"Is this Yuanding Mountain?"
Almost nothing remained of the mountain that once stood here. All that was left in its place were dark-red fragments of rock — the aftermath of a volcanic eruption.
"Yes."
"Back then I was too weak to give Grandmaster Gongsun Mu a proper burial — I simply buried him hastily. Now when I think about it, I feel ashamed that I failed him." Yang Kai let out a sigh.
"There's no need to dwell on it, Brother Yang. The fact that Third Senior Brother can return to Medicine Pill Valley at all is thanks to you. If he knew from beyond, he would be endlessly grateful — how could he care about such minor details?" Ji Ying consoled him.
Yang Kai said, "The burial site is quite deep underground. Let's clear things out first."
"Agreed."
The two of them immediately set to work, using their techniques to clear the rubble swiftly.
Both were in the Emperor Realm. Working at full power, they could move mountains and drain seas. In short order, the remaining half of Yuanding Mountain was completely leveled.
They each chose a spot and began digging downward into the earth, simultaneously extending their spiritual senses to probe carefully.
They worked for an entire day. It wasn't until the following day that Yang Kai suddenly made a discovery. He changed direction and began tunneling toward the left, sending a spiritual transmission to Ji Ying as he did.
Moments later, Ji Ying flew down through the tunnel Yang Kai had carved and landed beside him. "Found it?"
"Yes. Probe in that direction." Yang Kai pointed.
Ji Ying immediately extended his spiritual sense toward the spot. After a moment, his expression turned solemn and he nodded. "It's indeed over there."
He had clearly sensed a skeleton buried deep in the earth at that location.
Now that they had the exact position, things were easy. Yang Kai gripped the Million Sword, channeling a trace of Emperor Yuan into it. Where the blade passed, the hard stone was reduced to fine powder by a strange, wonderful force. The two of them moved swiftly through the earth.
After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, they finally arrived at Gongsun Mu's burial site.
Ji Ying stepped forward and carefully cleared away the soil surrounding the remains. A set of bones, pale as deep white jade, was exposed to view.
"Third Senior Brother. Your junior brother Ji Ying has come by Master's orders to take you… home!" Ji Ying pressed his fists together in a solemn salute toward the skeleton. Then he approached, producing a jade urn he had prepared well in advance, set it down beside the bones, and knelt to carefully pick up Gongsun Mu's remains piece by piece, placing each one into the urn.
Before long, the collection was complete. Ji Ying sealed the jade urn and stored it in his spatial ring.
"With this matter settled, I must return to the Northern Domain to report back to Master. What are your plans, Brother Yang?" Ji Ying turned to ask.
"I still have a few things to take care of here," Yang Kai replied. "Nothing too major, though. I'll send you back first."
Ji Ying smiled. "Since Brother Yang is busy, there's no need to trouble yourself. I remember the route — I can make the trip on my own."
Yang Kai said, "You may remember the route, but you won't be able to activate that spatial formation."
"What do you mean?" Ji Ying was taken aback.
Was there truly a spatial formation in this world that he couldn't activate?
Yang Kai didn't go into detail. He simply said, "I've made some modifications to that inter-domain spatial formation. Without me, no one can activate it."
"How can that be?" Ji Ying was stunned. Tampering with an inter-domain spatial formation — even a Great Emperor wouldn't have that ability. How had Yang Kai managed it?
What he didn't know was that the formation had been laid down by Yang Kai himself in the first place.
"However, take this. With it, you'll be able to activate the formation." Yang Kai produced a token and handed it over — a specially refined teleportation token bearing the imprint of his spatial laws.
Ji Ying accepted it and said gravely, "Rest assured, Brother Yang. Once I return to Lingxiao Palace, I will deliver this token directly to Steward Hua."
One should not underestimate this small token. It was essentially a pass that could carry a person from the Northern Domain straight to the Southern Domain — an extraordinarily precious item. Ji Ying would never dare keep it for himself, and the fact that Yang Kai had entrusted it to him so freely showed that he trusted Ji Ying's character and held him in high regard.
Yang Kai waved his hand with a smile. "No need. You're now the chief alchemist of Lingxiao Palace, Ji Ying — you're entitled to keep a teleportation token. It'll make things more convenient if you ever wish to visit the Southern Domain."