The massive fist was halted by a single finger of Yang Kai's. Yu Xiong's eyes bulged in disbelief, and he immediately threw another punch.
Yang Kai tapped his finger lightly against the fist, and Yu Xiong's powerful arm instantly went limp, hanging uselessly at his side. He staggered back several steps, looking Yang Kai up and down. "You..."
Though his appearance was rough, his mind was not. Even if he hadn't used his full strength, those two punches weren't something just anyone could block so effortlessly. Yang Kai's nonchalant display naturally set his thoughts racing.
Yang Kai stood with a faint smile, his expression unfathomable.
Yu Xiong shook his head, abandoning his attempt to provoke a fight. Instead, he addressed Shan Qingluo urgently, "Little Sister, something big has happened."
Shan Qingluo started in alarm. "What is it?"
Yu Xiong now possessed the cultivation of a Void King Realm expert. For something to throw him into such a panic, it must be significant. And what major events could possibly be occurring on the Emperor Star right now? Those few events would definitely concern the Crimson Moon Domain.
"The Myriad Beast Manor has been destroyed."
Shan Qingluo froze, then turned to look at Yang Kai, seemingly seeking confirmation that he was responsible. The Crimson Moon Domain had clashed with the Myriad Beast Manor for over a decade, always on the defensive. She herself had crossed blows with Huang Tu Dao more than once, knowing full well his formidable power. To destroy the Myriad Beast Manor required strength the Crimson Moon Domain did not possess—strength no one on the entire Emperor Star could match.
The only one capable of achieving this silently and swiftly was the man by her side. But... they hadn't been apart for the last three days. How could he have done it? Or had he made a trip to the Myriad Beast Manor before coming to see her?
Yu Xiong's voice rose with excitement. "At first, I couldn't believe the news either. I even went to investigate personally, and guess what? The Myriad Beast Manor has been razed to the ground. Not a single living soul remains inside. Though I don't know who struck, they absolutely command fire-based power and techniques. Moreover, from what I'd gathered earlier, the night the Myriad Beast Manor fell, Huang the Old Dog was hosting a banquet. Not only were the Manor's Void King Realm Elders in attendance, but those two traitors, Thousand Eyes and Mad Lion, were there as well. Good riddance, good riddance! Hahaha, it seems good and evil are ultimately rewarded." He clenched his fist tightly, a fierce gleam in his eyes. "Little Sister, the time has come to act!"
With the Myriad Beast Manor utterly destroyed and its experts all slain, the Crimson Moon Domain had nothing left to fear. It was time to reclaim the entire Emperor Star.
"It wasn't me," Yang Kai said, noticing Shan Qingluo's persistent gaze. He shrugged and gave a slight smile, then looked toward Liu Yan.
Upon hearing that the Myriad Beast Manor had been destroyed by fire-based techniques, he had already deduced who was behind it. When Liu Yan and Biluo snuck out that night, they might have hidden it from Shan Qingluo, but not from his perception. It was likely then that the deed was done.
Liu Yan happened to look back at him at the same time, her eyes narrowed, her expression clearly saying, "Hurry up and praise me!"
Yang Kai gave her a thumbs-up, and Liu Yan broke into a sweet smile.
"You did this?" Shan Qingluo, reading their exchange, stared at Liu Yan in utter astonishment. She had initially assumed this little girl was Yang Kai's illegitimate daughter from some affair, but now it seemed she had been mistaken.
"Her?" Yu Xiong, mid-rant, was cut off. He stared at Liu Yan in shock, then scoffed. "You've got to be joking!"
It wasn't that he lacked the ability to accept new information, but this was simply too much to believe.
Biluo spoke up timidly from the side, "Lord Yu Xiong, the Myriad Beast Manor was indeed destroyed by her."
Yu Xiong glanced at Biluo, then burst into hearty laughter. "That's not funny at all."
Biluo regarded him with a serious expression.
Yu Xiong's laughter gradually faded. "Are you serious?"
Biluo nodded. "I was about to report this to the Queen. Three nights ago, she and I..." She then proceeded to recount the events of that night in detail. Although her tone was matter-of-fact, without any exaggeration, the horrors of that evening resurfaced through her description, leaving both Shan Qingluo and Yu Xiong pale and shaken.
When they heard how Huang Tu Dao had been incinerated by a small tongue of flame from Liu Yan, a cold sweat broke out across their bodies.
That was a Third-Stage Void King Realm expert! What kind of fire could burn him to death in the span of three breaths?
Yu Xiong's face turned somewhat ashen, and his gaze toward Liu Yan was filled with awe and a lingering sense of dread. He suddenly realized that when he had arrived earlier, finding Liu Yan cute, he had casually ruffled her hair.
Now thinking about it, he was incredibly fortunate. If he had provoked this little girl into a rage, wouldn't he have ended up just like Huang Tu Dao? If that fire could kill Huang Tu Dao without giving him any chance to resist, then killing him would absolutely be no problem.
He swallowed with some difficulty, subtly putting a bit more distance between himself and Liu Yan, as if that might provide some sense of security.
"Who on earth is she?" Shan Qingluo turned to Yang Kai. "I thought she was your daughter?"
Yang Kai threw up his hands. "I told you she wasn't, but you wouldn't listen. She is Liu Yan."
"Liu Yan!" Shan Qingluo was shocked. She knew Liu Yan well, of course, but she could never connect that artifact spirit with the little girl standing before her. This being was a living person of flesh and blood.
She immediately understood that Liu Yan must have gained some incredible opportunity while following Yang Kai, enough to even manifest a physical body.
After her initial shock, Shan Qingluo's beautiful eyes lit up with brilliance. Right now was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Myriad Beast Manor's experts were all wiped out, leaving them with no strength to fight the Crimson Moon Domain. If they struck out now, who on the Emperor Star could possibly stand in their way?
She gave Yang Kai an apologetic smile. "Husband, I'm afraid I can't stay with you any longer."