"You recognized me?" Yang Kai scratched his cheek, looking somewhat deflated at his failed prank.
Hua Qingsi rolled her eyes. "It all happened so suddenly earlier that I didn't think about it, but looking more closely now, there are still traces of your old self." Plus, the moment Yang Kai spoke, it immediately gave him away.
He handed the five-colored spear back to her, then placed his hands on his hips and declared proudly, "Handsome or what?"
Hua Qingsi said, "A bit too fierce."
"Fierce enough is good," Yang Kai laughed heartily.
"What kind of secret technique is that? I've never seen you use it before," Hua Qingsi asked curiously.
"This young master recently went into seclusion and devoted himself to Cultivation, gaining some insights along the way." Yang Kai swayed his head smugly.
Hua Qingsi curled her lip. "One look and it's obvious Zhu Qing taught you that."
"So what did you come to see me about?" Yang Kai dispersed the Dragon Transformation secret art and restored his original appearance, though his clothes were now in tatters. His body had suddenly doubled in size, so the garments had naturally been torn apart.
Hua Qingsi handed over two spatial rings. "The origin crystals from the Li Dragon Palace and the Mi Tian Sect have arrived."
Yang Kai waved his hand dismissively. "Keep them yourself. From now on, whatever the Sect needs, it can be drawn from your accounts."
Hua Qingsi was now the chief steward of Lingxiao Palace. While Yang Kai had given her a fair amount of origin crystals last time, it hadn't been all that much. With these two billion high-grade origin crystals as a foundation, Lingxiao Palace wouldn't have to worry about Cultivation resources for at least the next twenty years.
"That works too." Hua Qingsi nodded and tucked the rings away. "Also, Grandmaster Ji is here and would like to see you."
"Oh? Brother Ji got back so soon?" Yang Kai's eyes lit up. After a moment's thought, he said, "Let me change my clothes first. Go tell him to wait a moment."
"Understood." Hua Qingsi took her leave, and Yang Kai returned to his room to change into a fresh set of clothes, musing to himself that perhaps he should buy a set of treasure armor — nothing too fancy, just something that wouldn't rip apart when his body expanded.
Treasure armor typically had remarkable elasticity and incredible toughness, far beyond what ordinary clothing could compare to.
In the main hall of Lingxiao Palace, Ji Ying sat upright in his chair, occasionally glancing outward. He appeared somewhat anxious.
Hua Qingsi sat beside him as company.
Before long, a figure darted in from outside, revealing Yang Kai's form.
"Brother Yang!" Ji Ying rose hastily to his feet.
Yang Kai laughed boisterously. "Brother Ji, you've arrived with impressive speed! Does this mean you're ready to stay at my Lingxiao Palace and refine pills?"
Ji Ying smiled ruefully. "I'm afraid I must apologize. That matter will likely have to be postponed."
Yang Kai's heart sank. "Has something happened with the Great Emperor...?"
Ji Ying shook his head. "Master didn't say much about that. However, he did take a great interest in you and asked me to pass along a message — if you have the time, he hopes you'll visit Medicine Pill Valley."
"The Great Emperor wants to summon me?" Yang Kai's expression turned solemn.
Ji Ying smiled. "Don't be nervous. Master simply feels that since you were able to defeat me in pill refining, your skills must be quite remarkable, and he'd like to exchange some insights on the art of alchemy with you."
That was far too modest a way to put it. The Miao Dan Great Emperor was a being who had surpassed even the Emperor-tier Pill Master level. No matter how skilled Yang Kai's pill refining might be, what could he possibly exchange with the Great Emperor? It was obvious that the Miao Dan Great Emperor wanted to offer Yang Kai some guidance, and was just being tactful about it.
Yang Kai felt a surge of respect. Though he had never met the Miao Dan Great Emperor, this alone told him the Great Emperor was a personable and approachable figure.
Of course, it also helped that Yang Kai actually had the ability. Otherwise, the Great Emperor wasn't someone just anyone could meet.
"The Great Emperor's kindness is deeply appreciated!" Yang Kai clasped his fists in salute.
Ji Ying smiled. "As for the Purple Void Cauldron, Master says that since fate brought it to you, it is rightfully yours."
"Please convey my thanks to the Great Emperor." Yang Kai nodded. This outcome was within expectations. The Purple Void Cauldron was an Emperor-tier pill furnace, but given the Miao Dan Great Emperor's stature, he naturally would never resort to snatching it away.
Ji Ying's expression grew serious. "Ji has come here this time under Master's orders, and I have a somewhat presumptuous request to make."
Yang Kai said, "If it's the Great Emperor's command, Brother Ji, please speak freely."
Ji Ying asked, "Would Brother Yang be willing to accompany me on a trip to retrieve my third senior brother's remains and bury them in Medicine Pill Valley?"
Yang Kai raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Of course. Senior Gongsun Mu's dying wish was to return to Medicine Pill Valley. Now that it can be fulfilled, he can surely rest in peace."
"Then I thank Brother Yang. You mentioned earlier that my third senior brother passed away in the Southern Domain?"
"That's right. Yuan Ding Mountain in the Southern Domain. I remember the location."
"The Southern Domain is a long journey from here. Since time is of the essence, shall we depart right away?" Ji Ying inquired. "Though I wonder — does Brother Yang have any other matters to attend to?"
Yang Kai laughed. "My Lingxiao Palace barely has a handful of disciples as it is. What matters would I need to handle? Since Brother Ji is in a hurry, let's go right now."
As it happened, his original plan had been to make a trip back to the Southern Domain anyway, so it was perfectly along the way. As for Zhu Qing's instructions, he had paid them no mind whatsoever.
He didn't bother informing the three great Demon Kings either. Now that he could slay even third-level Emperor Realm masters, very few people in this world still posed a genuine threat to his life. There was naturally no need to have the three great Demon Kings accompany him.
He led Ji Ying to the Spatial Array, where two Thousand Leaves Sect disciples standing guard immediately straightened and called out, "Greetings, Palace Master!"