Above the underground cavern, the members of Ghost King Valley, the Treasure Artifact Sect, and the Hu sisters all wore anxious expressions as they waited in silence.
It had been half a month since Yang Kai entered seclusion, and he still hadn't emerged. Moreover, the area within several dozen zhang of the cavern where he was cultivating had been entirely sealed over by a thick layer of ice.
"Why hasn't Brother Yang come out yet? Don't tell me something happened?" Cheng Ying paced back and forth, his big mouth unable to stay shut.
The moment the words left his mouth, he felt three cold, sharp gazes turn toward him and couldn't help but shrink his head back, offering an awkward chuckle.
Shen Yi sighed with a helpless smile: "It's a pity none of us have reached the Shenyou Realm. If someone had cultivated Divine Sense, they could at least probe the situation over there."
Tao Yang shook his head with a serious expression: "No. Even with Divine Sense, you wouldn't be able to get through. This cold could probably freeze even ordinary Divine Sense."
Hearing this, everyone was struck with alarm, and their worry only deepened.
After much more time passed.
The ice covering several dozen zhang suddenly let out a series of cracking sounds. Then, the seemingly eternal mystic ice shattered like flour. Through the blizzard of ice crystals, a figure burst forth and flew toward them.
Everyone's faces lit up with joy as they hurried forward to meet him.
"You're finally out! If you'd stayed any longer, we would've had to fight our way in to see what was going on." Shen Yi burst into hearty laughter the moment Yang Kai touched down.
Yang Kai smiled faintly, looked at everyone, and nodded: "I apologize for worrying you all."
"Now that you're out, let's leave this place. The Evil Cave isn't exactly peaceful right now," Leng Shan said with some urgency.
Tao Yang also gave a slight nod.
The Evil Cave had produced such violent energy fluctuations, and two of the Ghost King's Demons had perished within it. On top of that, word of the Demon Spirit's appearance had already drawn numerous Shenyou Realm experts in to investigate. Staying any longer would only invite more trouble.
Thirty li from the Evil Cave.
The group came to a halt.
Shen Yi asked curiously: "Brother Yang, I noticed the Demons suffered heavy losses — how did you come through unscathed? And judging by your expression, it seems you came out with quite the gain."
At his question, everyone turned their gazes toward Yang Kai. They were all quite curious about this.
Yang Kai smiled and nodded: "A small gain. Those four old fellows fought a fierce battle against whatever came out of the Evil Spirit Spring, and both sides were badly wounded. I just happened to pick up the scraps. Luck, that's all."
"This..." Shen Yi was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a wry smile: "Truly fortunate indeed. To think such good fortune could exist under heaven."
Tao Yang chuckled: "It looks like the Demons capturing you ended up handing you an opportunity instead. Those old fellows really tried to pull a fast one and ended up losing everything, haha!"
"How come I never run into things like that?" Cheng Ying muttered, his face full of envy and jealousy.
Leng Shan sneered: "If it were anyone other than Yang Kai, any of us who got dragged in would be dead. You think picking up scraps is easy?"
Cheng Ying let out an awkward laugh: "Just saying, that's all."
Everyone understood perfectly well that taking advantage of the Demons was harder than climbing to the heavens. Though Yang Kai hadn't gone into detail, there must have been unimaginable dangers involved. Only he could have survived the Demons and lived to tell the tale.
Over their time together, they had witnessed Yang Kai's formidable and bizarre strength countless times and knew he couldn't be judged as an ordinary Zhenyuan Realm cultivator.
"Regardless," Shen Yi said solemnly, clapping Yang Kai warmly on the shoulder, "this trip to the Evil Cave means my Ghost King Valley brothers and sisters owe you several lives. In the future, if you ever need anything, just say the word. I can't speak for others, but everyone here will do everything in their power — climb mountains of blades, wade through seas of fire, and never hesitate, even at the cost of their lives!"
The Ghost King Valley members all nodded in unison.
Tao Yang smiled: "The four of us feel the same. We might not be the best fighters, but when it comes to forging Artifacts, heh... Brother Yang, if you ever want something crafted, just come find me at the Treasure Artifact Sect."
"Deal!" Yang Kai nodded earnestly.
"This place isn't far from Ghost King Valley. Brother Yang, if it's convenient, why not come visit our Sect for a few days?" Shen Yi extended a warm invitation.
"He'd better not," Leng Shan said coolly.
"Junior Sister, that's awfully inhospitable." Shen Yi's face immediately fell. He had wanted to spend more time getting to know Yang Kai, but Leng Shan hadn't given him an inch.
"I'm doing it for his own good. What would you know?" Leng Shan shot him a glare. "Master knows him. If he went to Ghost King Valley, he probably wouldn't survive to see the next sunrise."
Shen Yi was startled. He had completely forgotten that their Master, Gui Li, apparently had a massive grudge against the Sect Leader of Lingxiao Pavilion.