The moment those words left his lips, Luan Feng's expression turned solemn. "What do you mean?"
Yang Kai said leisurely, "Madam just mentioned it yourself — I have the descendants of Tianxing behind me. There's no need for me to recount what Tianxing accomplished back in the day. And within the Tianxing Palace, the number of Sacred Spirit Sources must be staggering. Otherwise, why would every Demon King in the Ancient Lands treat me with such deference, even going so far as to grant my every wish? They're all hoping for the chance to one day attain a Sacred Spirit body."
"Freeloading off women and you still have the nerve to boast about it!" Luan Feng wore an expression of pure disdain.
Yang Kai ignored her remark entirely and continued, "I am also a man of great fortune. Years ago, I happened to take in a young girl who turned out to be the renowned descendant of Tianxing, and her bloodline awakened in a miraculous way. I'm not bragging to you, Madam — Ruoxi is quite obedient toward me. When she emerges from seclusion, if I make a request of her, I very much doubt she would refuse."
"What does this have to do with Tianlong?" Luan Feng's elegant brows furrowed.
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "You, Madam, possess the form of a Luan Phoenix. Though you belong to the Phoenix Clan, as far as I know, you're only from a branch line. Compared to the direct bloodline of the Phoenix Clan, there is still some gap. Tianxing slayed countless Sacred Spirits back in his day, dragons and phoenixes among them. Surely the Tianxing Palace must contain Phoenix Clan sources as well?"
Having said all he needed to say, Yang Kai spoke no more. Using the act of raising his teacup as cover, he quietly studied Luan Feng's expression. Sure enough, he saw her face shifting through a series of emotions, and he inwardly chuckled, knowing she could never refuse such a temptation.
Sure enough, after a long moment, Luan Feng finally spoke. "Can you actually get Tianlong into the Tianxing Palace?"
Yang Kai replied immediately, "Even if it costs me every ounce of face I have, Ruoxi will certainly agree."
Luan Feng drew a deep breath and gave a slight nod. "Boy, the reason I didn't want to lend you Demon Kings wasn't purely out of self-interest. You are human, after all. If you have too many Demon Kings under your command, you might end up being branded with the accusation of colluding with the demon race — that wouldn't do you any favors."
Yang Kai said breezily, "I appreciate Madam's good intentions, but without overwhelming strength, everything else is empty talk."
Luan Feng's gaze flickered. "Fan Wu and Cang Gou won't necessarily agree."
Yang Kai grinned. "With you, Madam, vouching for me, how could they possibly refuse? I happen to know that among the Holy Lords of the Ancient Lands, although Fan Wu has always been the one calling the shots, when it comes to actual strength, you, Madam, stand at the top."
"Save the flattery!" Luan Feng said as she rose to her feet and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Yang Kai asked, watching her graceful retreating figure.
"Wait here. Whether it works or not, I'll give you an answer within five days."
With those words, Yang Kai knew the matter was as good as done. He cupped his fists and smiled. "Thank you for your help, Madam." At least his breath hadn't been wasted. Moreover, Yang Kai understood that having once gained a foothold with Luan Feng, any future requests he made of the Ancient Lands would no longer be refused. Conversely, had he failed this time, he could forget about ever obtaining anything from them again.
In high spirits, he turned and headed back to his quarters to wait.
Inside Fan Wu's palace, Cang Gou rushed over upon hearing the news. The three Holy Lords gathered together, and none of them looked happy.
"This is an outrage! Last time we even went to lend him a hand, and now this brat has the audacity to come after us — demanding three more Demon Kings! Why doesn't he just drop dead!" Cang Gou seethed with fury, looking as though he might storm off to fight Yang Kai to the death right that very moment.
Fan Wu sighed. "We've spent all these years in the Ancient Lands seeking fortune and avoiding calamity, and in the end we fall to the hand of a mere youth. How unjust is the Heavenly Dao!"
Cang Gou's eyes glinted with cold light. "Why don't we just go take care of him now and save ourselves future trouble?"
Luan Feng glanced at him. "You're not afraid of what the Tianxing descendant will do to you once she emerges from seclusion?"
Cang Gou's aura deflated instantly, and he mumbled a few words under his breath, looking thoroughly deflated. As Sacred Spirits, the mere mention of Tianxing struck them like a cat's cry to a mouse — it was a fear etched into their very bones.
Fan Wu said gravely, "Besides, he is not someone who can be casually eliminated anymore."
The first time Yang Kai had come to the Ancient Lands, he had already displayed terrifying combat prowess — and back then he was only at the first level of the Emperor Realm. In the blink of an eye, decades had passed. With his talent, he was surely far stronger than before. To say nothing of his mastery of the Space Dao — unless one could seal the surrounding space in advance and prevent him from breaking through the encirclement and fleeing, even Fan Wu had no confidence that they could take him down.
And if they made an enemy of him, the consequences would be more than they could bear.
Cang Gou asked, "Then what do we do? Are we just going to let him take advantage of us like this?"
Fan Wu turned to Luan Feng. "How did your negotiation with him go?"
Luan Feng lowered her gaze. "I tried my hardest to refuse, but he shamelessly brought along that Stone Puppet that had refined the Stone Fire Source, declaring that the puppet should take up residence in the Northern Barbarian Lands and inherit the position of Northern Holy Lord. He even threatened to spread the news to every Demon King out there. I was left with no choice."
"Despicable!" Cang Gou fumed with indignation.
Fan Wu's eyes, however, flickered with a brief flash. He keenly sensed that Luan Feng was withholding something, but he didn't press the matter, knowing he wouldn't get an answer regardless. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "It seems we can't stop him."
Luan Feng hesitated briefly. "While we can't stop him, it doesn't mean we can't trip him up a little."
Fan Wu regarded her. "What do you mean?"