As a third-stage Emperor Realm powerhouse, Xiao Yuyang's eye for discernment was nothing like Xiao Chen's—someone who had grown up sheltered like a hothouse flower. One glance was enough for him to tell that Xiao Chen was no match for Yang Kai whatsoever.
Inwardly, he was shocked. Both Xiao Chen and Yang Kai had advanced to the Emperor Realm around the same time, thanks to the Shattered Star Sea. There was hardly any difference in their cultivation timeline, yet the gap between them in actual strength was like heaven and earth.
"Chen'er, fall back!" Xiao Yuyang bellowed.
But it was already too late. From within that curtain of sword light, a palm shot forward with devastating force. Everything in its path crumbled, and the sword curtain withered in an instant. Xiao Chen's Sword Intent, caught up in the destruction, became utterly chaotic.
Xiao Chen's face drained of color. He frantically tried to retreat, but that palm that had shattered his sword curtain followed him like a shadow, inches from slamming into his chest.
At the critical moment, a sharp gust of wind lanced in from the side—Xiao Yuyang intervening to save him.
Yang Kai tapped his foot, and his body went from explosive motion to complete stillness in the blink of an eye. The gust of wind whistled past his fingertips, missing by a hair's breadth.
Xiao Yuyang stepped sideways, positioning himself between Yang Kai and Xiao Chen. His expression grave, he said, "Yang Kai, I have no desire to bully a junior, nor do I wish to fight you. Can we perhaps cooperate?"
Yang Kai flashed a grin. "We cannot."
Xiao Yuyang let out a soft sigh. "In that case, forgive me."
The moment the words left his mouth, he reached out and seized toward Yang Kai. The grab seemed to freeze the very heavens and earth in place, and a low hum reverberated through the void.
Yang Kai didn't bother dodging Xiao Yuyang's grasp. He said carelessly, "Lord Xiao, it's not that I look down on you, but you won't be able to keep me here like this. Mountains and rivers have their way of meeting again—until next time."
Spatial Laws surged, and his figure dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only an afterimage.
Xiao Yuyang's grab tore through the afterimage. His expression shifted slightly as he muttered, "Spatial Divine Ability!"
He turned to look, but Yang Kai was nowhere to be found—already gone, to who knew where. He extended his spiritual sense, yet even that failed to detect Yang Kai's aura. His face darkened immediately.
He had personally intervened and still couldn't stop Yang Kai. If word got out, no one would believe it.
He had originally thought that Tan Junhao and Wu Ming's deaths were the work of that Demon King. But now, it seemed entirely plausible that Yang Kai himself was responsible. Possessing a Spatial Divine Ability was already enough to work wonders—let alone the fact that intelligence reports mentioned this kid also had the Mountain and River Bell of Emperor Yuan Ding.
That was a Primordial Treasure, and no one knew just how powerful the Mountain and River Bell truly was.
He turned his head and saw Xiao Chen standing there looking utterly lost, his hand gripping the sword trembling violently, his face an ugly shade of blue-green.
Being defeated by Yang Kai in a single move was a devastating blow to Xiao Chen. Until now, he had always believed that even though he had only recently advanced to the Emperor Realm, he was far above the common rabble. He was a Core Disciple of the Star God Palace and the son of Xiao Yuyang himself. Raised and nurtured from childhood, he was among the elite of the Star God Palace—an invincible existence among cultivators of the same level.
But now, that sense of superiority he had carried since childhood had been shattered by a single palm from Yang Kai. He could barely accept it.
"Victory and defeat are common in battle. Rather than dwelling on this momentary loss, you would do better to think about how to improve your strength," Xiao Yuyang said coolly.
Xiao Chen's body jolted. He finally came back to his senses and said in a low voice, "Father's teaching is correct."
"Let's go." Xiao Yuyang waved his hand.
"Where to?" Xiao Chen asked.
"The Green Sun Divine Temple," Xiao Yuyang answered, and flew off first.
He had been lying in ambush here and had run into Yang Kai, which made Yang Kai's intentions crystal clear—he was heading to the Green Sun Divine Temple. Since he couldn't stop him here, he would find him at the Green Sun Divine Temple.
No matter what, this matter had to be resolved.
"Halt! Who goes there, stop immediately!"
After flying not too far, two figures streaked toward them head-on. The one in front shouted, blocking Yang Kai's path.
Yang Kai had visited the Green Sun Divine Temple multiple times and naturally knew the rules. He promptly produced the Green Sun Golden Token and tossed it to the two mountain-guarding disciples.
The one in front caught the token, and his expression changed. "A Green Sun Golden Token?"
This golden token was something only a handful of Core Disciples within the temple were qualified to possess. They, too, were disciples of the Green Sun Divine Temple, but they were worlds apart from the Core Disciples.
He looked at Yang Kai—utterly unfamiliar. He didn't recognize him at all, and he certainly wasn't one of the temple's Core Disciples.
The leading disciple immediately shouted angrily, "Where does this little thief come from, daring to impersonate a disciple of our temple? Where did you get this token?"
As he spoke, both disciples brought out their Artifacts, their auras locking onto Yang Kai, poised to strike at any moment. Yang Kai was a registered disciple of the Green Sun Divine Temple, and the golden token had been given to him years ago by Gao Xueting in Maple Forest City. It had never been formally announced to the entire temple, so many disciples had no idea such a person existed. Now, seeing a complete stranger wielding a Core Disciple's token, they were naturally on high alert.
Yang Kai said, "The token was given to me by Elder Gao. You can verify it by contacting Elder Gao or any of the other Elders. Just tell them Yang Kai has arrived, and they'll explain everything."
"Yang Kai?" The leading disciple frowned and shot a glance to the junior brother beside him before nodding. "Wait here."
With that, he took out what appeared to be a communication compass, presumably to report the matter to the higher-ups.
After a brief wait, the communication compass trembled. The leading warrior immersed his spiritual sense into it, and a peculiar expression crossed his face.
An Elder had transmitted back—the token was genuine, and this person called Yang Kai was indeed a disciple of the temple.