"If she can withstand Fourth-Grade, then she should refine Fourth-Grade resources in the future and achieve Fourth-Grade Open Heaven," Yang Kai said.
Guo Ziyan said, "Miao'er already has a Second-Grade foundation. Even if she refines Fourth-Grade power, it would be pointless—she'd only ever achieve Second-Grade Open Heaven. Sir, Void Land has a hundred things waiting to be rebuilt right now. There's no need to waste resources. I'll take care of Miao'er's cultivation myself down the line."
"Who said it was a waste?" Yang Kai chuckled. "You've probably forgotten about Meng Hong."
"Young Master Meng Hong?" Guo Ziyan blinked in surprise.
He naturally knew Meng Hong. After all, they had spent more than a decade together in the Ruined Scripture Domain, and he remembered clearly everything that had happened during that time.
"Sir means…"
Yang Kai said solemnly, "Senior Brother Meng originally refined Third-Grade power, but after being shattered and rebuilt, his Dao Seal was cleansed. Now he's refining Fifth-Grade! If he manages to achieve Open Heaven in the future, he'll be Fifth-Grade Open Heaven! That's two full grades higher than his starting point."
"This subordinate is aware of that. However, Young Master Meng Hong only had that opportunity because he obtained some Taiyi Purifying Divine Water. But that kind of thing is far too rare—there's simply no way… Sir, what is that?" As he spoke, Guo Ziyan's eyes suddenly went wide as he stared at a small jade bottle that had appeared in Yang Kai's hand. The bottle trembled slightly, and the sound of sloshing liquid came from within.
"This is the Taiyi Purifying Divine Water," Yang Kai said with a smile.
Even though he had already suspected as much, when Yang Kai confirmed it with his own lips, Guo Ziyan still couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. Even Yue He turned to look in astonishment.
In that Land of No Old, Open Heaven realm cultivators could not set foot, so none of them knew what treasures Yang Kai had obtained inside. The Taiyi Purifying Divine Water—something no one else could find—Yang Kai happened to have in abundance.
And this Taiyi Purifying Divine Water was precisely the treasure Yang Kai had obtained from the Land of No Old.
"With this divine water, we can cleanse the power within Guo Miao's Dao Seal. Fortunately, she's only refined one type of power so far, so washing it away shouldn't be too difficult. The question is whether you, Guo Miao, have the resolve to see it through and endure the process."
Guo Miao said excitedly, "From what Sir is saying, this Taiyi Purifying Divine Water can give this Disciple a chance to start over?"
She had never heard of the Taiyi Purifying Divine Water before. Having cultivated within Blood Hong Continent all her life, she'd had little contact with the outside world and was somewhat ignorant of such things. But that didn't stop her from deducing the water's effects from the conversation between Yang Kai and her father.
"That's right!" Yang Kai nodded. "I've never used this water myself, but a friend of mine has. It can indeed give you the chance to start from scratch, but the risk is considerable. This concerns your Dao Seal—any misstep and your foundation could collapse, destroying your future entirely. Moreover, the process of cleansing the Dao Seal will likely involve excruciating pain."
Guo Miao asked cautiously, "May I ask, Sir—what was the outcome for your friend?"
Yang Kai smiled. "Though they went through tremendous hardship, they ultimately succeeded."
A glint of determination flashed in Guo Miao's eyes. "In that case, I ask Sir to bestow this Taiyi Purifying Divine Water upon me. This Disciple is willing to try."
"Have you truly thought this through?" Yang Kai asked in a grave tone.
"I have," Guo Miao said. "This Disciple originally had Fourth-Grade talent. Now, forced into refining Second-Grade power, even if I peacefully reach Second-Grade Open Heaven in the future, I know I wouldn't be content. Rather than living with that regret, I'd rather take a gamble today. Even if I fail, this Disciple will have no complaints and no regrets!"
Guo Ziyan stood to the side, hesitating to speak the whole time. It seemed he wanted to stop Guo Miao, but every time the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back down. Now he could hold back no longer and let out a long sigh, giving up the idea of intervening.
Yang Kai handed the portion of Taiyi Purifying Divine Water to Guo Miao and said with a smile, "Since you have the heart to strive forward, then this Lord will fulfill your wish. But don't worry too much—when my friend took this water, they relied entirely on their own powerful willpower to get through it. Today will be different. With Yue He protecting you, it should be much easier."
"Yes!" Guo Miao took the jade bottle, clutching it tightly in her hands. It felt as though she wasn't holding a vial of Taiyi Purifying Divine Water, but her very future.
She turned her head to glance at her father. Guo Ziyan gave her an encouraging look.
Without hesitation, Guo Miao immediately prepared to enter seclusion and consume the Taiyi Purifying Divine Water. Yang Kai naturally gave his permission and instructed Yue He to look after her carefully.
The Lotus Dwelling had quite a few private chambers, and the two of them found one and stepped inside, activating the wards to seal off the interior.
Guo Ziyan stood outside like an iron tower, pacing back and forth, his face filled with worry and anxiety.
Days passed one by one as the Lotus Dwelling traversed domain after domain. Twenty days later, they finally arrived at the domain where the First Station was located.
The first time Yang Kai had come here, he hadn't known much about this domain. Now, consulting the Universe Chart, he learned it was called the Thousand Bird Domain, home to a second-tier faction—the Thousand Bird Sect.
However, this Star Market was not under the Thousand Bird Sect's jurisdiction. The reason was simple: though the Thousand Bird Sect was a second-tier faction with deep foundations, it was a subsidiary of the Great Battle Heaven. As such, the true master of this Star Market was none other than the Great Battle Heaven—one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Realms.
In the Three Thousand Worlds, first-tier, second-tier, and third-tier factions were as numerous as ox hairs and simply too many to count. Many of them existed in subordinate relationships.
For example, in the Void Domain, Void Land dominated the domain. The other third-tier factions living within the Void Domain were all subordinate to Void Land—its subsidiary sects.