Having bid farewell to the Stone Puppet Elder and Mu Na, Yang Kai headed straight for Luan Feng's palace.
Outside Phoenix Luo Palace, two Demon Commanders guarded the gates, their auras majestic and their killing intent piercing the heavens. A figure suddenly flickered into view, landing before them.
One of the Demon Commanders — a broad-mouthed, flared-nostril brute — let out a thunderous shout: "Wh—" The final syllable died in his throat the moment he recognized Yang Kai's face.
Yang Kai's reputation in the Ancient Lands was utterly pervasive. Forget the various Demon Kings — even the Demon Commanders, Demon Generals, and ordinary soldiers serving under those kings knew his name like the crack of thunder.
Let alone the fact that Yang Kai had charged into Phoenix Luo Palace on multiple occasions, and Luan Feng had never once been able to do a thing about it. Was there anyone in the entire palace who didn't recognize this walking disaster?
Last time the Holy Sovereign had returned, she had issued a strict order: the next time that brat Yang Kai showed up, kill him on sight — she would take full responsibility for any consequences.
That was her command, but did her Demon Commanders actually dare to carry it out? Setting aside whether they could even be his match, even if they somehow could, they wouldn't dare lay a hand on him.
So the moment they saw Yang Kai stride toward them, the two gate-guarding Demon Commanders silently disregarded the "kill on sight" order and instead plastered on ingratiating smiles, cupping their fists in greeting. "So it's Lord Yang who's come."
One could only wonder whether Luan Feng would be furious to the point of death if she witnessed this scene.
Yang Kai gave a perfunctory grunt, clasped his hands behind his back, and strolled between the two Demon Commanders with the calm composure of someone returning to his own home. If anyone unfamiliar with the situation had seen this, they would have assumed Yang Kai was the master of the palace.
The Demon Commander who had spoken earlier saw things going sideways and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing and scraping as he followed. "What brings Lord Yang here today, may I ask?" As he spoke, he shot a frantic glance at the other Demon Commander, silently ordering him to go notify the Holy Sovereign at once.
The crux of the matter was that every time Yang Kai came to the Ancient Lands, he went straight to Phoenix Luo Palace, and whenever he showed up there, nothing good ever followed. The Holy Sovereign's fury from last time had yet to fully subside, and now, after barely any time had passed, Yang Kai was back again. Who knew what kind of catastrophe would follow?
Yang Kai might not fear the Holy Sovereign, but that didn't mean they didn't. When the Holy Sovereign flew into a rage, it was always the lowly grunts like them who bore the brunt.
"Is this any of your business?" Yang Kai glanced sideways at him, flicked him aside with a casual hand, and strode forward with the bearing of a dragon or tiger. The Demon Commander staggered from the shove but didn't dare show a shred of displeasure, only trailing alongside Yang Kai in a futile attempt to hinder his progress.
But how could he possibly hinder him? Provoke Yang Kai, and he'd grab you with one hand and hurl you away.
A group of handmaidens came walking toward them, their eyes going wide at the sight before they scattered in a panic, fleeing in every direction without a care for where they ran.
Yang Kai rubbed his nose, his face darkening. "What's that supposed to mean?" He glanced around and found not a single person in sight. He let out a cold laugh, then projected his voice with a resonant shout: "Madam Feng, Yang has come to visit you!"
His voice boomed through the entirety of Phoenix Luo Palace — anyone who wasn't deaf was certain to hear it.
But Luan Feng clearly had no intention of seeing him, so there was no response whatsoever.
Yang Kai chuckled darkly, his eyes darting about. He extended his spiritual sense, swept it in a broad arc, and then his figure blurred. When he reappeared, he was already standing in a courtyard.
Inside the courtyard, a porcelain-doll-like little girl was doing something or other when she suddenly spotted Yang Kai standing there with a cheerful smile aimed right at her. She jumped in surprise.
Taking a closer look, she said: "Oh! I recognize you!"
Yang Kai smiled and nodded. "I recognize you too. Little one, we meet again."
The girl before him was none other than Luan Feng's daughter. Years ago, when Yang Kai had first entered the Star Boundary and was fleeing from the Jade Feather Sect on his way to Maple Leaf City, he had stumbled upon young Luan Feng being surrounded and besieged. That encounter had been his first firsthand experience of the might of a Sacred Spirit, and it was also the first time he had seen Luan Feng's true form — an impression that had been seared into his memory permanently.
Yet he had never imagined that he and Luan Feng would end up entangled in such a web of connection, dealing with each other right up to the present day. The being who had once been so far above him could now be considered his equal.
Decades had passed since those events, but little Luan Feng hadn't grown a single bit. It wasn't a matter of stunted development — she was a genuine Sacred Spirit, and her maturation period was naturally extremely long.
Truth be told, Yang Kai had always been rather curious about who her father was. There had never been any word of Luan Feng having a lover, so the question remained: where had little Luan Feng come from? She couldn't have just sprung out of a rock.
"Your name is Tianlong, isn't it?" Yang Kai asked with a pleasant smile, his expression as harmless as could be.
Little Luan Feng nodded, then pointed at him: "You're Yang Kai. You're the worst person in the whole world."
The smile on Yang Kai's face froze instantly, his expression twitching. "Who told you that? What utter nonsense!"
"Mama said so," little Luan Feng replied with perfect innocence.
Yang Kai fumed: "She's talking through her hat — how am I the worst person in the whole world?"
Little Luan Feng tilted her head, looking at him with a giggle. "Mama says I should beat you up when I grow up. Are you really that strong?"
Yang Kai drew a deep breath. Children's words carry no harm, children's words carry no harm — but you just wait, Luan Feng! He forced a smile onto his face. "You'll find out whether I'm strong or not when you grow up." Shifting the subject: "Are you playing here by yourself?"
Little Luan Feng's eyes darted about, and she said with a grin: "Are you trying to make me your little sidekick? Then you'd better be careful — I'll set you on fire."
Yang Kai recoiled in alarm: "Now that, I absolutely cannot allow. You might actually burn me to death!"