Amid the murmur of hushed conversation, a flash of light swept across the teleportation formation, and Yang Kai's figure materialized.
Everyone turned to look. Some faces grew solemn; others wore expressions of doubt. Not everyone had met Yang Kai or knew him as the Palace Master of Lingxiao Palace. Those who recognized him straightened at once, while the rest merely noted that this young man carried an extraordinary aura — clearly not someone to be trifled with.
"Greetings, Palace Master Yang." The voices that rose were scattered and thin.
Those Emperor Realm cultivators who had never laid eyes on Yang Kai before now learned his identity and hurriedly cupped their fists in salute.
"Palace Master." Hua Qingsi stepped forward.
Yang Kai surveyed the hall with a sharp, raptor-like gaze. Seeing a respectable crowd gathered, he was somewhat satisfied, and his expression softened a good deal. "Has everyone arrived?" he asked.
Hua Qingsi replied, "Just about everyone who could make it within half a day has come. The Dragon Tiger Gate and the Profound Cloud Pavilion haven't shown up yet."
The number of Emperor Realm cultivators assembled in the great hall was just over two hundred. The Northern Domain certainly had more Emperor Realm experts than this, but Yang Kai had set a deadline of half a day, so Hua Qingsi had been selective in her invitations — those who clearly could not reach Lingxiao Palace within that window had not been notified.
This was largely thanks to the network of teleportation formations Yang Kai had previously established across the Northern Domain, all linked to Lingxiao Palace. Without them, fewer than a quarter of these people could have arrived in time. It was those formations, serving as transit points, that had made it possible to gather two hundred Emperor Realm cultivators in a mere half day.
"Dragon Tiger Gate, Profound Cloud Pavilion…" Yang Kai nodded coolly and waved a hand. "If they haven't come, they need not come at all."
His tone was flat, betraying no hint of malice, yet every Emperor Realm expert present caught the ominous undercurrent in those words. They sighed inwardly. Those two sects would likely never be able to maintain a foothold in the Northern Domain again — and might very well be uprooted by this man entirely. A shared sense of sympathy for the fox mourning the rabbit's fate stirred among them, mingled with a helpless resentment toward Yang Kai's high-handedness.
A sect that had risen barely thirty years ago now held the fate of every martial artist in the Northern Domain and the rise or fall of every sect in its hands. If spoken aloud, no one would believe it — but who could argue when his fist was the mightiest? He had already set a precedent by destroying the Wenqing Sect. No matter how bitter their grievances or how burning their anger, none dared show it.
"Everyone, I've gathered you all here at Lingxiao Palace this time, and I'm sure you're all wondering why. I'll tell you now. First, to save lives. Second, to take them."
A middle-aged man cupped his fists. "May I ask Palace Master Yang — whose lives are we to save, and whose are we to kill?" So many powerful figures assembled in one place was bound to cause an enormous stir. Nearly a fifth of the Northern Domain's elite fighting strength was gathered here. He truly could not imagine what sort of situation would call for such a mobilization — even the four great supreme forces had practically turned out in full.
Yang Kai glanced at him. He did not know which sect this man led, but at the First Order Emperor Realm with a bearing of righteous integrity and a gaze that did not waver under his own, he gave a faint nod. "The people we are to save are cultivators of the Southern Domain — sect masters and leaders of major sects there, just as you are."
"The Southern Domain?" The hall erupted into a clamor of voices, seething with noise. No one had expected this matter to involve the Southern Domain. This was the Northern Domain — the distance between them was immense. The saying went that distant water could not quench a nearby fire. Why on earth would Palace Master Yang gather Northern Domain cultivators to rescue people from the South?
More startling still was the question of what those Southern Domain sect masters had actually encountered. If it took this many hands to save them, despite the fact that they were not cultivators to be underestimated — all at the Emperor Realm at minimum — then what chance did these Northern Domain experts have?
"The ones we kill are demons!" Yang Kai's thunderous shout cut through the noisy discussion.
Instantly the hall fell deathly silent. Every eye gazed wide at him, and even Ji Yao, who was known for her cold composure, showed a flicker of change in her expression.
Yang Kai paid no heed to their thoughts and continued, "Hundreds of Emperor Realm cultivators in the Southern Domain have fallen into a demon's trap and are sealed within Wuhua Hall, unable to escape. At any moment, they risk being corroded by demonic qi and falling to the demonic path. Their only hope now is me. That is why I need your help — to breach the Wuhua Hall's sect-protecting grand array, slay the demons, and rescue the Southern Domain cultivators."
These words sounded almost absurd, leaving everyone stunned and dazed. Instinct told them Yang Kai must be joking. First, who here could possibly know what was happening so far away in the Southern Domain? Yet Yang Kai spoke with absolute conviction. Second, demons were creatures from a distant legend — beings corrupted by demonic qi who had fallen to the demonic path. But where did the demonic qi come from in the first place?
"That is the situation. Whether you believe it or not is your own affair. Once we arrive at the destination, you will see the truth for yourselves. When we go to the Southern Domain, I want everyone to remember one thing above all: protect yourselves. Do not let demonic qi corrupt you easily, and beware of demonic thoughts attempting to seize your bodies. If the former happens, I might still have a chance to save you. If the latter strikes… you're on your own. Move out!"
Hua Qingsi blinked in brief surprise, then immediately began guiding the Emperor Realm cultivators onto the teleportation formation. This particular formation at Lingxiao Palace was sizable — it could teleport twenty to thirty people at a time. With Yang Kai present, there was no need to embed spirit stones; he merely channeled the Laws of Space to activate it.
With each flash of light, another batch of people vanished. Regardless of what they were thinking, they were at least sensible enough not to raise objections and simply followed instructions as told.
Toward the back of the crowd, a plain-faced woman and a half-aged man stood together. Both possessed Second Order Emperor Realm cultivation and led first-rate sects of the Northern Domain — just a single tier below the four great forces of Lingxiao Palace, the Ice Heart Valley, and their peers. Apart from lacking a Third Order Emperor Realm pillar and having fewer Emperor Realm members, their foundations were no less substantial.
The two huddled close, exchanging whispered messages through private transmission.