More than half a month ago, when the army from the south gate returned from Azure Sun Divine Temple, Yang Kai had already entrusted the Thousand Illusion Dream Butterfly to be brought back with them. He placed enormous value on the creature, for he himself had reaped tremendous benefit from within the Thousand Illusion Dream Realm.
The Thousand Illusion Dream Realm would surely become the foundation upon which Lingxiao Palace built its sect. Compared to it, even the Heavenly Sound Hall—with the Heavenly Sound Treasure Box as its core—seemed far less significant.
However, the Thousand Illusion Dream Realm was not a fixed thing. Every warrior who entered might encounter a different illusion, one vivid enough to pass for reality yet born from it. The blend of truth and falsehood made it nearly impossible to tell apart, but the gains one could obtain within the illusion were truly substantial.
Especially precious was the realm's miraculous ability to stretch time. Chi Yue and the others were Yang Kai's friends and family, so when it came to the first group of entrants, Hua Qingsi had selected them. And in truth, every single one of them had returned with something of value.
The Thousand Illusion Dream Realm was a vast treasure trove, and it was impossible to mine it all at once. It could only be explored gradually, its secrets uncovered little by little.
After chatting briefly with Hua Qingsi, Yang Kai set out with Zhu Lie.
The Flowing Cloud Shuttle streaked through the air at tremendous speed, carrying the man and the dragon within.
Zhu Lie was puzzled by Yang Kai's plan.
"Zhu Qing is trapped in the Frost Wasteland. Why are we going to the Li Dragon Palace?"
Yang Kai glanced at him while piloting the shuttle. "Have you ever been to the Frost Wasteland?"
Zhu Lie shook his head. "Since the day I was born, I have rarely left Dragon Island. The Dragon Clan isn't permitted to make frequent appearances in the outside world. I've only heard of the Frost Wasteland—I've never been."
"I haven't either," Yang Kai said with a light chuckle. "Then do you know where to go to find your sister?"
Zhu Lie continued to shake his head. "No. I've been trying to contact her these past days, but I've received no response. She might truly be…"
Yang Kai cut in. "If she's alive, we need to see her. If she's dead, we need a body. Don't jump to conclusions before we've seen the proof."
"That may be so, but…"
"There's no 'but'!" Yang Kai shot him a sharp look. "Neither of us has ever been to the Frost Wasteland, and neither of us knows where to look for your sister. But there's someone who can help."
Zhu Lie thought for a moment. "This person is in the Li Dragon Palace?"
"Quick on the uptake!" Yang Kai flashed a grin. "A craftsman must first sharpen his tools. Visiting the Li Dragon Palace to find this person will cost us some time, but it's far better than plunging into the Frost Wasteland blind." He paused, then added, "Still, this person holds a rather unusual position, and we may need to call on your influence."
Zhu Lie scoffed. "You can't beat him?"
Yang Kai slowly shook his head. "It's not a question of who's stronger. It's a question of willingness. If I want this person to accompany me to the Frost Wasteland, he'll be reluctant at best. If I try to force him, I'd likely burn that bridge entirely—which wouldn't help us find your sister one bit. But if you were to step in, the matter might be resolved quite smoothly."
"Oh?" Zhu Lie grew curious, wondering who could possibly be as Yang Kai described. But he didn't press further—they would find out soon enough.
The Li Dragon Palace had stood for over ten thousand years. In the Northern Domain, it had once been ranked alongside Ice Heart Valley, Wenqing Sect, and Mitian Sect as one of the four great peak powers—because each of those four sects boasted an Emperor Venerable Stage Three powerhouse as its anchor.
And the Palace Master of the Li Dragon Palace, Li Jiao, was a half-demon strongman who carried a trace of dragon blood. At the height of its glory, the Li Dragon Palace had overshadowed the other three great sects, its prestige unmatched.
But ever since Lingxiao Palace had risen to prominence in the Northern Domain, life at the Li Dragon Palace had grown difficult.
No one knew how their Palace Master had managed to offend Lingxiao Palace, but starting from last year, eighty percent of the sect's annual income had to be handed over, with a mere twenty percent retained.
The Li Dragon Palace was a massive operation with tens of thousands of disciples. That slender twenty percent amounted to no more than ten million high-grade Origin Crystals—a sum that could hardly sustain them. From Li Jiao at the top to the lowliest disciple below, benefits and provisions plummeted from the heavens to the ground, and everyone was forced to tighten their belts.
Because of this, many of the Li Dragon Palace's Elders harbored deep resentment toward Lingxiao Palace. They frequently whispered poison into Li Jiao's ear, goading him to lead them in a campaign of vengeance—to wash away the shame and reclaim their dignity.
Li Jiao had no such courage. The Elders and disciples below didn't understand Lingxiao Palace's true depth, but he knew all too well. Last time he had merely gone along with Ji Ying to join the commotion, and he had nearly lost everything he had built. Now, just hearing the three syllables of "Lingxiao Palace" made his heart pound. He certainly wasn't about to show up at their door.
Fortunately, his was not the only sect suffering. Mitian Sect was in much the same predicament, and the two great powers had become brothers in misfortune, huddling together for warmth.
On this day, atop the great hall of the Li Dragon Palace, the Elders had gathered in full force. As had become customary, the hall was a cacophony of shouting. None of the Emperor Venerables displayed the composure and steadiness their cultivation should have bestowed—the entire hall was as noisy as a marketplace, thick with ugly tension.