That wasn't the main issue, though. What left Yang Kai somewhat exasperated was the fact that he had to constantly devote a portion of his mental energy to circulating the Inverse Yin-Yang Five Elements Xuan Cosmos Heart Sutra, maintaining the stability of the four types of Five Elements power within the Dao Seal. If he stopped for even a moment, the Five Elements would spiral into chaos.
That was a headache. While this portion of mental expenditure wasn't substantial enough to interfere with his daily life or combat, the cruel part was that it could never be ceased for even an instant. In other words, before the power within the Dao Seal was fully replenished, Yang Kai absolutely could not lose consciousness — otherwise he would die.
"Young Master just condensed the Water Element. You should be in closed-door cultivation to consolidate it. Why are you out here?" Yue He looked at him in puzzlement.
"There's something I need to consult Senior Zhu about. Do you know where she is?"
Yue He shook her head. She had been standing guard here for the past half year and hadn't gone anywhere else, so she had no idea where Zhu Jiuyin had gone.
Yang Kai swept his divine sense outward and quickly located Zhu Jiuyin's aura. His figure flickered, and he appeared before her.
When he took a closer look, Yang Kai nearly jumped. Zhu Jiuyin was reclining lazily on a bed while Lu Xue, wearing a resentful expression, held a cattail fan and gently fanned her. And before the bed, a Mantis-headed demon was kneeling on one head, eyes lowered and head bowed, reporting something to Zhu Jiuyin in a subdued tone.
This Mantis-headed demon looked identical to the one Yang Kai had killed before. For a moment he thought the dead had come back to life, but after a moment's thought that was impossible — he had punctured that first one's head clean through, so resurrection was out of the question.
This Mantis-headed demon before him must be another mantis demon serving under Zhu Jiuyin. In the past, such creatures would never have been permitted entry into Star Market, but now that Zhu Jiuyin was stationed here, if he wanted to come in, who would dare stop him?
"You may leave," Zhu Jiuyin waved her hand.
The Mantis-headed demon offered an apology, backed away without looking at Yang Kai, and departed.
After the mantis demon had gone, Yang Kai cupped his fists. "Senior."
Zhu Jiuyin raised her eyelids to glance at him and gave a soft hum. "Since you've successfully refined it, you should be in closed-door cultivation consolidating your gains. Why are you out wandering about?"
Yang Kai frowned. "I seem to be having a bit of a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Zhu Jiuyin was slightly startled.
"For some reason, I keep feeling like there's a voice buzzing inside my head. But when I try to listen closely, I can't hear anything at all."
"A voice?" Zhu Jiuyin's delicate brows knitted together. "What kind of voice?"
"I can't describe it." Yang Kai shook his head slowly, then tilted his head to listen. After a moment, he said with a chill, "There it is again. Senior, could there be something wrong with that Inverse Yin-Yang Five Elements Xuan Cosmos Heart Sutra?"
He kept feeling that the technique itself was the cause of his current predicament.
Zhu Jiuyin said with surprise, "I've never heard of this happening before." The previous bearer of the Dao Seal had also cultivated this technique, yet none of the symptoms Yang Kai described had ever appeared. "Could it be your imagination?"
Yang Kai wavered uncertainly. Hearing her say that, he himself wasn't sure anymore whether it was just his imagination. Moreover, that faint, barely perceptible voice didn't actually affect him much — he was simply worried.
"If you're willing, you can release the Dao Seal and let me take a look at you," Zhu Jiuyin suggested.
Yang Kai shook his head. "It's probably just my imagination."
Zhu Jiuyin had chosen him as the bearer and bore him no ill will, but releasing the Dao Seal would lay all his secrets bare before her, and Yang Kai was naturally unwilling to do that.
Zhu Jiuyin did not press the matter and nodded. "Perhaps it will pass after some time."
Yang Kai agreed and changed the subject. "Senior, still no news of a Metal Element treasure?"
"None. That's exactly what Er Lang came here to report just now. They've searched for so long but haven't found a Metal Element treasure matching your requirements. I'm afraid the Taixu Realm simply has none left."
Yang Kai felt slightly disappointed but rallied his spirits. "I would ask Senior to have your people continue searching for Yin-Yang treasures as well. They need to be Grade Seven or above."
Zhu Jiuyin let out a laugh. "That would be even more difficult. Treasures of the other Five Elements have appeared at Grade Seven or above within the Taixu Realm from time to time, but Yin-Yang treasures — I've never heard of any. There are some below Grade Seven, though."
"Senior understands my ambitions!" Yang Kai said solemnly.
Zhu Jiuyin chuckled softly. "I'll have people search, but don't get your hopes up."
"Thank you, Senior." Yang Kai bowed and took his leave.
After Yang Kai departed, a sharp gleam flashed in Zhu Jiuyin's eyes, and she murmured, "Could it be that the Moon Spirit hasn't been fully extinguished?"
When Yang Kai had mentioned hearing strange sounds inside his head, she had suddenly recalled the wisp of spiritual awareness she had glimpsed within the Moon Essence. When Yang Kai refined the Moon Essence, he would certainly have refined and absorbed that wisp of spiritual awareness as well. If it hadn't been fully destroyed, it might be stirring up trouble inside his body.
However, telling Yang Kai about such a matter would only cause him unnecessary worry, so she decided against it. After all, her goal was to have Yang Kai seize that opportunity on her behalf. Once they left the Taixu Realm, whether Yang Kai lived or died was none of her concern.