This place had already been isolated from the outside world by Ming Yue's technique, which was the only reason Yang Kai could converse with him so calmly. Otherwise, Xue Li would have discovered him long ago. Yet Yang Kai still made this proposal, which meant that whatever was inside the jade box was absolutely extraordinary — and very likely, the moment the box was opened, it would bring a tremendous shock.
Ming Yue gazed deeply at Yang Kai for a long moment, then gave a slight nod. With one hand forming a seal, the waning moon behind him suddenly surged with a far more brilliant radiance, illuminating this small sanctuary as bright as daylight.
Only then did Ming Yue gently open the jade box.
An ethereal green glow immediately met his eyes, and at the same time, a staggering wave of vitality surged outward. Even though Ming Yue was a Great Emperor who had witnessed the rise and fall of ages, he could not help but be visibly moved, for he truly could not fathom what kind of thing could contain such vast life force.
Focusing his gaze, he saw three tender leaves resting inside the jade box, each no more than three inches long, crystal clear as though carved from precious gems. The veins on their surfaces were perfectly distinct, and they emanated a faint, delicate fragrance. Inhaling even a single breath sent a wave of pleasant warmth throughout his entire body.
His pupils contracted slightly as he cross-referenced what lay before him with every scrap of knowledge he possessed. After a moment, Ming Yue exclaimed in astonishment: "So it's this!"
He had clearly recognized what it was. As a Great Emperor, there was nothing in this world that he would not have encountered in some text or record, even if he had never seen it in person. There was no way he could fail to recognize it.
Yang Kai asked, "Can this allow Your Excellency to recover?"
"It can!" Ming Yue closed the jade box and fixed Yang Kai with a burning gaze. "No wonder the Heavenly Pivot sent you to the Demon Realm. To possess such fortune — you truly are beyond the reach of ordinary men."
Because of the matter with the Five-Colored Pagoda from before, Ming Yue had looked into Yang Kai's background and understood his origins — a young man from a lower-plane Star Field who, in the span of mere decades, had stirred up storms across entire territories. That alone spoke to the makings of a dragon among men. And now it seemed this young man was indeed blessed with extraordinary luck, having somehow obtained even the Tree of Immortality, a supreme treasure of heaven and earth.
Those three tender leaves had clearly just been harvested. Without the Tree of Immortality in his possession, where else could Yang Kai have gathered them?
Hearing this, Yang Kai's face brightened with delight. "Then please, Your Excellency, take them immediately. I will stand guard for you."
Ming Yue shook his head with an amused smile. "There is no rush. Even with this to aid me, recovery will not happen overnight. It will take at least one year."
"One year..." Yang Kai's expression stiffened. He had assumed that with the leaves of the Tree of Immortality, Ming Yue would recover swiftly, and then they could fight their way out together and return to the Star Realm — completing his mission and sparing him the need to keep playing games with the demons in the Demon Realm. But hearing that it would take a full year, Yang Kai realized he had been naive.
Forget a year — he couldn't afford to wait even a month. If he truly disappeared for that long, Bo Ya would certainly grow suspicious. Following the trail back here would only ruin Ming Yue's plans.
Ming Yue smiled faintly. "I'm not anxious, so why are you?"
Yang Kai scratched his head awkwardly, at a loss for how to respond.
Ming Yue's expression suddenly turned solemn, and he raised the jade box slightly. "What happened here ends with me."
The meaning was clear — he would never reveal the fact that Yang Kai possessed the Tree of Immortality. After all, this knowledge was far too explosive. If word ever got out, the trouble it would bring Yang Kai was unimaginable. It was said that one who refined the Tree of Immortality could achieve immortality and eternal life — something even Great Emperors coveted. Yang Kai had taken out the Tree's leaves to heal him in his hour of need. How could Ming Yue repay such a kindness with treachery?
"If I didn't trust Your Excellency, I wouldn't have done this. Your safety is of paramount importance to the Star Realm. I pray for Your Excellency's swift recovery so you may leave this place of suffering and return to the Star Realm to take command. At that point, I'll be able to retire from all this."
Ming Yue's smile remained, though he neither confirmed nor denied. After a moment's contemplation, he said, "One year from now, keep your ear to the ground for news from this place. If anything changes, remember to come. I still have some matters to discuss with you."
Yang Kai stared at him steadily, and a faint unease stirred in his heart. Ming Yue sounded as though he were settling his affairs — wearing the expression of a man who had already accepted that he would not leave the Demon Realm alive.
Yang Kai opened his mouth but did not know what to say. Offering comfort to a Great Emperor would be foolish, so in this moment it was best to say nothing at all, and simply hope that fortune would smile upon Ming Yue.
"You should go," Ming Yue said suddenly.
Yang Kai was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Take care of yourself, Your Excellency."
Ming Yue smiled gently. "You as well. While you're in the Demon Realm, be cautious in all things. Especially that one — Yu Rumeng. Don't trust her too readily. She likely has a way to break free from that secret technique's hold!"
This was the second person who had told him this. Bei Li Mo had said it first, and that could be dismissed as an attempt to sow discord with ulterior motives. But if Ming Yue was saying the same thing, it meant Yu Rumeng truly had a strong likelihood of doing exactly that — she simply hadn't reached that point yet.