The Landlady's beautiful eyes trembled slightly. They had been here for nearly a year, having experienced the bizarre and terrifying power of the Shadowless Gale time and again. There was no way to withstand it other than hiding within the cavern.
But now, a single Wood Attribute divine ability that Yang Kai had unleashed had completely blocked the gale that had left all of them utterly helpless, without letting a single wisp through. It was a testament to the extraordinary nature of the Wood Attribute resource Yang Kai had refined.
Looking toward the sealed chamber where Yang Kai was in seclusion, the Landlady felt somewhat relieved.
Yang Kai's ability to take such action showed that his perception of the outside world remained sharp, and his injuries should not be serious. She had been worried that the Shadowless Gale might interfere with his recovery, but it seemed he had his own means of defense—and even had enough strength left to shield the three of them.
It appeared that even though this brat had only advanced to Fifth Rank Open Heaven, his previous accumulations had not gone to waste. This Wood Attribute divine ability was a formidable foundation.
Inside the sealed chamber, Yang Kai's expression was one of delight.
When he had first entered the Shadowless Heaven, the gale had caught him once, leaving him battered and covered in dust. Later, when he inspected the damage to his Small Universe, he had been surprised to find that the great tree manifested by the Evergreen Secret Art was completely intact. That was when he had first speculated whether this secret art could withstand the Shadowless Gale's assault.
Unfortunately, he had never had the chance to verify it properly.
When the gale rose again this time, he had activated the Evergreen Secret Art the moment he sensed it—and sure enough, it turned out just as he had guessed. Beneath the great tree's canopy, the gale dissipated, every last bit of it deflected beyond the branches.
Yang Kai's heart settled completely. With this secret art at his side, he no longer needed to fear the Shadowless Gale within the Shadowless Heaven. Moreover, this secret art could not only protect himself but also shield those around him.
In a place like the Shadowless Heaven, possessing such an ability was practically like having an extra life-saving trump card. He would never again have to worry about being assailed by the Shadowless Gale.
The headquarters of the three great powers were certainly safe, but those bases were immovable. Yang Kai's divine ability, on the other hand, could be deployed at any time. The area it could protect might be limited, but that was a minor concern.
After more than half an hour, the gale subsided.
Yang Kai withdrew the divine ability. The great tree that had filled the cavern slowly faded away, and the life-rich green glow gradually receded as he returned to the great undertaking of absorbing the World Fruit's medicinal essence.
For nearly a month now, he had been continuously absorbing the World Might emanating from the World Fruit.
The foundations his Small Universe had lost had not only been fully restored but had been greatly strengthened as well—even the area of his Small Universe had expanded several times over.
Yang Kai had a vague sense that his Small Universe at the Fifth Rank of Open Heaven had seemingly reached its limit. In just a few more days, that limit would likely be broken through, and the time for his advancement to Sixth Rank would arrive!
There was no need to worry about whether the World Fruit's medicinal essence would be sufficient. If Yue He could advance from Fifth Rank to Sixth Rank, then he could certainly do the same.
Meanwhile, on Xuanyang Mountain, at the peak of a towering summit, the gates of a palace suddenly swung open. The Second Mountain Lord, Yun Feibai, strode out, surveying his surroundings with an imperious gaze, and issued his command: "Go inform the Third and Fourth Mountain Lords. Muster the troops and follow me to capture that wretched woman Lan Youruo!"
A Fourth Rank Open Heaven cultivator standing guard outside the hall hastily responded: "Yes!"
Looking in the direction of the volcanic crater, Yun Feibai's expression turned cold and severe.
His last defeat at Yang Kai's hands had been an utter humiliation. The spear wound through his chest had been no minor injury—it had taken him nearly a full month to recover, and even now, a faint ache still lingered in his chest.
Yang Kai hadn't fared much better—his head had nearly been severed—but Yang Kai was only Fifth Rank while he was Sixth Rank. The two simply could not be compared. A single rank difference was like the divide between heaven and earth. To be wounded like that by someone a full rank below him—how could Yun Feibai not seethe with hatred?
To speed his recovery, he had been forced to use numerous precious healing treasures—items that were extremely rare within the Shadowless Heaven. The loss had been considerable.
Inwardly, he seethed. If not for the fact that the First Mountain Lord valued that boy's spatial abilities and intended to rely on him to find the exit, he would have torn that boy to shreds this time around.
Still, since the First Mountain Lord had spoken, the boy could not be killed. But giving him a taste of suffering—that was certainly within bounds. He silently vowed that once Yang Kai was captured, he would sever his limbs and stuff them into a jar.
As for Lan Youruo, this time he was determined to have her! He had previously invited her to join Xuanyang Mountain, offering her the position of Fifth Mountain Lord, but she had thrown his generosity back in his face. Since she refused to appreciate a good thing when it was offered, she could hardly blame him for showing no mercy.
The Third Mountain Lord, Geng Qing, and the Fourth Mountain Lord, Zhou Ya, had long been preparing. If Yun Feibai hadn't insisted on going himself to wash away his shame, they would have already led their forces to storm the volcanic crater. Upon receiving the order, they did not delay. Before long, a large group of streaking lights shot out from Xuanyang Mountain, flying straight toward the Landlady's hiding place.
The group numbered several dozen. Leading them were naturally the three Sixth Rank Mountain Lords, and the weakest among their followers were Fourth Rank Open Heaven cultivators. Third Rank Open Heaven cultivators had no right to involve themselves in this matter. Among the group, there were also five or six Fifth Rank cultivators.
Such a force was more than sufficient to deal with Lan Youruo and her companions.
Xuanyang Mountain had always known the location of the volcanic crater where Lan Youruo and her companions were hiding. The reason they hadn't attacked before was simply that the Mountain Lords were somewhat wary of the woman's Sixth Rank Open Heaven cultivation. If they pushed her too far, she might not be able to fight against all of them, but she could certainly manage to grievously wound one or two of them.