Yang Kai blurted out, "Of course not."
Li Wuyi nodded with satisfaction. "Since it's not, then go ahead and do it. The ultimate expression of strength becomes the Dao. I was actually a bit worried about you before—no matter how much of an edge you have, the gap in cultivation remains your biggest shortcoming. But after testing you just now, I've realized your mastery of the Space Law is already no less than mine. With that as your foundation, it's more than enough to stake your claim."
The reason he had suddenly pulled Yang Kai out for a sparring test was solely to gauge the depth of Yang Kai's mastery over the Space Law. Otherwise, he would not have limited himself to only spatial power during their life-or-death exchange—he would have held nothing back.
The results of the assessment left Li Wuyi both gratified and surprised. Setting aside the fact that Yang Kai's overall strength had truly reached the level of a Pseudo-Emperor or Half-Saint, his mastery of the Space Law alone was already on par with his own.
That was the true reason Li Wuyi had decided to forgo entering the Profound Heaven Temple himself.
Since Yang Kai had this foundation, letting him enter the Profound Heaven Temple would yield results no worse than if Li Wuyi had gone in personally.
"There's one thing you need to be aware of!" Li Wuyi's expression turned grave. "If you truly enter the Profound Heaven Temple, there's a very good chance you'll become the enemy of the majority!"
Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "Because of the Will of Heaven and Earth?"
Li Wuyi nodded. "Exactly. The Will of Heaven and Earth you inherited from Lady Mingyue may give you considerable advantages in the coming contest for the Great Dao, but it will also place you in all manner of danger. People will certainly seize opportunities to attack you—and those people won't just be the Demon Race's Half-Saints. The Star Boundary's Pseudo-Emperors will be among them as well!"
Yang Kai's expression sharpened. "Half-Saints can enter the Profound Heaven Temple too?"
Li Wuyi chuckled. "Who ever said they couldn't? Can Ye is the best example—he was able to ascend to the realm of Great Emperor, so naturally the other Demon Half-Saints can enter as well. While the world does possess its own self-protective mechanisms and will open the Profound Heaven Temple when crisis arrives, it doesn't care who seizes the fortune within. The Heavenly Dao shows mercy, granting us a chance to turn the tables, but the Heavenly Dao is also merciless—it treats even the invading Demon Race with the same impartiality. The question is whether we can seize the opportunity."
Yang Kai let out a soft breath and said with a bitter smile, "I see. In other words, if I enter the Profound Heaven Temple to compete for the Great Dao, it's like tossing a piece of choice meat into a pack of wolves."
Li Wuyi smiled. "It's not a perfect analogy, but that's more or less the situation."
"Well, that's... exciting enough," Yang Kai said with a grin. Though he was laughing, the fierce light in his eyes burned like an open flame.
There had never been a precedent for this. Throughout all of history, only those Great Emperors who participated in the contest for the Great Dao and seized their own destined fortune could earn the acknowledgment of Heaven and Earth and receive the Will of Heaven and Earth, becoming its chosen spokesperson!
Yang Kai's current state was one of a kind—a singular exception across all of recorded history.
But there was nothing to be done about it. Within the Zhoutian Continent, Great Emperor Mingyue had perished at his hands, and the Will of Heaven and Earth that resided within a Great Emperor had no other option—it had autonomously transferred to Yang Kai. So before he had even become a Great Emperor himself, he had already received the acknowledgment of Heaven and Earth.
This was his advantage in the contest for the Great Dao. Perhaps it would let him perceive the Heavenly Secrets more clearly and approach his goal more effectively. But it was also a catastrophic liability.
Before, people might have been envious of the legacy of a Great Emperor that Yang Kai carried, but it would have been nothing more than envy. However, once inside the Profound Heaven Temple, that envy could very well transform into a direct attempt to seize it by force.
And to claim that Will of Heaven and Earth, one would have to kill Yang Kai with their own hands.
Li Wuyi patted Yang Kai on the shoulder. "Relax—you won't be fighting alone. When the time comes, I'll arrange people to provide support."
Yang Kai clasped his fists. "Thank you, sir."
"Don't wander around too much over the next while—don't give anyone an opening. Go back to Lingxiao Palace and enter seclusion. When the Profound Heaven Temple opens, I'll notify you."
Yang Kai smiled. "If you want me to participate in the contest for the Great Dao, why should I be hiding away? Before the Profound Heaven Temple opens, I can lay low—but what about after?"
Li Wuyi paused for a moment, then laughed. "You're right. I was overthinking it. Fine, do as you see fit. But be careful in all things—especially with those who have been trying to get close to you recently."
"I understand," Yang Kai said with a wolfish grin. "If anyone with ulterior motives tries to approach me, I won't show any mercy."
After a moment's thought, Yang Kai spoke again. "But sir, if I do enter the Profound Heaven Temple, what exactly am I supposed to do? What exactly am I supposed to fight for?"
Li Wuyi slowly shook his head. "I don't know. All I know is that the Profound Heaven Temple exists, and that it holds the key to becoming a Great Emperor. As for what the interior of the Profound Heaven Temple looks like, I'm afraid no one in the Star Boundary knows right now." He furrowed his brow. "Perhaps you could ask the two Dragon Clan Elders. They've lived a long time—they should have some information about the Profound Heaven Temple."
"If there's a chance, I'll ask," Yang Kai said with a nod.
As though suddenly remembering something, he added, "Oh, sir—there's one more matter I'd like to ask of you."
"Go ahead," Li Wuyi said.
"Once the Profound Heaven Temple opens, there's no telling how long I'll be inside. Lately, there have been some abnormal disturbances at the Blood Gate in the Eastern Region's Barbarian Ancient Lands. I suspect the Heavenly Punishment Palace is about to open..."
"The Heavenly Punishment Palace!" Li Wuyi's brows shot upward.