The spear Yang Kai had hurled passed clean through the Emperor Realm cultivator's body and continued onward, carving a path ahead. The Fantian Holy Land powerhouses blocking its way recoiled in horror upon witnessing the sight, none daring to stand in its path.
Where the spear had passed, a pitch-black scar lingered in the void, lingering and refusing to dissipate.
That single strike had actually torn through space itself.
Everyone was frozen in place. A chill crept from the soles of their feet all the way to the crown of their heads, and for the first time they truly understood that a single person could possess such terrifying brute strength.
"Holy Lord…" The Emperor Realm cultivator whose body had been pierced clean through—a massive hole torn through his chest and abdomen—stumbled roughly ten zhang before Xu Changfeng, coughing up great mouthfuls of blood. He reached out weakly toward Xu Changfeng, as though trying to clutch at his last thread of survival, but in the end it was all for nothing. His body went limp and he plummeted from the sky, crashing to the ground in a spray of flesh and blood.
Five breaths. Five Emperor Realm cultivators. In the span of just five breaths, Yang Kai had slaughtered them all without breaking a sweat—and he hadn't even been forced to reveal his true strength. It was as though he'd simply pinched five ants to death at his leisure.
The heavens and earth fell into absolute silence. Dozens of Emperor Realm cultivators from the Fantian Holy Land and the Yellow Spring Sect were swallowing hard, feeling as though they were trapped in some kind of dream.
Yang Kai shifted his figure and landed atop the perpetually spinning Mountain and River Bell. The wind swept over him, sending his black hair billowing wildly, exuberant and unrestrained. His voice rang out, bold and clear: "Yang Kai stands here—who wishes to die?" His gaze swept across the assembled enemies like an eagle surveying prey, and not a single person dared meet his eyes. Every last one of them averted their gazes.
More than ten li away, Tang Sheng and Qian Xiuying were struck dumb, unable to accept what they had just witnessed.
This was a two-layered Emperor Realm cultivator? How could this possibly be a two-layered Emperor Realm cultivator? Even a three-layered Emperor Realm cultivator shouldn't possess such divine might! They had long known that there existed people in this world capable of fighting above their level and slaying powerful enemies as casually as eating a meal—but they weren't without experience in encountering such individuals.
The former Holy Son of the Fantian Holy Land, Chang Hao Changxian, Yin Lesheng—a disciple of Yellow Spring Sect Master Fu Bo, the son of the Nether Emperor, Yao Si, and even this Chi Gui—all fell into that category. They could typically defeat opponents a minor realm above them and even had a chance at killing them outright. Such existences were widely acknowledged as geniuses.
Given enough time and room to grow, the future world would surely have a place for them.
But only now did Tang Sheng and Qian Xiuying realize that so-called geniuses were still subject to comparison—and among geniuses, there were those who towered above the rest. Yang Kai had indeed slain five first-layered Emperor Realm cultivators while at the second layer, which technically didn't count as fighting above his level. Yet the scene they had just witnessed was far more shocking and far harder to believe than watching a first-layered Emperor Realm cultivator kill a second-layered one.
No wonder Chang Hao Changxian and Yin Lesheng had both perished at his hands. The saying that there was always someone greater beyond the heavens—this was exactly what it meant.
Lan He's beautiful eyes shimmered with brilliant light, her heart surging with excitement. Earlier, she had broken her promise to Yang Kai and already felt terrible about it, her heart heavy with guilt. Then she had watched as Yang Kai was surrounded by so many enemies, certain that he was doomed.
If Yang Kai truly died outside the Heavenly Wolf Valley, the events of this day would likely haunt her for the rest of her life. To make matters worse, her cultivation had been sealed by Tang Sheng and Qian Xiuying, leaving her unable to lift a finger to help. She could only stand there and watch, and that kind of torment from the depths of one's soul was truly agonizing.
She turned her head, her gaze complex as she looked at Tang Sheng. "Master, if he survives… will you regret it?"
Tang Sheng's body trembled at her words. He knew that Lan He was still deeply dissatisfied with his earlier decision—resentful, even—but because he was her master, she couldn't say more or ask for more. He replied evenly, "When you've already made your choice, there's no point in regret. Besides, do you honestly think he can survive?" He had to admit—the wanton slaughter of those few breaths had been genuinely soul-stirring, enough to make one's blood run hot. There was no denying it: Yang Kai was unquestionably one of the Star Boundary's most outstanding geniuses. To wield such dominance at just the second layer of the Emperor Realm—what would happen if he advanced to the third? At that point, he might even be able to compete with Li Wuyi himself.
A person of such caliber—if one could build a relationship with him in advance, it would benefit the Heavenly Wolf Valley enormously. It wouldn't even matter that he hailed from the Southern Region.
And Yang Kai had indeed come to the Heavenly Wolf Valley seeking help. All they had to do was agree to guide him to the Spirit Beast Island, and the Valley could naturally establish a solid rapport with him. Come the day when the Heavenly Wolf Valley needed something, would he really turn them away? A minimal investment for a bountiful return—who wouldn't want to make such a deal?
That was precisely why Lan He had asked the question. They could have easily befriended a future supreme powerhouse, but the Heavenly Wolf Valley had squandered the opportunity.
But all of that was predicated on one thing… that he could survive!
The Fantian Holy Land and the Yellow Spring Sect had mobilized their entire forces this time. Even losing five first-layered Emperor Realm cultivators wouldn't change the overall picture, because they still had two third-layered Emperor Realm cultivators and seven or eight at the second layer!
Yang Kai's performance had been spectacular, but the outcome seemed all but sealed.
Lan He was struck speechless by his question. Searching her own heart—in a situation like this, could Yang Kai really survive? He had already killed five of their people, all of them Emperor Realm cultivators. This was now an affair that could only end in death.
Today's battle would end either with Yang Kai being slain here or with the two great sects being shattered beyond repair. But anyone with eyes could see which side held the advantage.
"I bet he can live!" A voice suddenly rang out from nearby.
Both Tang Sheng and Qian Xiuying, who had been fixated on watching the battlefield, were startled—neither had detected anyone approaching. Granted, most of their attention had been diverted, but it still spoke volumes about the newcomer's strength.
However, once they clearly heard the voice, both relaxed immediately.
Because the one who had spoken was Chi Gui—the strongest of the younger generation in Ahan Hall. Crimson hair and red eyes were his most unmistakable hallmarks. Belligerent by nature and addicted to bloodshed, he was a headache for everyone in the entire Eastern Region, since nobody wanted to end up in this guy's crosshairs.