"Though I suppose those sect forces shouldn't be too powerful. A truly powerful sect would never do something like this." The fact that those people only had Dao Origin Realm First Stage cultivation said it all — martial artists from truly powerful sects would be flocking to join, so why would they lower themselves like this?
He Yunxiang nodded thoughtfully. "My lord speaks truly."
"This is the place." Yang Kai reached out and patted He Yunxiang on the shoulder.
He Yunxiang brought the Star Shuttle to a halt.
They were surrounded on all sides by mountains, the valley between them picturesque and beautiful, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers.
"You really did pick yourself a fine graveyard — good eye!" Yan Luo's voice came from behind them. He was still distant when he uttered the first syllable, but by the time he finished the last word, he had already arrived close by.
The small boat was put away, and the four members of the Azure Sea Palace hovered in midair.
"It is a fine graveyard, alright, but I didn't pick it for myself." Yang Kai grinned.
How could he not have known that refusing those sects' invitations and leaving alone would draw pursuit from the Azure Sea Palace? If the Azure Sea Palace and the Yan Family hadn't chased after him, there might have been a path forward. Entering this Ancestral Domain — the Yan Family had lent some effort toward that, after all, so settling their grudge here wouldn't be the worst outcome. But since they had come chasing after him, then he couldn't be blamed for what happened next.
A truly powerful person never deliberately targeted the weak — they simply destroyed the weak's entire world without even meaning to. Those who spent their days bullying the inferior weren't strong; they were simply out of their minds.
Yan Luo heard the implied meaning in his words easily enough and let out a cold snort. "What empty bluster! Our Yan Family Ancestor is here now — do you really think you can still do whatever you please?"
After days of restraint and humiliation, the moment of vengeance had finally arrived. Yan Luo's heart soared with exhilaration. Through gritted teeth he said, "Ancestor, please seek justice for our Yan Family, and deliver justice for our fallen Second Elder!"
Yan Renhao gave a slight nod and stepped forward. The aura of his Dao Origin Realm First Stage cultivation surged to its peak instantly and bore down directly upon Yang Kai.
Duanmu Qi said nonchalantly, "Do whatever you want with the man. Leave the woman to me."
Shen Cuiling immediately pouted, looking thoroughly displeased. Duanmu Qi smiled. "I'm getting you another sister to help share your burdens. What's there not to like?"
Shen Cuiling knew there was no arguing with him. Men were always unfaithful — as long as she could stay by his side, that was enough. She said in a low, wistful voice, "Then I get to be the elder sister."
"Fine, fine, whatever you say." Duanmu Qi laughed.
Only then did Shen Cuiling's expression brighten, though the glance she cast toward He Yunxiang carried a tinge of rejection and distaste. From today onward, there would be another woman competing for his favor — the thought alone was enough to sour her mood.
"Ancestor, be careful — this man appears to have cultivated spatial divine ability."
"Spatial divine ability," Yan Renhao's expression sharpened for a moment, but he quickly恢复ed his prideful composure. "So what?"
In the face of absolute power, what good was spatial divine ability? Without another word, he let out a thunderous shout — "Die!" — and his figure shot forward like lightning, closing the gap to Yang Kai in the blink of an eye. He employed no artifact or secret technique, simply forming one hand into an eagle's claw and reaching for Yang Kai's skull. Source Power surged at his fingertips, hissing and crackling, and his five fingers seemed to transform into razor-sharp implements.
From the very first strike, he intended to kill Yang Kai outright, to avenge the humiliation the Yan Family had suffered that day.
He Yunxiang cried out in alarm. A Dao Origin Realm martial artist's very first move demonstrated extraordinary power — she could barely even track his movements. If she were in Yang Kai's place, she knew she would never dodge this strike. Her face lost all color, and she urged the Star Shuttle to carry Yang Kai out of the way.
She moved, but Yang Kai stood rooted to the spot.
Clang…
The clear, crisp ring of metal striking metal echoed through the valley.
The savagery on Yan Renhao's face froze instantly, replaced by shock and disbelief as he stared at what was before him.
His strike had landed dead-on target, without the slightest deviation. Yet the scene he had imagined — skull shattering, brains spraying — never materialized. The sensation against his palm felt nothing like gripping a human head. It was more like striking some incredibly hard metal, leaving nothing but faint white marks on the other's forehead.
What kind of head was this? How could it be so hard?!
He held nothing back. Source Power erupted from his palm in a torrent of violent force.
Yang Kai's head snapped back from the impact, then sprang forward again like a roly-poly toy. His eyes, brimming with mockery, locked onto Yan Renhao's face, now only inches away.
Yan Renhao's heart plunged. Before he could react, Yang Kai had seized his hand.
An incomprehensibly immense force flooded in through his wrist, and a series of sickening cracks rang out as the bones within were ground to powder.
Not a match! Absolutely not a match!
Could this person really have come from the Wuji Star Domain? How could a place like the Star Domain produce such a monster? Yan Renhao's courage and spirit shattered. He opened his mouth and spat out a beam of light that transformed into a small sword — not aimed at Yang Kai, but sweeping around his own wrist.
Arm and hand separated, blood gushing forth, but he used the opening to break free from Yang Kai's grip. An amputation of one's own limb — what resolve that required. Yet he knew that if he hadn't done it, death would have been mere moments away.
His cultivation journey to this point had been built on far more than talent and luck — it was also built on his keen, sharp instincts.
Seeing Yang Kai step through the air toward him, relentless and even faster than before by a good measure, Yan Renhao blanched. Retreating rapidly, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Friend, stop! I believe there may be some misunderstanding here today! It must be that the younger generation of my Yan Family lacked the eyes to recognize a great man and offended you first. I, Yan, should actually thank you for teaching them a lesson and showing them how to behave. May I have the honor of knowing your distinguished name?"
The words poured out in a rapid torrent, yet remained clear and orderly — if he hadn't spoken so quickly, he feared there would be no chance to speak at all.