Perhaps because Yu Zhuo's match against the black-clad man had set a fine opening act, the martial artists who took the stage afterward all performed with great vigor, unleashing all manner of wondrous techniques in an endless display of skill as they battled fiercely.
Some were genuinely impressive, drawing approving nods from Yang Kai, while others fought in dull, unremarkable bouts with nothing worth noting. Had it not been for his duties as a judge, Yang Kai might well have dozed off.
A full day passed. As evening descended, the fighting on the various stages throughout the valley fell silent, and tens of thousands of martial artists settled in to rest, awaiting the next day's matches.
Yang Kai also returned to the spirit peak where the Azure Sun Divine Temple had been temporarily housed. The day had been thoroughly exhausting. In truth, he had done little more than stand on the stage and observe, rarely intervening, but maintaining constant mental focus was draining in its own right.
He had barely rested for an hour when Gao Xueting sent word, summoning him.
Yang Kai sighed helplessly and stepped out through the door. Outside the grand hall, several Emperor Venerable Realm elders of the Azure Sun Divine Temple were already waiting. The moment Yang Kai appeared, Wen Zishan grinned. "Let's go."
"Where?" Yang Kai asked, puzzled.
"You'll know when we get there." Wen Zishan wore an air of mystery as he led the group flying in a particular direction.
It was only halfway there that Yang Kai asked Gao Xueting and learned they were heading to an exchange gathering.
The Southern Domain Martial Meet — such a grand occasion. Tens of thousands of elite martial artists from the Southern Domain had gathered together, with hundreds of Emperor Venerable Realm cultivators assembled in one place. It was an extraordinarily rare sight. During the day, the Emperor Venerables served as judges, maintaining order throughout the martial meet and leaving them no freedom to move about. At night, however, it was time for the Emperor Venerables to gather and exchange knowledge with one another.
This was a longstanding tradition at every martial meet.
With so many Emperor Venerables, each possessed a number of valuable items. Selling these outright was often impractical, but they could be traded with others for treasures one actually needed. Of course, as the host, Wuhua Hall had also specially collected a great many treasures to set the exchange in motion.
The exchange gathering was not a one-time event. There would be one on the first night, and then one every five days thereafter, for a total of six gatherings, ensuring that every Emperor Venerable in attendance would find something of value.
Upon hearing it was an exchange gathering, Yang Kai's interest was piqued.
When they arrived, he found, as expected, several hundred Emperor Venerables assembled in a great hall. Though the numbers were vast, the atmosphere was not chaotic — only the ceaseless surges of spiritual sense indicated that everyone was engaged in private communication with one another.
Once the people from Wuhua Hall arrived and delivered a brief opening address, the exchange gathering officially commenced.
As host, Wuhua Hall naturally went first, presenting several remarkable treasures to stir everyone's enthusiasm. After that, people constantly took the stage, offering items they no longer needed in exchange for things held by others.
Throughout it all, the exchange gathering served merely as a platform. As for how to negotiate an exchange that left both sides satisfied, that required careful private discussion between the parties involved.
The Azure Sun Divine Temple contingent held back for the time being. Yang Kai did not know what the others were thinking, but he personally had not spotted anything that caught his interest. His experience and knowledge had grown far beyond what they once were, and ordinary treasures could hardly move him anymore. He had come along primarily for the spectacle.
Xiao Baiyi and Murong Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, seemed quite tempted by a number of items. Unfortunately, the two had only recently broken through to the Emperor Venerable Realm and did not yet possess substantial wealth, with nothing impressive enough to offer in trade. They could only look on with sighs.
In the latter half of the night, the gathering dispersed, and everyone returned to their quarters.
When the second day arrived, the martial meet resumed, and the valley, silent through the night, bustled with life once more.
Yang Kai did not join the excitement this time, instead meditating and resting in his guest room. He was not required to serve as a judge on rotation today, and with nothing else demanding his attention, he decided to enter the Small Mystic Realm for an inspection.
He had been kept busy nonstop lately and had not paid much attention to the Small Mystic Realm's condition. Now that he finally had the time, he naturally wanted to take a look.
The moment he entered the Small Mystic Realm, he felt an invisible, intangible will pervading the entire world briefly focus on him — as if a slumbering dragon had cracked open an eye to regard him before closing its lids once more.
Yang Kai knew that was Gun Gun's will and paid it no mind.
Within the Star Field, using the Small Mystic Realm as a vessel to deploy the Heaven-Devouring Battle Art and consume cultivation stars had inadvertently given rise to a nascent will within the Small Mystic Realm itself, which had even manifested as Gun Gun. It was, by all accounts, a remarkable gain. However, Gun Gun possessed little true self-awareness. Its existence was peculiar — even now, Yang Kai had no idea how it had truly come into being. Even given another chance, he could not guarantee he would be able to create a second Gun Gun.
The present Small Mystic Realm was vast in area, teeming with vitality.