kai shook his head. "No."
Ji Yao suddenly said, "Senior Brother, you mean to have Senior Niece Tian He lend a hand?"
Yang Kai looked at her with a smile. "Exactly."
Ji Yao considered it for a moment, then nodded. "If that's Senior Brother's plan, it could work."
Bing Yun looked completely bewildered. "Tian He? The disciple who came back with you a few days ago? She's only at the third layer of the Dao Source Realm. Even if she helped, what could she possibly do for you?"
Ji Yao smiled, covering her lips with her hand. "Master, this Senior Niece Tian He may be lacking in cultivation, but she has one particular ability."
"What ability?"
Ji Yao replied, "Her disguise technique is extraordinarily refined. Last time in Taiping City, she stood right in front of me and I couldn't detect any flaw. If Senior Brother Yang hadn't pointed it out, I'm afraid I would have been completely fooled."