If that Yang Kai truly had some special connection to Spirit Beast Island, he wouldn't be unable to even find a way in, let alone go begging at Heavenly Wolf Valley.
Thinking this, Qian Xiuying smiled gently at Lan He. "Don't worry, Xiao He. He seems like the kind of person who always finds a way out. Those two great powers may not be able to do much to him."
Lan He looked up at her. "What do you mean, Master's wife?"
Qian Xiuying said, "Those who have mastered the laws of space are the best at escaping. If he's no match for the powerhouses of those two great sects, so what? Can't he just run away? Have you ever heard the story of how Lord Li Wuyi somehow offended Emperor Huaying and was hunted relentlessly, only to escape using his spatial abilities in the end? Think about it — what kind of person is a Great Emperor? Li Wuyi may be called the greatest beneath the Emperors, but the gap between him and a Great Emperor is still obvious. The fact that he managed to survive Emperor Huaying's pursuit shows just how extraordinary spatial abilities are. Even if Yang Kai's mastery in this field doesn't match Lord Li Wuyi's, he must still have ways to preserve his life."
Hearing this, Lan He couldn't help but recall the teleportation technique Yang Kai had displayed earlier. She had to admit that her Master's wife had a point — that technique had been absolutely godlike, crossing a thousand miles in an instant. The people from the Netherworld Sect and Brahma Sacred Ground might genuinely be unable to do anything to him.
The worry in her heart finally eased somewhat, but not even a fraction of her guilt had faded.
When they arrived at the guest hall, Lan He knew she had no face to see Yang Kai, so naturally she didn't follow inside. She simply stood outside waiting, her expression thoroughly miserable.
Seeing her like this, Tang Sheng and Qian Xiuying didn't press her, leaving her be.
Inside the hall, a man and woman arrived together. Yang Kai, who had been waiting quietly, noticed their arrival immediately and rose to his feet, looking their way. One glance confirmed their identities.
On the way here, Lan He had told him a bit about Heavenly Wolf Valley, letting him know that only two Emperor Sovereigns of the Two-Layer Realm held the fort, and these two were most likely the Valley Master Tang Sheng and his wife Qian Xiuying she had mentioned.
The man was refined and scholarly, the woman elegant and beautiful — they looked like immortals descended to the mortal world. Yang Kai was a guest, so he naturally couldn't be rude. He hurriedly cupped his fists in greeting. "Yang Kai greets Valley Master Tang and Vice Valley Master Qian. I apologize for arriving uninvited and causing any inconvenience."
Tang Sheng burst into hearty laughter, revealing a boisterous demeanor that didn't quite match his scholarly appearance. He strode forward and said, "Young Master Yang, you're too polite. You're Xiao He's benefactor. Having you visit our Heavenly Wolf Valley brings us great honor — where is the inconvenience?"
Qian Xiuying also smiled and cupped her fists. "Young Master Yang."
Yang Kai paused slightly. Though this couple gave him an extremely hospitable impression, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible coolness in their words. He thought about it — he didn't actually have much of a relationship with Lan He, and this was his first time meeting Tang Sheng and his wife, so it was understandable. But he glanced toward the hall's entrance and didn't see Lan He anywhere, which struck him as a bit odd.
"Please, have a seat, Young Master Yang." Tang Sheng gestured with his hand, then he and Qian Xiuying walked to the two seats of honor at the top and sat down. He called out loudly, "Someone! Serve tea!"
A maidservant promptly entered and made the arrangements.
Tang Sheng beamed, his gaze fixed intently on Yang Kai. "I hear from Xiao He that Young Master Yang comes from the Southern Domain?"
Yang Kai nodded. "You could say that."
Tang Sheng and Qian Xiuying exchanged a glance, and he continued, "I wonder where Young Master Yang currently serves? From what I can see, you appear to have already reached the Two-Layer Realm of the Emperor Sovereign stage. At your age, with such cultivation, wherever you've taken up residence must be a remarkable place."
Yang Kai smiled in response. "I currently serve as a Guest Elder at the Qingyang Divine Temple." He didn't mention that he was the Palace Master of the Lingxiao Pavilion in the Northern Domain. After all, they already assumed he was from the Southern Domain, and bringing up that he was the master of a northern sect would come across as self-promotion.
"The Qingyang Divine Temple!" Tang Sheng's expression shifted with mild surprise. "The Qingyang Divine Temple — one of the three great powers of the Southern Domain?"
Yang Kai nodded. "There is only one Qingyang Divine Temple in the Southern Domain."
Tang Sheng sighed with admiration. "The Qingyang Divine Temple's reputation has certainly reached my ears like thunder. The three great powers of the Southern Domain — the Qingyang Divine Temple, Wuhua Hall, and the Tianwu Sacred Ground — are each extraordinary. They're on par with the three great powers of our Eastern Domain, all top-tier forces in the world. Our Heavenly Wolf Valley pales in comparison."
Yang Kai said, "Valley Master, there's no need for such modesty. I can see that Heavenly Wolf Valley is also quite impressive. With both Valley Masters possessing such deep cultivation, given time, there's no reason you'd be any lesser than so-called top-tier powers."
Tang Sheng laughed loudly. "Then I'll take Young Master Yang's kind words to heart." He paused, then added, "On another note, when I was young, I too once harbored the grand ambition of traveling across all four domains of the Star Boundary. Unfortunately, I was ultimately bound down by countless obligations and never fulfilled that wish. I've never even left the Eastern Domain — quite shameful, really. Since Young Master Yang comes from the Southern Domain, could you tell me how the Southern Domain differs from our Eastern Domain?"
Qian Xiuying also looked at Yang Kai with a face full of curiosity, clearly very interested in the topic.