Zhu Jiuyin swore a solemn oath before finally withdrawing her origin back into her body.
Yang Kai relaxed. Zhu Jiuyin was far too powerful, but an oath sworn with one's origin was no joke—it was like a warrior swearing upon their own Dao Seal. Unless one possessed special means to circumvent such an oath, it had to be honored, or the backlash would be inevitable.
As for a thousand years from now... you'll have to beat me first, Yang Kai thought with a smirk.
With everything settled, Yang Kai no longer hesitated. He raised the back of his hand toward Zhu Jiuyin, channeling his power as he said, "Come in."
A beam of light shot out from the pattern, enveloping Zhu Jiuyin and drawing her into that peculiar space.
Yang Kai's face instantly went pale as paper, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. Even though he had been mentally prepared—knowing that absorbing Zhu Jiuyin into that space would require a tremendous amount of energy—he had nearly been drained dry.
In the next instant, Zhu Jiuyin's furious voice echoed through his mind: "Why are these two little guys in here too? It's suffocating!"
Yang Kai didn't even want to move. He lay spread-eagled on the ground, responding weakly: "They're just hitching a ride. Bear with it."
He secretly mused that it was no wonder only one Sacred Spirit emerged victorious in each Battle of Spirit Seizure. When he had previously absorbed the Scarlet Flood Dragon and the Earth Dragon, he hadn't really noticed, but now after absorbing Zhu Jiuyin, he immediately felt that the peculiar space was nearly filled to the brim. No wonder Zhu Jiuyin was complaining about the cramped conditions.
This peculiar space could, at most, hold only a single Sacred Spirit. There was simply no room for a second.
Cool breezes blew gently as the mist churned and surged.
Yang Kai's breathing gradually steadied.
Before long, the mist filled the entirety of the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm, so thick that one couldn't see one's own hand before one's face.
It seemed like only an instant had passed, yet it also felt like many years. When the mist finally dispersed again, a burst of clamorous noise suddenly reached Yang Kai's ears.
Opening his eyes, he found himself suspended in a vast void. Tens of thousands of warriors were scattered all around—some cheering excitedly, others weeping with joy as though they had been reborn, unable to contain the elation in their hearts.
Over a decade ago, the mist of the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm had swept through the Star Market, swallowing the entire market whole.
More than a decade later, that same mist had sent them all back.
The Star Market had originally held millions upon millions of people, but now only about twenty to thirty thousand had made it out alive. In ten years' time, countless warriors had perished within the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm, and those who survived were merely a fortunate few.
Yang Kai immediately checked his Small Mysterious World and found that the few stalks of Sacred Medicine he had obtained had all been brought back with him. He let out a sigh of relief. It seemed the laws of the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm did not retain non-flesh-and-blood entities. If those three stalks of Sacred Medicine had been left behind, Yang Kai would have been devastated.
Pu Baixiong and the Mystic Color Illusory Mushroom were one thing, but that gourd vine was a genuine treasure.
Within the Small Mysterious World, the bearers were also peacefully settled in a particular area—some meditating and regulating their breathing, others curiously observing their surroundings. However, as the master of the Small Mysterious World, Yang Kai had deliberately restricted the scope of their movement, so they were unable to glimpse its full extent.
After the initial wave of excitement subsided, many warriors scattered in every direction. Having narrowly escaped with their lives, they naturally didn't dare linger—what if the mist of the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm swept back again?
Wave after wave of warriors bade each other farewell and dispersed in all directions.
Yang Kai waited for a long while before he had recovered a bit of his strength. With a flicker of his mind, he released all the bearers from the Small Mysterious World.
Several dozen people appeared in an instant. Some were still dazed and hadn't processed what was happening. After a moment, Xu Zhen exclaimed in pleasant surprise: "We're out?"
Yang Kai nodded. "Mission accomplished. The Grand Ancient Ruins Realm has closed. We've left safely."
Xu Zhen turned to look at him. Seeing how wretched he looked, he couldn't help but gasp. "Brother Yang, you've suffered greatly!"
Though he didn't know exactly what Yang Kai had been through, he could guess it must have involved tremendous hardship. After all, so many bearers had entered the Ageless Land, and Yang Kai was the only one who came out—the Sacred Spirits certainly wouldn't have let him off easily.
"Thank you, Brother Yang!" Xu Zhen clasped his fists solemnly.
The others all bowed in unison: "Thank you, Senior Brother Yang!"
Had Yang Kai not hidden them within the Small Mysterious World, the moment they left the Ageless Land, each would have been found by the Sacred Spirit backing them. Many of them might have perished as a result. It could be said that Yang Kai's actions had saved their lives—a life-saving grace indeed.
"It was the right thing to do," Yang Kai returned the courtesy.
"I've been away from my sect for many years, and they must be worried. I'll take my leave first. Senior Brother Yang, if you ever visit the Carefree Domain, please do come to the Carefree Blessed Land as my guest. I'll prepare the finest accommodations for you!" Ning Daoran held one palm before his chest, extending a sincere invitation.
Yang Kai laughed. "I've long heard of the fame of the Thirty-Six Grotto-heavens and the Seventy-Two Blessed Lands. If the opportunity arises, I'll definitely pay a visit!"