This lineup was even richer than the foundations of the top Sects in the Star Boundary. After all, even places like the Roaring Dragon Palace, Ice Heart Valley, and the Green Sun Divine Temple only had a single Third-Order Emperor Realm expert holding the fort.
The Space Formation flickered with light, startling Bian Yuqing from her meditation.
She looked up toward it, assuming Hua Qingsi had returned from the Southern Domain, and hurried to her feet to welcome her.
Before she even got close, Yang Kai's figure had already materialized. Bian Yuqing straightened her expression and clasped her fists in a hasty salute. "The Palace Master has returned."
Several Disciples standing guard nearby also rushed over to pay their respects, their expressions respectful. Truth be told, it had been more than ten years since Yang Kai last departed the Northern Domain for Dragon Island. In all that time, not a single word of news had come through. If it hadn't been for Zhu Qing making a special trip to inform everyone of the truth, they would have feared he'd met with some misfortune.
However, Zhu Qing hadn't mentioned that he'd gone to a lower-plane Star Field — she'd merely said he was in seclusion for Cultivation and might not emerge for quite some time.
Now, sensing the fluctuations radiating from Yang Kai, Bian Yuqing realized with a jolt that his aura was unmistakably that of a Second-Order Emperor Realm cultivator. Her heart shook with astonishment. In a mere decade or so, he had already broken through to the Second-Order Emperor Realm — what an absurd speed of Cultivation! When she'd first met him all those years ago, he'd only been a Second-Order Void King. Compared to that, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of self-deprecation.
"Director Bian." Yang Kai flashed a broad smile. Reuniting with old acquaintances filled him with warmth. Though the Heng Luo Star Field was his homeland, the Lingxiao Palace was where his roots now lay. After ten years of wandering, he'd finally returned, and his mood was fine. "Are you on duty today?"
"Yes!" Bian Yuqing answered dutifully.
"Mm. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened at the Palace these past few years, I trust?"
"All is well, Palace Master. Please rest easy."
With the strength the Lingxiao Palace now commanded — the fact that three Great Demon Kings were stationed here was hardly a secret — there was no one in the entire Northern Domain, aside from Emperor Miao Dan's Medicinal Pill Valley, who could rival them. Naturally, no one foolish enough had dared to cause trouble. These past dozen years had been entirely peaceful.
"That said, people from the Roaring Dragon Palace have come by quite a few times, asking about the whereabouts of Palace Master Li Jiao."
"Mm, don't bother with them." Yang Kai waved his hand. "Have Sister Hua come see me."
Bian Yuqing replied, "Director Hua is not currently within the Palace."
"Where did Sister Hua go?" Yang Kai asked, taken aback.
"It's the end of the year. Director Hua left for the Southern Domain half a month ago — she's likely conducting some resource trades with the Purple Source Merchant Association. By my calculations, she should be back within the next day or two."
Years ago, Yang Kai had struck a deal with the Purple Source Merchant Association. The two great domains were vast distances apart, and their respective productions differed, making it perfectly feasible to exchange what each had in surplus. Over the years, Hua Qingsi had maintained this trade relationship, bringing in substantial income for the Lingxiao Palace.
"I see. Then have Nanmen Dajun and Chi Yue come see me as well."
"Yes."
Yang Kai stepped forward, his figure dissolving into the void. When he reappeared, he was already hovering high above the Lingxiao Palace. Gazing down, he saw mountains rising one after another, lush trees forming verdant canopies, a landscape of breathtaking beauty and grand atmosphere. The peaks rose and fell at varying heights, with clusters upon clusters of buildings nestled among them — though most were empty. These structures were essentially legacy properties left behind by the former Wenqing Sect. The Lingxiao Palace had always been thinly staffed, and no one had bothered to move in, so they'd sat vacant.
Yang Kai circled the entire Lingxiao Palace once, observing silently for a long while, a plan forming in his mind.
Now that he was back, the first thing to do was naturally to release the people from the Minor World. Only by integrating into this world sooner could they adapt to the laws of heaven and earth in the Star Boundary sooner.
After today, the Lingxiao Palace's population would surely surpass a hundred thousand.
A sharp hawk's cry rang out as a figure streaked toward him at tremendous speed. As it drew near, it resolved into a lean man with a hawkish nose, who clasped his fists and said, "Young Master Yang."
"Ying Fei. It's been years — I trust you've been well?" Yang Kai smiled faintly.
Ying Fei replied, "Young needn't worry. All is well."
Just as they were speaking, Xi Lei and Xie Wuwei arrived as well. The three of them had clearly detected Yang Kai's aura, but Ying Fei had simply been the fastest.
After exchanging greetings, Xi Lei asked curiously, "Young Master, what exactly are you looking at?"
"I'm seeing how many people my Lingxiao Palace can hold."