"Junior Sister Chen is a fine young lady, and her talent is truly remarkable." Meng Hong gazed in the direction Chen Yue had departed, speaking half to himself and half to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai smiled. "If Brother Meng is interested, you should be bold and pursue her."
Meng Hong shook his head with a bitter smile. "I may be interested, but I'm afraid she might not feel the same."
Yang Kai adopted a serious tone. "Sincerity can break through metal and stone. As long as you show her your genuine feelings, how could Miss Chen not sense it?"
Meng Hong lowered his head in thought for a moment, then nodded. "Brother Yang speaks true. I was overthinking it." He shifted the topic. "How are your injuries, Brother Yang?"
Earlier, Yang Kai had led them through the beast tide and then fought that Elder Kang in a fierce battle. He certainly hadn't come out of it unscathed.
"It's nothing. Just a few minor wounds."
Yang Kai shook his head.
Meng Hong was filled with admiration. "Only today did I realize just how formidable Brother Yang truly is — slaying both a Third-Order Open Heaven and a Thunder Howler. I really have been a frog in a well, mistaking the sky for the size of a bucket." He had been thoroughly shaken by what he witnessed. He was also an Emperor Realm cultivator and had never imagined that warriors at this level could unleash such overwhelming combat power. When that spear thrust forward, an ancient remnant beast had burst into a mist of blood, and even a Third-Order Open Heaven had been forced to dodge its edge. The sight had filled him with longing.
"Just luck," Yang Kai said modestly. "By the way, how are Old Fang and the others doing back in Great Moon Province?"
Meng Hong smiled. "Brother Fang, Sister Die You, and the rest are all doing well. A-Sun's Cultivation is on track now — Uncle-Master Tao is personally guiding him. Everyone misses you and wonders how you've been. When I set out this time, they all asked me to look into your situation. Unfortunately, I hadn't gotten a chance to investigate properly before ending up in this place. Still, I have that Taixu Mist to thank — without it, I wouldn't have run into you so quickly."
Hearing that Old Fang and the others were fine, Yang Kai felt relieved. Old Fang and Die You were the first friends he had made after arriving in this Outer Expanse of the Boundless Universe. They had looked after him during the Seven Artifacts, and they had followed him out of that place, cutting through thorns and brambles together, sharing life and death through one trial after another.
The Boundless Universe was vast beyond measure. Who knew when they would meet again? The thought brought a touch of melancholy.
But as long as everyone was alive, there would always be a chance to reunite.
"What are Brother Yang's plans going forward?" Meng Hong's expression turned serious as he asked.
Their group was small — Yue He was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven, Yang Kai had just demonstrated extraordinary combat power, and the rest were fellow disciples from Great Moon Province, plus Chen Yue. All told, they numbered only six or seven — a negligible force in the Taixu Realm.
"What do you think, Brother Meng?" Yang Kai had already been mulling this over even before the question was raised.
Meng Hong pondered for a moment before answering. "Self-preservation! First we ensure our own survival, then we consider everything else."
He spoke with conviction. "This iteration of the Taixu Realm is completely different from any before it. In the past, even when lucky individuals stumbled inside, their numbers were small. But this time, the entire Star Market was swallowed, and tens of thousands of people were stranded here. Anyone with half a brain will likely band together for mutual protection — or even raise their own banner and rally others, like that Ding Yi. Brother Yang, you may possess the courage to hold back a thousand men, but you are still only one person. If a real conflict arises with others, you'll always come out worse for it."
"Furthermore, we were attacked by the beast tide the moment we arrived. Who knows what other dangers lurk in the Taixu Realm? Throughout history, powerful cultivators have fallen here time and again. If we're not careful, we'll simply follow in their footsteps."
Yang Kai nodded slightly. Though Meng Hong's thinking was on the conservative side, it aligned well with his own intentions.
What he had seen and experienced today had dealt him a considerable shock. He genuinely needed time to digest and absorb it all — especially regarding the activation of Dao Seal power. Since arriving in the Outer Expanse, he had fought too few battles, had never before discovered the utility of the Yin-Yang Five Elements force, and no one had ever explained it to him.
Now that he knew, he naturally wanted to study it thoroughly.
"Mm." Meng Hong sighed. "To be honest, it's we who have dragged Brother Yang into all this. Otherwise, with your abilities, you would surely accomplish great things in the Taixu Realm."
Yang Kai chuckled. "Brother Meng, you're too hard on yourself. You said it yourself — who knows how many dangers the Taixu Realm holds. I'm merely an Emperor Realm cultivator. What could I possibly accomplish?"
The two were still talking when Yang Kai suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed in a specific direction, his brow furrowing slightly.
Moments later, Meng Hong also sensed something and looked the same way, frowning as he waved the nearby junior brothers to gather close.
Chen Yue approached and asked, "What's wrong, Senior Brothers?" Though she was also at the Emperor Realm, it was clear her spiritual sense was not as keen as Meng Hong's — otherwise, she would have noticed on her own.
Yue He gave a soft, cold laugh from the side. "A large group of people is heading this way. They probably fought their way out of the Star Market."
Chen Yue's expression shifted slightly. The valley wasn't terribly far from where the Star Market had been — at most a thousand li. It was entirely expected that fleeing people might head in this direction.
Sure enough, before long, a vast expanse of brilliant light appeared on the horizon. One by one, figures came into view, hurtling straight toward the valley.
The one leading the charge was imposing and fierce, his entire body drenched in blood — none other than Ding Yi.
And behind him followed at least a thousand warriors.