Half a day later, Yang Kai emerged, his eyes bright with vigor.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian hurried forward to greet him. Upon closer inspection, they confirmed that he had indeed broken through, reaching the seventh layer of the Zhenyuan Realm.
The two Blood Guards exchanged a subtle nod, a trace of admiration stirring within them. To break through so quickly after a major battle — this young master's talent was clearly no ordinary thing.
What puzzled them, though, was that after more than a decade in the Yang Family, he had been nothing more than a commoner. What had happened to him in recent years to propel him to such heights?
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian both gazed at Yang Kai, wearing very different expressions but neither saying a word, as though waiting for something.
"What happened in the Yang Family? Why were we all summoned back ahead of schedule this time?" Yang Kai frowned and asked directly.
Tu Feng's expression turned somber. "The Patriarch was injured. During the decisive battle against the many experts of the Cangyun Evil Land, the Patriarch charged at the front and was struck by the combined attack of the Yin Nether Ghost King and the Supreme Poison King. Ghost qi and poison qi entered his body simultaneously. Although he was treated in time and his life was saved, the Elders say his condition is far from optimistic. That's why they must determine the next Patriarch as quickly as possible."
"The Patriarch was injured?" Yang Kai's expression froze.
The current Patriarch of the Yang Family, in terms of status, should be his uncle Yang Yinghao — a man of considerable strength. For someone of his caliber to be wounded in the great battle, and apparently quite severely at that, spoke volumes. Otherwise, there would have been no need to urgently summon all the direct-line descendants back for the succession war.
"I see." Yang Kai nodded calmly.
He knew little about the people and affairs within the clan. He had barely met any of his uncles, and apart from his own parents, he harbored no deep feelings for the rest of the Yang Family.
This was the same for all the other direct-line descendants.
The previous generation of direct heirs had also spent ten years out in the world before returning to the family, and during the succession war, they had shown their own brothers no mercy whatsoever. The bonds of kinship within the Yang Family were threadbare — nothing like those of other great clans.
Seeing his indifferent reaction, Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian weren't particularly surprised. Having served the Yang Family for so long, they were well accustomed to the Yang Family's temperament.
"Young Master," Tu Feng asked tentatively, "if there's nothing else you need to attend to, we should head back to the Yang Family."
Yang Kai furrowed his brow. "Is there a deadline for returning to the clan?"
"There isn't," Tu Feng said, slowly shaking his head. "And I suspect you're the first young master we've located. The Golden Feather Eagles were only released two days ago. Yuxian and I were fortunate enough to track you down right away. The others are probably still following their eagles, searching."
"Good." Yang Kai smiled faintly.
"Young Master, do you still have matters to see to?"
"Yes. I'd like to return to my Sect first." Yang Kai nodded.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian exchanged a glance, marveling to themselves.
The Yang Family was known as a cuckoo clan — its direct-line disciples were all raised in the wild, hidden away under false identities within other sects. When the ten-year mark came around, these young masters would typically slip away quietly, not wanting their sect elders or fellow disciples to know.
After all, living among them for so many years, even a block of wood would develop some feelings. To deceive a sect one had called home for so long naturally brought a measure of guilt.
But this one before them was something else entirely. Not only was he not sneaking away — he actually wanted to go back! That was quite interesting indeed.
The question was, how would he explain himself when he met his sect elders?
Tang Yuxian's curiosity was instantly piqued. "What is your Sect called, Young Master?"
Yang Kai chuckled, glancing at her. She had a smile playing at the corner of her lips, watching him with eager anticipation, clearly hoping to glean some information.
"I think it's better left unsaid."
Tang Yuxian blinked, not quite understanding what he meant.
But as a Blood Guard, she knew better than to press the matter. She could only sense, in a vague sort of way, that this young master was not going to be easy to handle.
"Let's go!" While she was still lost in thought, Yang Kai had already mounted his Cloud-Treading Steed and called out to her and Tu Feng.
The two exchanged a glance, then vaulted onto their own steeds.
They were both Shenyou Realm experts and could fly at considerable speed, but since they had the Cloud-Treading Steeds to carry them, they were happy enough to conserve their strength and Zhenyuan.
Three Cloud-Treading Steeds thundered onward like lightning. Above their heads, the Silver Blood Golden Feather Eagle kept pace, letting out the occasional sharp, clear cry.
From here to Lingxiao Pavilion was at least ten thousand li away. Even riding the Cloud-Treading Steeds, it would take two or three days to arrive.
But Yang Kai did not push them to full speed. He maintained a steady, unhurried pace.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian knew that unwritten rule of the Yang Family — and so did Yang Kai.
Along the way, his performance would shape how these two Blood Guards chose to stand in the future!
The succession war was not merely a contest of martial prowess among the various Yang young masters. One could even say that personal strength was the least important factor.
What the succession war truly valued was how many allies a young master could rally, and how many powers he could bring to heel!
The more allies gathered and the more factions that bent the knee, the greater it demonstrated that young master's connections and resourcefulness — and only then could one secure the seat of Yang Family Patriarch!