That said, no one knew what situation the proprietress was actually in, and Yang Kai couldn't help but feel a measure of unease.
Bai Qi's external injuries had improved considerably after Yang Kai had treated them with his Wood-Attribute power, and with the many spirit pills and medicinal draughts he had taken, all that remained was slow recovery. The problem he now faced was the instability and tremors within his Small Universe, which could only be resolved with a Star Luo Universe Pill.
Leaving Yue He to watch over Bai Qi, Yang Kai left the side chamber and sent a message to Mo Mei to inquire about the situation. Mo Mei responded quickly, saying that the Star Luo Universe Pill was currently being refined, and as for when the refinement would be completed, she didn't know either. However, the moment the pill was finished, she would send it back to the Void Land immediately, so Yang Kai could rest easy.
Severing his communication link with Mo Mei, Yang Kai stood atop the Spirit Peak, gazing out over the sea of clouds, his thoughts rising and falling as he tried to sort through the tangled web in his mind.
The proprietress's current predicament was someone's attempt to lure him out of the Void Land, but faced with this situation, he truly had no good solutions. Unless he was willing to cower like a turtle, there was no way he could simply sit by and do nothing.
Yet if he recklessly charged out of the Void Land, he would only be playing into someone's scheme.
After pondering for a long while, the look in Yang Kai's eyes gradually hardened with resolve. His figure flickered, and with a single step forward, he vanished from sight.
When he reappeared, he stood before a grand hall. Layer upon layer of restrictions guarded its exterior — it was the one place within the entire Void Land that no unauthorized person was permitted to set foot in. Even the many Open Heaven cultivators of the Void Land would take detours when passing nearby.
There was only one reason for this: it was where Zhu Jiuyin secluded herself for cultivation.
Facing the hall, Yang Kai clasped his fists and called out, "Senior! This junior Yang Kai requests an audience!"
No response came from within the hall.
Yang Kai spoke again, "Senior, I have an urgent matter and must speak with you. Please make yourself known!"
After calling out three times in succession, Zhu Jiuyin still did not respond.
Yang Kai grew exasperated. Though the restrictions might isolate the hall, given Zhu Jiuyin's immense power, she certainly knew he had arrived and had heard every word he said. Yet she refused to show herself — what did that mean? Ever since coming to the Void Land, Zhu Jiuyin had kept to herself, rarely venturing out. Aside from the one time she had appeared when the Hundred Sect Alliance attacked, she was essentially invisible at all other times.
Under normal circumstances, Yang Kai wouldn't have pressed the matter given Zhu Jiuyin's attitude. But now that the proprietress's fate hung in the balance, he had no choice but to be a little presumptuous.
Taking a deep breath, Yang Kai raised his hand and summoned the Azure Dragon Spear. The long spear pointed forward, and with a flicker of his will, the Nine Heavens Grand Formation roared to life. The entirety of the Void Land hummed with power.
It had been two or three years since he had last activated the Nine Heavens Grand Formation, and in such a short span, the formation hadn't accumulated much energy. Still, it was enough to support Yang Kai in unleashing its might just once.
A piercing dragon's cry rang out, resounding through the heavens. As dragon might suffused the air, the Azure Dragon Spear suddenly transformed into a colossal dragon a thousand zhang long, its massive head swaying from side to side. Its enormous, imposing eyes locked onto the hall ahead, and it bared its fangs and claws, ready to pounce.
"You brat, how dare you!" Zhu Jiuyin's voice exploded beside Yang Kai's ears. Immediately after, every restriction surrounding the hall dissolved, and a slender, graceful figure appeared in Yang Kai's field of vision.
Upon seeing this, Yang Kai hastily dispelled the formation's power. The thousand-zhang dragon shattered apart, reverting back into the Azure Dragon Spear, which he put away.
Zhu Jiuyin glared at him, her face full of annoyance. "You little rascal, have you lost your mind?"
Yang Kai's complexion was slightly pale. He gasped for breath a few times before clasping his fists. "The situation is urgent — please forgive this junior, Senior!"
Zhu Jiuyin regarded him with suspicion. Seeing how haggard he looked, she couldn't help but frown.
The last time the Hundred Sect Alliance had attacked, Yang Kai had remained as steady as a mountain, never once sending out any plea for her assistance. In the end, it had been the sudden appearance of two High-Rank cultivators that had prompted her to step in and help of her own accord.
What had happened this time to leave him this unsettled and frantic?
Sensing dimly that whatever had occurred was no small matter, Zhu Jiuyin gave a soft hmph. "Come inside and talk."
"Many thanks, Senior!" Yang Kai clasped his fists again and followed Zhu Jiuyin into the hall.
They took their seats — host and guest. Yang Kai looked around but saw no sign of Shan Qingluo, presumably because she was deep in closed-door cultivation. With a fellow Holy Spirit like Zhu Jiuyin personally guiding her, Shan Qingluo's future cultivation path required no worry from Yang Kai whatsoever.
"So what exactly is going on?" Zhu Jiuyin asked directly.
Yang Kai gathered his thoughts and gave a brief account of what had happened to the proprietress.
Zhu Jiuyin listened and thought for a moment before saying, "What sort of heaven-defying, outrageous things have you done to provoke so many people into coming after you? The Hundred Sect Alliance from last time was one thing, but this time it's clear that someone sees you growing more powerful by the day, and with this old lady and that old turtle stationed here in the Void Land, they know you're not easy to deal with — so they're trying to lure you out. As for that Lan Youruo you mentioned, she's simply been caught up in your mess."
"You're right, Senior. Someone is deliberately trying to lure me out." Yang Kai nodded.