After half a day of touring the entirety of the Rakshasa Sect, Yang Kai took Ran Yirou and Yu Keren and headed straight out through the main gates.
Inside the grand hall, the five surviving Dao Source Realm cultivators of the Rakshasa Sect were busily preparing for the investiture ceremony, drafting invitation cards, when a female disciple suddenly walked in and whispered a few words into Qin Pei's ear.
Qin Pei waved her away and laughed despite herself. "Our Honorary Elder really can't sit still, can he?"
Tao Yingruo asked, "What happened?"
Qin Pei replied, "He took two of his disciples and left the sect."
Tao Yingruo's eyes lit up. "Where did he go?"
Qin Pei said, "Reportedly he's just gone out for a stroll — most likely to Luo City." Luo City was a settlement under the Rakshasa Sect's jurisdiction, boasting a population of several million. More than half of the sect's operating expenses came from this very city.
"Luo City…" Tao Yingruo mused for a moment, her eyes growing ever brighter. She nodded. "Good. Very good."
The other Dao Source Realm cultivators all wore puzzled expressions as they looked at her. Qin Pei asked, "Senior Sister, you mean…?"
Tao Yingruo set down the invitation card in her hand, picked up her teacup, and took a sip. "We've been racking our brains planning this investiture ceremony, sending out invitations far and wide — but what is it all for?"
Qin Pei thought for a moment. "Naturally, it's to build momentum!"
With the sole Emperor Realm sect master dead and Yang Kai voluntarily agreeing to serve as an Honorary Elder — how could the Rakshasa Sect let such an opportunity slip? The greater the momentum they built now, the less the surrounding forces would dare look down on the sect in the future.
Tao Yingruo said, "And that momentum centers on Elder Yang. Our efforts to build it are simply borrowing his strength. But if he goes out and shows himself in person, that's a different matter entirely. Just wait — his trip to Luo City is tantamount to a public declaration of his relationship with our Rakshasa Sect. Let's see who dares underestimate us after this!"
The words of the other Dao Source Realm cultivators all lit up. Qin Pei said, "Senior Sister, you mean to say Elder Yang did this deliberately?"
Tao Yingruo nodded. "If not, why wouldn't he simply rest after arriving as a newcomer?" She smiled faintly. "We really do owe him a tremendous favor."
Everyone suddenly understood, and their faces filled with gratitude.
Two full days passed before Yang Kai returned with Ran Yirou and Yu Keren. From that point on, he took up residence in Rakshasa Peak, shutting his doors and remaining in seclusion to cultivate without ever venturing out.
But the effects of his brief outing quickly became apparent. Although Luo City was under the Rakshasa Sect's control, the shops within it were far from the sect's alone — most of the surrounding forces maintained their own businesses there. Yang Kai had paraded through Luo City with Ran Yirou and Yu Keren in tow, making it impossible for anyone with a keen eye to miss. Naturally, word was relayed back to each respective force one by one.
Meanwhile, the disciples the Rakshasa Sect had sent out to deliver invitations returned with reports: every force that had accepted an invitation had been unfailingly courteous, each pledging to attend the investiture ceremony. In several cases, it was an Emperor Realm powerhouse who personally received the invitation. All signs pointed to the Rakshasa Sect's crisis having passed. With Yang Kai as their protector, no one dared set their sights on the sect any longer.
When word reached the Rakshasa Sect, Tao Yingruo and the others were overjoyed and threw themselves even more energetically into preparations for the investiture ceremony — with more care and attention than even a sect master's succession. Then again, the entire Rakshasa Sect was currently leaderless, lacking any Emperor Realm cultivator, and no one was qualified to assume the position of sect master. For the time being, Tao Yingruo, the strongest among them, was serving as acting sect master, to be formally entrusted with full authority the day she broke through to the Emperor Realm.
On this particular day, while Tao Yingruo was in the midst of her work, Yang Kai appeared unannounced.
Toward the man who had single-handedly saved the Rakshasa Sect, Tao Yingruo naturally dared not show the slightest negligence. She hurriedly welcomed him in and personally served fragrant tea.
Once they had taken their seats, Tao Yingruo asked, "Is Elder Yang settling in comfortably here? Are the disciples attending to you properly?"
Yang Kai smiled and waved a hand. "I've grown accustomed to a wandering life — it makes no difference where I stay. Yirou and Keren have been very attentive."
"That's good to hear." Tao Yingruo's lips curved into a smile, her demeanor captivating. "If you have any needs at all, don't hesitate to let them know." There was one thing she was genuinely curious about: according to the daily reports from Ran Yirou and Yu Keren, ever since returning from Luo City that day, Yang Kai had been cultivating the entire time and had not once summoned them.
So there truly were men who could remain utterly unmoved by beautiful women placed right before them. That alone was enough to earn Tao Yingruo's deepest respect. She was certain Yang Kai understood the intent behind her sending Ran Yirou and Yu Keren to him — and if he had been willing, it would have been as natural as going with the flow. Neither Ran Yirou nor Yu Keren, nor any of the dozen-odd female disciples, would have refused.
As time went on, Tao Yingruo found herself increasingly satisfied with this Honorary Elder. The man gave and gave without ever asking for anything in return — what more could one ask of such a person?
"I've come today to discuss something with the acting sect master," Yang Kai said, his expression turning serious.
Tao Yingruo replied, "Please speak freely, Elder. Everyone in the Rakshasa Sect will follow your word."
Yang Kai smiled. "It's nothing major — I'd simply like to leave something here at the Rakshasa Sect."
"Something?" Tao Yingruo blinked in surprise.