Yang Kai had barely settled back into Lingxiao Palace after returning through the spatial transmission array when Hua Qingsi came to report the situation in the Primordial Wilderness. Startled, he departed without delay, setting off immediately for the Eastern Region.
The current state of the Star Boundary was far from favorable. Although the Dragon Clan's two Elders had seen their strength improve significantly after undergoing tempering in the Dragon Transformation Pool, the overall picture remained dire — the entire Star Boundary still teetered on the brink.
At a time like this, even one additional powerhouse could make all the difference.
Yang Kai couldn't gauge precisely how strong Zhang Ruoxi had become. But she had awakened the Heavenly Punishment bloodline and secluded herself within the Blood Gate for so many years — if she did emerge, her strength certainly wouldn't be anything to scoff at.
More importantly, she had brought Little Xiao in with her all those years ago. The Stone Puppet race itself was descended from an ancient Sacred Spirit, and that Sacred Spirit had been a truly legendary existence.
Yang Kai was very much looking forward to seeing how both Little Xiao and Zhang Ruoxi had changed.
Upon arriving and meeting with Luan Feng and the others, a brief inquiry revealed that the situation here was only slightly anomalous — the Blood Gate hadn't actually appeared yet.
Yang Kai could more or less understand how Luan Feng and the rest were feeling. After all, during the ancient era, the Heavenly Punishment had slaughtered no small number of Sacred Spirits. Though countless years had passed, that supreme dread still lingered — the wariness and fear rooted deep within their bloodlines remained very much alive. It was only natural that they would hold some measure of vigilance toward the incoming heir of the Heavenly Punishment.
Seeing Yang Kai appear in person, Luan Feng and the others felt somewhat reassured. They insisted he stay and hold the fort here, absolutely not to leave before Zhang Ruoxi emerged.
Fortunately, Yang Kai didn't have much else on his plate at the moment. He had already handed the Ji Zi Army over to Yao Si, Hua Qingsi was managing everything at Lingxiao Palace, and the struggle against the Demon Race was not something that would see resolution anytime soon. He agreed readily.
He also wanted to be there to properly welcome Zhang Ruoxi when she emerged from seclusion.
Come to think of it, decades had slipped by in the blink of an eye. The little girl he had once brought out of the Zhang family had grown into someone even the Sacred Spirits treated with the utmost gravity. He could almost still hear her crisp voice calling out "Mister" in his ear, along with the warmth of her parted lips at their farewell.
He sent a transmission to Lingxiao Palace, informing Hua Qingsi that he would be staying in the Primordial Wilderness for a while and to notify him immediately if anything important came up.
One day later, on a mountain peak roughly a dozen li from the Blood Gate's location, Yang Kai sat cross-legged, facing in that direction.
A sharp whistle split the air, followed by the sound of light footsteps landing. A familiar scent drifted to his nose.
Yang Kai opened his eyes and looked at the woman who had alighted beside him — expression cool and pristine, dressed in a flowing white skirt, as untouched by worldly dust as a lotus. He smiled gently. "Senior Sister."
Su Yan gazed off into the distance, toward the area some dozen li away. "That's where the Blood Gate is?"
Yang Kai nodded. "Mm. But right now there's only a faint sign — it hasn't fully opened yet. No telling when it will."
"So many demon beasts. Are they drawn by that aura?" Su Yan looked out over the mountains blanketed with demon beasts in every direction.
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "The demon beasts of the Primordial Wilderness are mostly descendants of ancient exotic species. Even though they haven't awakened spiritual intelligence, the instinct within their blood tells them that something over there has the power to make them stronger."
Su Yan nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "The girl called Zhang Ruoxi — she's in there? I heard she's the heir of the Heavenly Punishment?"
Su Yan didn't know much about Zhang Ruoxi and had never met her. She had only heard Yang Kai mention her once or twice.
"That's right." Yang Kai sighed with some emotion, recalling the scene from long ago when Zhang Ruoxi had slain Shi Huo. Who could have imagined that such a frail-looking girl harbored such tremendous power of bloodline within her?
Su Yan turned to look at him. "I also heard that the Heavenly Punishment was the nemesis of all Sacred Spirits — that in ancient times, it slaughtered every Sacred Spirit under heaven. There's Sacred Spirit origin power within my body too. If she comes out and decides to strike me down, what then?"
Yang Kai laughed despite himself. "How could that happen? The ancient era was the ancient era, and now is now. Though that girl carries the Heavenly Punishment bloodline, she's not the same person as the Heavenly Punishment of that age." Just as he had inherited the Dragon God's origin power and was still himself — Yang Kai.
"Who knows..." Su Yan said noncommittally. "Maybe she'll see me with you and strike me down in a fit of rage."
Yang Kai stared at her, somewhat incredulous. "Senior Sister... are you jealous?"
Su Yan's fair cheeks flushed an uncharacteristic red. She turned her head away. "Don't be ridiculous. Not a word more."
Yang Kai grinned, smiling silently to himself. He reached out, took Su Yan's slender hand, and pulled her into his arms despite her startled cry.
Su Yan's face reddened further. She squirmed slightly. "Don't you dare — mmph..." Before she could finish, her lips were sealed against his. In an instant, her eyes widened, and the resistance in her body gradually faded away.
With a soft sigh in her heart, she slowly closed her eyes.
Fortunately, Yang Kai didn't push things too far. Before long, he released her and held her gently against him.
This rare tenderness and tranquility allowed Su Yan to relax completely, body and mind. She nestled her head against Yang Kai's chest, listening to the strong heartbeat resonating within, curling up like a little kitten.
No words, no passionate movements — just a quiet embrace between the two of them. Yet in that moment, she felt as though she held the entire world.
After a good while, Su Yan finally opened her eyes, a look of reluctance lingering in them. "I should go back and resume Cultivation."
She had rushed here the moment she received Yang Kai's transmission, without even knowing what he intended. But now it seemed he wasn't planning anything beyond this. Though loath to part, in times of upheaval like these, even this brief moment of warmth was an immense blessing. How could she dare ask for more?
Yang Kai sighed softly. "You don't all need to push yourselves so hard. Leave everything to me."