"What the hell is that?!"
When that darkness descended from the sky, Ao Wei's face changed dramatically.
A colossal black sphere, nearly a hundred li in diameter, had appeared overhead. Its center was split by a gaping maw lined with jagged fangs, and the crunching, cracking sounds that reached his ears made his skin crawl and his blood run cold.
Even as a Star Lord, he lacked the courage to face such a monster head-on. The overwhelming pressure bore down from above, leaving his chest tight and his breath laboured.
"Who dares block my path — seeking death?!" A voice suddenly rang out. Ao Wei looked up in alarm and noticed a figure standing atop the black sphere. It was a young man who didn't look particularly old, standing quietly on the monster's back and gazing down at him from on high, as though observing an ant.
Swallowing hard, Ao Wei cupped his fists and called out in a clear voice, "Ao Wei, Star Lord of Kuanglang Star, greets this honoured sir."
"Oh?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're the Star Lord of this star?"
"That is correct!"
"Well, that's convenient. I'm going to devour your Kuanglang Star, so cooperate with me — after it's done, there'll be a generous reward!" Having the Star Lord's cooperation would make the absorption process considerably smoother.
Ao Wei's eye twitched. He almost thought he'd misheard. This person had clearly come with ill intent, spouting wild declarations about devouring Kuanglang Star, and now he wanted Ao Wei to cooperate? Anger flared in his heart, but he didn't dare let it show. Keeping his rage in check, he said carefully, "I must ask what offence Kuanglang Star has given you, sir."
Yang Kai said impatiently, "There's no offence. I just happened to pass by, that's all."
Happened to pass by… Ao Wei had never imagined that this world-shaking catastrophe was merely the result of a coincidence. He straightened and declared, "Heaven values life above all. The countless billions of beings on Kuanglang Star have lived and multiplied here for generations. If you devour this star, what will become of them? We cultivators may fight over the Great Dao, and life and death are fated — but what have the innocent to do with it? If you truly destroy Kuanglang Star, you will be burdened with immense karmic sin that will hamper your future Cultivation. I implore you to reconsider."
His words were earnest, his sincerity unmistakable.
Yang Kai rested one hand on his thigh, leaned forward with a grin, and said, "And what exactly do you plan to do about it?"
Though no aura flared from him, Ao Wei felt his face involuntarily shift. In that instant, it seemed as though a primordial beast had opened its colossal maws before him, ready to swallow him whole. Fortunately, he was after all the Star Lord of Kuanglang Star, and the invisible fortune of heaven and earth currently lent him its strength — otherwise he might well have turned and fled. Cupping his fists again, he shouted in a deep voice, "I ask you to reconsider!"
Yang Kai stroked his chin and appeared to give the matter serious thought. Then he nodded. "I've reconsidered."
"Then the sir means…?" Ao Wei gazed at him with eager hope.
"My decision stands. Now move!" If swallowing a Cultivation Star truly meant the death of billions of beings, Yang Kai certainly couldn't stomach it. Heaven and earth were impartial, regarding all things as straw dogs — but even with his considerable strength, he hadn't reached the point where he could treat all living creatures as ants to be crushed on a whim.
The Small World's absorption would certainly destroy a star, but it wouldn't harm a single living being within it. It would simply relocate them to a new place to live. Moreover, Yang Kai was confident he could make the Small World even better than the original Cultivation Star. In other words, what he was doing would not only cause no harm to those billions of beings, but would ultimately bring them immeasurable benefit in the long run.
So there was nothing to agonise over.
Ao Wei's expression shifted, but he refused to back down. As Star Lord, he had no room to yield. His aura surged — the peak aura of the Void King Realm spreading outward in all directions. At the same time, scale-like patterns crept across his face, and bestial traits became visible on his body. He was clearly not of the human race. Even knowing he was no match and that any exchange would end badly for him, Ao Wei still stood firm in Yang Kai's path, shouting coldly, "If you insist on this course, then you will have to step over my corpse!"
His voice was not loud, but through the will of heaven and earth it carried across the entire Cultivation Star. The billions of beings on Kuanglang Star felt a surge of emotion, moved that their star possessed such a resolute Star Lord — it was the fortune of all living creatures. Invisible to all, Ao Wei's imposing aura climbed even higher, as though a single sentence had granted him a tremendous boost. And yet it still did not grant him the slightest sense of security.
"Oh? You're a Jiao?" Yang Kai studied the scales on his face and the bestial marks on his body, catching a somewhat familiar scent in the air.
"That is correct!" Ao Wei nodded. There was nothing to conceal about this — it was no secret.
Yang Kai nodded. "I know a Jiao-type creature, but… you're far too weak."
Despite having maintained a courteous and humble demeanour the entire time, even Ao Wei bristled at this. He had already reached the peak of the Void King Realm and was the Star Lord of Kuanglang Star — within the entire Great Desolation Star Domain, there were barely a handful who could rival him. And yet his Cultivation was being dismissed as "too weak"?
Anger swelled within him, drowning out the fear. Through gritted teeth he said, "Is that so? Then I would very much like to see your abilities, sir."
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "You may not believe this, but that fellow could exchange a few moves with me. As for you…"
Ao Wei roared, "Then let me see how many moves it takes you to defeat me!" Even as the words left his mouth, he launched himself at Yang Kai with his full body.
A faint dragon's roar rumbled through the air, though it was not entirely pure. A Jiao did carry the bloodline of the dragon clan, but it was exceedingly thin — hardly comparable to a true dragon. Bolstered, however, by the full power of Kuanglang Star, the force behind his charge was nonetheless formidable.
In an instant, the sky shifted in colour as winds rose and clouds churned. A Star Lord striking with everything he had was a sight to behold.
Yang Kai showed no sign of taking defence or launching any countermeasure. He simply watched Ao Wei's charge with an expressionless face.
"This man is far too arrogant — he doesn't take me seriously at all. I'll teach him a lesson!" Yang Kai's demeanour thoroughly enraged Ao Wei, who held nothing back, pushing himself to a hundred and twenty percent of his strength.
A wave of invisible force suddenly radiated outward from Yang Kai's body.
Ao Wei's body froze mid-lunge. His eyes flew wide open, revealing an expression of profound shock.