The shouting stopped. The grand formation broke apart, and a large group of people suddenly appeared inside. The disciples of the Mountain-Splitting Sect were startled. The sky-high clamor abruptly turned to silence — so jarring it was almost uncomfortable.
But as they looked over, the hundreds of disciples soon had their attention captured by Su Yan and the others. Most of those who had joined the Mountain-Splitting Sect didn't possess particularly high cultivation and were young — when had they ever seen so many stunning beauties? In an instant, they were all dumbstruck. A few even had their mouths hanging open, their minds completely lost, completely unaware of it. To make matters worse, the Enchantress Queen shot a bewitching smile their way, and right then and there a handful of young men let out muffled groans as nosebleeds streamed down their faces. Each of them cried out in their hearts: She smiled at me!
Just then, Zhou Cheng hurried over. He glanced at the Mountain-Splitting Sect crowd outside the formation, furrowed his brow, and ignored them. Instead, he turned to Yang Kai and said, "Pavilion Master Yang, the matter from earlier has not yet been settled. I would ask that Pavilion Master Yang give us an explanation."
"Pavilion Master Yang?" The middle-aged Emperor nearly jumped out of his skin at the words.
Since they had come to Lingxiao Pavilion to stir up trouble, how could they not know who its master was? That was the man who had defied a Great Emperor outside Tiger Roar City all those years ago, escaped from the Great Emperor's grasp, and then been hunted down by Li Wuyi! His name was Yang Kai!
The name matched, the appearance matched the legends — a strikingly handsome young man.
This man was actually Lingxiao Pavilion's Pavilion Master, Yang Kai?
Hadn't they said he had betrayed the Star Realm, fallen to the demonic path, and gone to the Demon Domain? How could he be here? Had he returned from the Demon Domain? But that didn't make sense — after what happened back then, how would he dare return to the Star Realm?
At that very moment, one of the young men holding a banner in the back somehow lost his mind and shouted righteously, "Demonic scum, die!"
Not only did he shout, he even pointed a finger in the direction of Yang Kai and the others from afar.
The battle cries erupted once more, and the several hundred people roared again.
The middle-aged Emperor's face turned deathly pale. His body trembled, and he wished he could turn around and slaughter every disciple he had so painstakingly gathered. The disciples' shouts were no longer rallying cries — they were practically roasting him over an open fire.
His heart was gripped by panic, but outwardly he forced himself to appear calm. His disciples were all watching, after all, and he couldn't lose too much face. Today was supposed to be the day the Mountain-Splitting Sect made a name for itself. If this was handled poorly, forget about recruiting new disciples in the future — whether the Mountain-Splitting Sect could even keep what little it had was anyone's guess.
"Demonic scum?" Yang Kai glanced at the several hundred people and let out a faint smile.
More than one person had called him that today. Zhou Cheng's very first words to him had been "demonic scum," and now he was hearing it again from a crowd of total strangers. It seemed his reputation in the Star Realm had truly rotted beyond repair.
But Yang Kai didn't care. When he had accepted the Great Emperors' request to enter the Demon Domain all those years ago, he had already anticipated a situation like this.
Others' words pass through my ears. If I don't take them to heart, that's the end of it.
That enormous banner in the crowd was far too conspicuous — a blood-red field with black-gold characters. Impossible to miss even if you tried.
Yang Kai reached out and grabbed forward. Despite the distance of over a hundred zhang, when he pulled his hand back, the banner had been snatched into his grip.
The disciples who had been holding it froze in shock, thinking: Why does the flag in his hand look exactly like ours? They looked up at their own banner... but there was nothing there! Only then did they realize their sect's great banner had been stolen.
"Mountain-Splitting Sect?" Yang Kai looked at the middle-aged Emperor.
The middle-aged Emperor's throat felt like it was on fire. His mouth was parched. But he held his sword inverted behind his back with one hand, while the other formed a seal before him — the bearing of a true expert. "Indeed. I am Li Kaishai, and what I founded is naturally the Mountain-Splitting Sect. Might I ask — are you the Pavilion Master of Lingxiao Pavilion?"
"I am." Yang Kai nodded gently. "Sect Leader Li, what advice do you have?"
As if he dared offer any advice! All Li Kaishai wanted now was to get as far away from here as possible. Despite the fact that Pavilion Master Yang across from him wore a perfectly amiable expression, an indescribable chill crawled up his spine — as if an invisible blade hung above his head, ready to fall at any moment.
Gathering his resolve, Li Kaishai spoke clearly: "I have heard that Pavilion Master Yang succumbed to Qi Deviation years ago and fell to the demonic path. Lingxiao Pavilion was also branded an evil sect, cursed by all. For that reason, I brought my disciples here to uphold the righteous way and eliminate the demons, preserving the peace of the Star Realm. However, seeing that Pavilion Master Yang radiates such righteous energy, there must be some misunderstanding. I was rash and discourteous, and I ask Pavilion Master Yang's forgiveness."
Yang Kai smiled. "You didn't make a mistake, and there's no misunderstanding. I did indeed succumb to Qi Deviation and fall to the demonic path."
At these words, Li Kaishai froze. Su Yan and the others froze. Meng Wuya and his companions froze. Everyone turned to look at Yang Kai, because at this moment he appeared perfectly normal — where was any sign of Qi Deviation?
Mild cases of Qi Deviation led to confusion and loss of one's senses. Severe cases meant the complete destruction of one's cultivation and the obliteration of body and soul. But Yang Kai looked perfectly fine. They all assumed he was just joking.
Li Kaishai forced a laugh. "Pavilion Master Yang jests."