"Space Arts! That's Space Arts!" Suddenly, someone shouted in a low voice. The words weren't loud, but they spread rapidly across the open plains.
Every Emperor Realm master present wore a changed expression.
Space Arts — eccentric and unpredictable. Across the entire Star Boundary, those who could tread this path numbered fewer than a handful. And rumor had it that the most accomplished practitioner of spatial power was none other than the one from Spirit Beast Island in the Eastern Region.
But that individual possessed the mighty cultivation of a Third-Order Emperor Realm.
Yet now, a First-Order Emperor Realm cultivator had somehow mastered Space Arts as well — and to such a degree of proficiency, it was nothing short of divine. Envy burned in every onlooker's heart.
"That bell — it must be the Mountains and Rivers Bell!" another person recognized its origin.
"The Mountains and Rivers Bell? Emperor Yuan Ding's relic?"
"That's right, it truly is the Mountains and Rivers Bell. I'd heard from my sect's disciples that it appeared in the Shattered Star Sea, but no one knew where it ended up. Now it seems someone has actually tamed the Mountains and Rivers Bell and brought it out of the Shattered Star Sea."
"Drawn breath hissed through clenched teeth... Mastery of spatial power, taming the Mountains and Rivers Bell — what kind of fortune does that take?"
"Who on earth is that person?!"
While everyone was still murmuring in bewilderment, Feng Xuan — his face a livid mask of fury — suddenly roared at the heavens: "Yang Kai, you brat! I will kill you!"
"Yang Kai!"
"Isn't he the one Wen Qing Sect has been hunting?"
"I heard he has close ties to Ice Heart Valley. That's exactly why Wen Qing Sect marched on Ice Heart Valley — to force Bing Yun into revealing Yang Kai's background."
"So that brat is Yang Kai!"
…
It didn't matter whether Yang Kai had been famous before today. After this, he certainly was. Right in front of Wen Qing Sect Master Feng Xuan's face, he had slain one of the sect's Elders, abducted Nanmen Dajun, and walked away scot-free. That kind of ability was something few people could claim.
And the news that Yang Kai possessed Space Arts and wielded the Mountains and Rivers Bell naturally spread just as fast. It wouldn't be long before Yang Kai's name echoed across the entire Northern Region.
Space Arts were one thing — that was a matter of individual comprehension. Even if someone captured Yang Kai, they likely wouldn't be able to learn it. But the Mountains and Rivers Bell was Emperor Yuan Ding's relic, a primordial treasure said to have been brought out from the Primordial Land. Countless people would kill for it.
Back in the era of the Great Emperors' war, even Devouring Emperor — a being of that caliber — had been forced to risk injury just to kill Yuan Ding first. The sole reason was the dread he felt toward the Mountains and Rivers Bell in Yuan Ding's hands.
This was a treasure that even the number one figure in the Star Boundary had feared. If someone could obtain it, wouldn't they soar to the heavens in a single bound?
Ice Heart Valley. Yang Kai and Ji Yao flickered and reappeared.
The instant the grand formation's fluctuations were detected, Zhangsun Ying dashed out. She cast a nervous glance at Ji Yao and Yang Kai, and upon noticing the blood at the corner of Yang Kai's mouth, she cried out in alarm: "Senior Brother Yang, you're hurt!"
Yang Kai waved it off. "It's nothing!"
Zhangsun Ying said, "You're finally back. Master has been worrying about you these past few days. If she hadn't feared alerting the enemy, she would have intervened personally long ago."
As she spoke, Zhangsun Ying caught sight of Nanmen Dajun dangling from Yang Kai's grip and asked with curiosity, "Who is this?"
Ji Yao answered, "Nanmen Dajun."
Zhangsun Ying's eyes went wide, and then she beamed with delight. "You succeeded?"
She hadn't known what Yang Kai's mission was when he'd first left the valley a few days ago. It was only after Ji Yao had departed as well that she learned he intended to go after Nanmen Dajun. Now that Nanmen Dajun had been brought back in chains, success was self-evident.
Yang Kai nodded and pushed Nanmen Dajun forward. "He's in your hands now. Whether to kill or keep him — that's Senior Bing Yun's decision. I'm going to tend to my injuries."
He turned to Ji Yao. "Junior Sister Yao, come find me tomorrow. I need your help with something."
Ji Yao didn't ask what it was. She simply gave a gentle nod.
Yang Kai's figure flickered, and he vanished without a trace.
Nanmen Dajun, though captured and with his cultivation sealed, showed not the slightest trace of panic. He carried himself with an air befitting a true master. Glancing around at his surroundings, he remarked, "I had long intended to pay a visit to Ice Heart Valley. I simply didn't expect it would be as a prisoner."
Zhangsun Ying and Ji Yao exchanged a glance. Zhangsun Ying extended a hand. "Master Nanmen, please. I'll take you to see our Master."
Nanmen Dajun offered a mild smile. "Much obliged."
His composure in the face of adversity won him a measure of respect from many of Ice Heart Valley's female disciples. Although the valley's recent crisis had been his doing, there was no deep personal enmity between Nanmen Dajun and Ice Heart Valley — he was merely a man who took payment to settle other people's disputes. Now that he'd been captured, Ice Heart Valley's crisis was resolved. There was no need to torment the man further.
In the side room of a small courtyard, Yang Kai sat cross-legged and swallowed several spirit pills for healing, then silently circulated his profound art.
After a single night, Yang Kai's vigor was fully restored, with not a single trace of injury remaining.
The next morning, Yang Kai pushed open the door and stepped outside.
Ji Yao was already waiting for him.
Yang Kai glanced at her. "I need to see Senior Bing Yun."