On the other side, Ti Zheng and the others exchanged glances, their spirits lifting considerably.
A Fifth-Grade Open Heaven cultivator — while not insignificant in the broader context of the Three Thousand Worlds — was absolutely nothing in the eyes of High-Rank Open Heaven masters like them. If Yang Kai truly advanced to the Fifth-Grade Open Heaven realm, it would be cause for celebration among their respective factions.
What kind of future could a mere Fifth-Grade Open Heaven achieve? And for a martial artist who had originally possessed the potential to advance directly to the Seventh-Grade, ending up with such an outcome was no different from being killed outright.
The only difference was that one took his life, while the other destroyed his future.
Ti Zheng's eyes lit up. "Is that true?"
Yang Kai tilted his head to look at him. "You look awfully happy!"
Ti Zheng cleared his throat. "I wouldn't say I'm happy. It's simply that the wise adapt to circumstances. Your willingness to make such a choice puts this Monarch at ease."
"Spare me," Yang Kai replied flatly.
Ti Zheng and the others began communicating through divine transmissions. Whether or not they personally possessed any Sixth-Grade Yin-Attribute materials, they knew best. They could say with absolute confidence that if Yang Kai insisted on inspecting their rings, they had nothing to fear.
Though having High-Rank Open Heaven cultivators like themselves forced to let an Emperor Venerable examine their Spatial Rings was rather humiliating, it was far better than remaining locked in a stalemate. Ti Zheng, in particular, had suffered grievous injuries from his battle with Zhu Jiuyin and urgently needed to find a place to recover, stabilizing the Inner World within his body, or risk lasting consequences.
The others were in somewhat better condition, but they were all wounded to varying degrees. Moreover, as High-Rank Open Heaven cultivators, they had far better things to do than waste their time here with Yang Kai. The sooner this matter was resolved, the sooner they could return and give their report.
It didn't take long for them to reach a consensus.
Ti Zheng said, "Kid, we've discussed it among ourselves. You may inspect our Spatial Rings, but if you fail to find any Sixth-Grade Yin-Attribute resources, don't go back on your word. Otherwise, even at the cost of provoking the wrath of the Dragon Clan, we will kill you right here today!"
Yang Kai sneered, "Don't worry. I may be nothing more than an Emperor Venerable, but I'm still more dignified than certain people. Naturally, I keep my word." He extended his hand. "Hand over your rings. Oh, and while you're at it, take out everything stored in your Inner Worlds as well. Don't think I don't know that you High-Rank Open Heaven cultivators have already solidified your Inner Worlds — not only can they store objects, but living creatures can survive inside them too."
The expressions on Ti Zheng and the others' faces darkened somewhat, but at this point, they couldn't be bothered to bicker with Yang Kai any further. One by one, they produced the contents of their Inner Worlds and placed them into their Spatial Rings.
Naturally, Yang Kai couldn't verify whether they were secretly holding anything back — unless he inspected the Inner Worlds inside their bodies as well.
But that was obviously impossible. Ti Zheng and the others agreeing to let Yang Kai search their Spatial Rings was already the greatest concession they would make. There was absolutely no way they would open their Inner Worlds for a thorough inspection. That would be tantamount to gambling with their own lives.
If there truly were any precious treasures within their Inner Worlds, they would never have put them in their Spatial Rings. Yang Kai understood this perfectly well.
Before long, the four Spatial Rings were handed over to Yang Kai, each with their restrictions removed to facilitate his inspection.
Yang Kai swept his divine sense through one of the rings, and his eyebrows shot upward.
As expected of a ring belonging to a High-Rank Open Heaven cultivator — the wealth inside was staggering. Open Heaven Pills were piled up like small mountains, and all manner of resources were present in abundance. There were even quite a few Sixth-Grade materials, including one Seventh-Grade item, along with numerous Artifacts...
He couldn't calculate precisely, but the resources in this single Spatial Ring alone were worth at least a billion.
And this was absolutely not their entire fortune. The truly valuable items, he was certain, they had kept within their own Inner Worlds.
Unfortunately, whether Sixth-Grade or Seventh-Grade, not a single Yin-Attribute or Yang-Attribute material could be found.
He checked another ring — the results were much the same...
Ti Zheng and the others stood nearby, watching Yang Kai examine the Spatial Rings with undisguised relish, each of them feeling profoundly bizarre about the whole affair. No one had ever imagined that things would develop into this situation.
In their original plan, Yang Kai was supposed to be killed here. Yet now, not only was Yang Kai alive and well, but they were actually cooperating with him in his advancement to Open Heaven — to the point of contributing their own Spatial Rings. Could this be considered supplying the enemy?
And yet there was nothing they could say about it.
Even for High-Rank Open Heaven cultivators who had lived for untold millennia, such an absurd experience was a first.
It didn't take Yang Kai long to finish inspecting all four rings.
Ti Zheng said, "You can confirm it now, I trust?"
Yang Kai threw his head back and let out a long sigh toward the heavens. "The heavens are unjust!"
Seeing his expression of utter despair, the gloomy feelings of Ti Zheng and the others eased somewhat. They couldn't be bothered to stand on ceremony with him. They had already torn off their masks and had fought to the death earlier, after all. Ti Zheng said, "Since you've confirmed it, return the rings."
Yang Kai casually tossed the four Spatial Rings to Yue He, keeping only a single half-person-tall bottle for himself.