"That… well, all right. I'll have to trouble you then, Elder Ji Yao." Nanmen Dajun looked rather disappointed. He had originally hoped to use this opportunity to exchange insights and experiences with Yang Kai on the Dao of formations, but Yang Kai had given him no such chance. It left him feeling a bit let down.
Still, being able to reconfigure, improve, and perfect the sect-protecting formation over such a vast area was the lifelong wish of a formation grandmaster such as himself.
He quickly composed himself, offered a polite apology, and hurried off to inspect the original sect-protecting formation that had belonged to the Wenqing Sect.
Only after he had left did Yang Kai stroke his chin and gaze at the spatial formation nearby. "As expected, it's not broken."
If this formation had been set up incorrectly, Ji Yao and Nanmen Dajun would never have been able to teleport here from Ice Heart Valley.
"What's not broken?" Ji Yao asked curiously.
Xi Lei immediately launched into a cheerful account of everything that had just happened, his face practically glowing with glee.
Ji Yao listened, then said thoughtfully, "The spatial formation connects two points. If this end is fine and Ice Heart Valley is fine, then perhaps the formation on the Ancient Land's side is the one with a problem."
Her words struck Yang Kai like a bolt of lightning. His eyes lit up and he clapped his hands. "That must be it!"
After saying that, he suddenly remembered something and gritted his teeth. "Madame Feng, oh Madame Feng — this move is truly ruthless."
There was no way the spatial formation in the Ancient Land had broken on its own. The only explanation was that Luan Feng had deliberately destroyed it after he left.
Luan Feng had done this because she was afraid he would show up again and again to cause trouble down the road. That was understandable, but it still made Yang Kai's teeth itch with frustration.
Setting up a spatial formation wasn't exactly difficult, but the Ancient Land was far away, and the journey there would take quite some time. He had assumed that he would need to deal with the Ancient Land from time to time in the future and had wanted to leave a formation there for convenient travel. Who would have thought that the moment he turned his back, Luan Feng would smash it to pieces? Truly, the most venomous thing in the world is a woman's heart. Luan Feng always appeared dignified and refined, yet she could be so merciless.
It looked like next time he visited the Ancient Land, he would have to set up the formation within the Stone Spirit Clan's territory so that Luan Feng couldn't destroy it again.
Having made this silent resolution, Yang Kai turned to look at Xi Lei and the others. "It seems you've been abandoned by the Ancient Land."
By now, Xi Lei and the rest had also figured out why they hadn't been teleported away. Apart from a trace of disappointment, what they felt mostly was delight. They all grinned and said, "No matter, no matter! Lady Luan Feng surely feels that Young Master Yang is far too important, and wants us to provide close protection. Since the Lady herself has decreed it, Young Master Yang surely cannot refuse."
Yang Kai said, "Well, things have come to this. Could I really drive you away?"
He had been reluctant to keep the three great demon kings before primarily because he had been mindful of the dignity of the three Holy Sovereigns of the Ancient Land. After all, these three demon kings each belonged to one of those three Sovereigns, and just spiriting them away would have been rather underhanded.
But now that Luan Feng had made the first move, he had no choice but to complete the circle. Both by reason and by sentiment, there was nothing the Ancient Land could fault him for.
He had lost a spatial formation but gained three great demon kings — a massive net gain, and one he felt no guilt about whatsoever.
Xie Wuwei stood to the side, grinning from ear to ear, rubbing his hands together. "Young Master Yang, now that things have turned out this way, can we join Lingxiao Pavilion? I won't ask for much — I, Xie, only wish for a position as a Protector."
Both Ying Fei and Xi Lei looked equally eager.
Yang Kai smiled. "With the abilities of you three, the role of Protector would be far too modest a use of your talents. Lingxiao Pavilion has only just established its mountain gate. It will still be some time before we officially open our doors to take in disciples. However, when that day does come, I'd like the three of you to stay here as Guest Elders of Lingxiao Pavilion."
Xi Lei and the others exchanged glances, barely able to contain their joy.
With Yang Kai's words, it meant that from now on they were all on the same side. When any好处 came around, how could Yang Kai possibly forget them?
Compared to the other demon kings and Holy Envoys in the Ancient Land, they had already pulled ahead.
A sect that had not even been officially founded yet already had three Guest Elders comparable to Emperors at the third level of the Emperor Realm — if word of that ever got out, who knew how many people across the world would burn with envy.
Ji Yao stood nearby, smiling with the corner of her lips. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Yang. When Lingxiao Pavilion officially opens its gates, you must let Ice Heart Valley know. Ji Yao would love to come and share in the celebratory wine."
She was genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart that Yang Kai was settling down here and founding a sect. The ties between Ice Heart Valley and Yang Kai ran deep, and in the future, if the two sects watched each other's backs, no one in the entire Northern Region would be able to shake the standing of these two titans.
Yang Kai smiled. "That goes without saying. When the time comes, I'll be sure to trouble the junior sisters of Ice Heart Valley." He paused briefly, then said, "Oh, right — those tens of thousands of prisoners that Ice Heart Valley captured. How have they been dealt with?"
Ji Yao let out a bitter laugh. "Master is exactly头疼 over this matter. Granted, they acted as lackeys this time and caused trouble for Ice Heart Valley, but in the end they had no real grudge against us. If we kill them all now, it will only tarnish Ice Heart Valley's reputation. But if we let them go, it will make Ice Heart Valley look weak and easy to bully."
Yang Kai said, "If that's the case, why not send them over here to work as manual labor? Nanmen Dajun needs to completely rebuild the Wenqing Sect's sect-protecting formation, and he'll certainly need the manpower. Of course, anyone who actually has Ice Heart Valley disciples' blood on their hands shouldn't be let off."
Ji Yao nodded. "Those have already been executed. Everyone still alive was merely shouting encouragement from the sidelines. But Senior Brother Yang's suggestion is a good one. Let's wait until Grandmaster Nanmen returns and see how many hands he needs."
After their discussion, the group settled in to wait.