"Consider what?" The first to speak barked, "Leaving is a rare opportunity. If we don't seize it, are we really going to sit here and wait to die?"
These three were simple-minded and straightforward, acting with decisive swiftness. Yang Kai had only gone to give them a heads-up, and they had actually gathered their forces and come over.
It should be noted that none of them had any prior relationship—not even the slightest acquaintance. Ordinary people would have had reservations. Like Hua Yong, who had to join Void Land first before he dared leave with Yang Kai, otherwise he would never have felt at ease.
Quite a number had come from the Peerless Society this time—a hundred or more in total. Behind the three Shi brothers, those pairs of eyes fixed on Yang Kai all carried an eager, ingratiating quality.
This was clearly not everyone from the Peerless Society—some had undoubtedly remained behind, harboring their doubts. But over a hundred was still a considerable number.
Yang Kai pondered for a moment. "We can't leave just yet. You three, please be patient and wait here a few more days. Once preparations are complete, we'll depart." He turned to Hua Yong. "Take care of them."
Hua Yong's head throbbed, but he could only reply, "Yes!"
He immediately invited the Peerless Society group onto the island to talk.
Though Shi Shan and the others were somewhat displeased, the decision to leave rested with Yang Kai. If he wasn't going, no one was going. They had no choice but to enter Twin Islands, where Hua Yong hosted a banquet in their honor. Twin Islands immediately became bustling with activity.
On Twin Islands' side, Hua Yong had already spoken privately with some of his trusted confidants, informing them of his decision to leave with Yang Kai and that he had even joined Void Land. As for whether they would leave as well, that was entirely up to them.
But confidants were, after all, only a few. The news hadn't fully spread yet—until the arrival of this group from the Peerless Society, which made it known to everyone.
For a time, hearts were restless on Twin Islands as well.
Days passed one by one. Shi Shan and the others kept running over to Yang Kai to urge him to leave sooner, annoying him to no end. Left with no choice, he had Mao Zhe and the others stand guard, preventing anyone from approaching the bamboo grove so as not to disturb the Madam's secluded cultivation.
The one-month period arrived swiftly. The restrictions around the bamboo pavilion dissipated, and the Madam's figure emerged from within.
Yang Kai, the cook, and the accountant who had been waiting outside quickly looked over. They saw that the Madam's complexion was rosy, her aura steady, and the demonic energy that had previously clung to her was gone. All of them breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Though the Madam, the cook, and the others had experienced the effects of the Shadowless Gale numerous times within this Shadowless Heavenly Cave, and the foundations of their Small Universes had suffered some erosion, as long as the root foundation remained intact, that small loss could be recovered over time. It was not a major issue.
He briefed the Madam on the situation at Twin Islands, and she couldn't help but show a worried expression. "Can you really protect so many people on your own? If what you say is true, there will be at least two hundred people leaving with us."
"If the winds at the gales' origin aren't too fierce, it shouldn't be a problem. But if they're excessively violent, it might be difficult to withstand." Yang Kai thought for a moment. "I still have the Ruyi Bag. I can put some people inside it."
He had obtained the Six Harmonies Ruyi Bag from Xu Huang. How exactly this Artifact had been forged, Yang Kai wasn't sure, but its internal space could expand and shrink at will—a truly wondrous quality. Most importantly, it could even accommodate Open Heaven Realm cultivators within.
However, no matter how extraordinary the Ruyi Bag was, it likely had its limits. Yang Kai had previously placed only a handful of Open Heaven cultivators inside at most, so he had no way of determining where its limit lay.
The Madam said, "It's a pity that none among us are Upper Grade Open Heaven. If there were an Upper Grade Open Heaven cultivator, their Small Universe could accommodate everyone inside, which would also relieve some of the pressure on you."
The Small Universe of an Upper Grade Open Heaven cultivator had already transitioned from ethereal to corporeal and could house living beings. As long as one's grade was not higher than the owner's, they could enter it.
In other words, the Small Universe of any Seventh Grade Open Heaven cultivator could allow anyone below the Seventh Grade to enter.
In his early years, when Yang Kai had first arrived in the Outer Expanse, he had encountered Duan Hai, the Fire Spirit Earth's Earth Protector Venerable of the Seven Exquisite Lands. Duan Hai had led him through a portal, beyond which lay an entirely separate world.
Looking back now, that could not possibly have been Duan Hai's Small Universe world, because Duan Hai was only Fourth Grade, and his Small Universe was insufficient to allow living beings entry.
The scene he had witnessed at the time was most likely some divine ability Duan Hai had employed, or merely a projection of his Small Universe. But back then, Yang Kai and the others had been far too weak to tell the difference, and they had all assumed it was Duan Hai's Small Universe world.
Though Yang Kai was only Sixth Grade, his Small Universe world was different from those of ordinary Open Heaven cultivators. Because he had fused and refined the Small Mysterious World, it could inherently accommodate living beings.
However, under normal circumstances, even Upper Grade Open Heaven cultivators would not casually allow people into their Small Universes, because doing so carried enormous risk. If someone harbored ill intentions and wreaked havoc inside the Small Universe, it could very likely cause devastating damage to its owner.
Those permitted to enter one's Small Universe were exclusively people of absolute trust.
After a brief discussion, Yang Kai sent word to Hua Yong. A reply came swiftly: both Twin Islands and the Peerless Society were fully prepared and ready to depart at any moment.