Yang Kai laughed at this. "I just happened to be passing through. It was hardly any effort — there's no need."
Shangguan Long smiled. "The grace of saving our lives cannot go unrepaid. Otherwise, word would spread that our Flying Flower Boat is an ungrateful lot. Besides, we've prepared some modest gifts for all of you — please do accept them."
Yang Kai turned around and said solemnly, "The Madam speaks the truth. If this were to cause a misunderstanding among the public, it wouldn't do — it would damage the Flying Flower Boat's reputation. Since the Madam insists, we'll happily oblige."
Shangguan Long extended her hand in invitation. "Please!"
The lotus Artifact was enormous, and its interior was decorated with the utmost opulence, displaying the Flying Flower Boat's deep reserves. At its very heart sat a magnificent and resplendent palace.
Yang Kai and the others followed Shangguan Long into the hall under her guidance.
Everyone took their seats as host and guest. Seeing that both Lu Xue and Guo Ziyan stood respectfully behind Yang Kai with an air of unwavering loyalty, Shangguan Long exchanged glances with several of the Flying Flower Boat's mid-tier Open Heaven cultivators, becoming ever more certain that Yang Kai had an extraordinary background.
Otherwise, how could someone at the Emperor Realm carry himself with such presence? Moreover, judging by Yang Kai's bearing, he was clearly someone long accustomed to high station — facing numerous mid-tier Open Heaven experts without so much as a change of expression, instead surveying the hall's decorations with calm and leisurely composure.
In a moment, Yang Kai turned his head toward Shangguan Long and offered a slight smile. "I've long heard of the Flying Flower Boat's great reputation, and now that I see it for myself, the depth of your foundation is truly impressive. This lotus Artifact alone is a real eye-opener."
For some reason, he had the distinct impression that Shangguan Long was studying him with a measuring gaze — nothing malicious, just a palpable sense of curiosity.
Though in truth, he'd only learned of the Flying Flower Boat's existence not long ago, so there was hardly anything "long heard" about it. But mutual flattery cost nothing, and a few kind words never hurt anyone.
Sure enough, as soon as these words left his mouth, the Flying Flower Boat's Open Heaven cultivators all wore smiles, looking rather pleased.
Shangguan Long pressed her lips together and said, "Young Master Yang flatters us. Across the Three Thousand Worlds, our Flying Flower Boat is merely a drop in the ocean — utterly insignificant compared to those Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands."
Yang Kai nodded solemnly. "Indeed. The great Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands are the premier powers, each backed by tens of thousands of years or more of accumulation. Second-tier forces like ours simply can't compare. They could crush us with a single finger."
Hearing him speak with such conviction, Shangguan Long's interest was piqued. "Young Master Yang, have you witnessed the grandeur of any Cave Heaven or Blessed Land?"
Yang Kai shook his head slowly. "Unfortunately, I've never had the chance. I've only heard of them."
Shangguan Long let out a quiet breath of relief. Listening to Yang Kai, she had half-expected him to have some connection to one of the great powers. Now that he clearly didn't, there was no pressure.
A Fourth-Order Open Heaven cultivator nearby spoke up. "Young Master Yang, earlier you mentioned you came from the Void Land. Forgive our ignorance, but which Great Domain is the Void Land located in?"
This Fourth-Order Open Heaven was the same person who had caught Shangguan Yu earlier. Whether it was his imagination or not, Yang Kai couldn't help but notice a certain resemblance between this man and Shangguan Yu.
"And you are...?" Yang Kai asked, glancing over in inquiry.
Shangguan Long smiled. "This is my husband. He also serves as the Right Protector of our Flying Flower Boat."
The Fourth-Order Open Heaven clasped his fists. "Tong Yuquan!"
Yang Kai blinked in surprise, looking from Shangguan Long to Tong Yuquan, and it finally clicked why Shangguan Yu resembled this man as well — they were father and daughter!
That meant the Flying Flower Boat was run by the women. After all, Tong Yuquan's cultivation was a full tier below Shangguan Long's, so he likely had little say in the boat's affairs.
"So it's Protector Tong!" Yang Kai returned the fist salute. "It's no surprise none of us have heard of the Void Land, because it was only recently established."
"An establishment that's barely begun!" Everyone was astounded.
Across the Three Thousand Worlds, the founding and growth of any power required long periods of accumulation — nothing happened overnight. However, seeing a Fifth-Order Open Heaven cultivator serving as Yang Kai's guard, he clearly had the credentials.
Shangguan Long hesitated. "Then the master of this Void Land..."
"That would be yours truly," Yang Kai replied with a mild smile.
Everyone was stunned. A mere Emperor Realm cultivator serving as the leader of a second-tier power — across the Three Thousand Worlds, that was surely without precedent. This only deepened their conviction that Yang Kai had some formidable backer. Why else would Open Heaven experts obey his every word? But if he truly had such connections, why didn't he have any ties to those Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands? It was utterly baffling.
Shangguan Long suppressed the flicker of surprise in her eyes and said softly, "Across the Three Thousand Worlds, the strength of any power lies in its Open Heaven cultivators. The more Open Heaven experts one has, the stronger the foundation — and vice versa."
Yang Kai sighed. "The Madam is quite right. It's something I've been worrying about myself. The Void Land, counting every last soul, has only five Open Heaven experts. Our strength is truly pitiful."
Yue He, Chen Tianfei, Lu Xue, Guo Ziyan, and the newly inducted Black River — five Open Heaven cultivators in total. That was the Void Land's entire foundation.
The Flying Flower Boat cultivators exchanged baffled looks, not knowing what to say.
Even a third-rate power probably had more than five Open Heaven experts. That number was simply too small.