Su Yingxue nodded from the side. "It's definitely Sixth-Order, no mistake."
Qu Huashang looked stunned.
She had been present when Yang Kai advanced to the Open Heaven realm and had witnessed the entire process. He had clearly advanced to Fifth-Order Open Heaven—so how had he become Sixth-Order? Counting the time, it had only been roughly two years since she last parted ways with Yang Kai. In such a short period, even stabilizing and consolidating one's cultivation would be difficult enough, let alone advancing a full order.
"Sixth-Order?" Xu Linggong had also recovered from his shock, his thick eyebrows shooting up in delight. "Hahaha, wonderful, wonderful! If he's Sixth-Order, then I'll spare his life for now! Have him put on a good show at the Discussion Assembly. Whether he takes first place or not, he'll be well rewarded!"
He was quite pleased with himself. Those despicable, shameless schemers had sealed off the domain gates leading into the Yin-Yang Domain and turned away any Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators who came, limiting participation in the Discussion Assembly to those below Sixth-Order. Their plan was to keep the Assembly at the Fifth-Order level, so all they'd need to invest was a single Fifth-Order Disciple.
But if a Sixth-Order cultivator had sneaked in to stir things up, that would completely shatter their calculations. They'd be forced to adjust their strategy regardless—whether for their own Sect's reputation or otherwise, they'd have to send Sixth-Order participants down to compete. That would restore Yin-Yang Heaven's honor.
He wasn't expecting Yang Kai to take first place. Regardless of why Yang Kai had suddenly become a Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator, he had only advanced recently. In the Open Heaven realm, the longer one had lived, the stronger one tended to be relative to others.
In such a short time, even as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator, how much depth could his Small Universe have accumulated? How could he compare to those who had advanced hundreds or even thousands of years ago?
As expected, the one who tied the bell must untie it. This whole affair had started because of Yang Kai, and now it would need to be resolved by him. Thinking about this, Xu Linggong's resentment toward Yang Kai diminished somewhat.
"Who else knows about this?" Xu Linggong asked.
Qing Kui replied, "Aside from Junior Sister Su and me, no one else knows for the time being. If not for that, he wouldn't have been able to enter Yin-Yang Heaven. Myriad Demons Heaven, who sealed off the domain gate, also believed he was only Fifth-Order, so they didn't give him much trouble and let him pass."
Xu Linggong grinned slyly. "No one knowing won't do at all. It'd be best to stir up some commotion and let everyone know he's advanced to Sixth-Order. That's what'll make things interesting."
If no one knew he had advanced to Sixth-Order, the forces participating in the Discussion Assembly wouldn't send their own Sixth-Order cultivators. What if this kid ended up taking first place without anyone knowing?
"Master!" Qu Huashang glared at Xu Linggong. "What are you planning to do?"
Xu Linggong glared right back at her. "Is this any way to speak to your Master? What kind of discipline is this!"
Qu Huashang ignored him and kept glaring. "Junior Brother Yang is hiding his cultivation. When the time comes, catching those people off guard would be perfect, wouldn't it?"
"Perfect my foot." Xu Linggong glared for a while until his eyes started to sting. Realizing his eyes weren't as big as Qu Huashang's, he gave up and turned his head away. "This kid is the reason you ended up in such a mess. It's already good enough that I'm not going after him. Don't tell me you're taking his side? Want me to chop him up with a blade right now?"
"I don't care!" Qu Huashang gritted her pearly teeth. "If you dare scheme against him, I'll..."
"You'll what?" Xu Linggong put on a fierce expression.
"I'll... I'll go all the way with him! Then let's see who still wants to marry me!" Qu Huashang declared fiercely.
Xu Linggong was rendered speechless, slamming the table so hard it rattled. "This is outrageous, simply outrageous!" He turned to glare at Qing Kui and Su Yingxue. "Look at what the two of you have raised—what has she become? Saying such shameless things without batting an eye!"
Qing Kui and Su Yingxue both lowered their heads, thinking to themselves that it had nothing to do with them. Hadn't he always spoiled and doted on her? When they were younger, even speaking slightly harsh words to her would earn them a scolding. Now he was blaming them for not teaching her properly?
"My heart hurts, my liver hurts, my lungs hurt..." Xu Linggong clutched his chest, looking as though he was about to suffocate and die at any moment.
Qing Kui said awkwardly, "Master, there is actually one matter that's difficult to handle."
Xu Linggong looked at him feebly. "Out with it, then. I'm going to be angered to death by the three of you sooner or later!"
The corner of Qing Kui's mouth twitched. "That Yang Kai said he didn't come here to participate in the Discussion Assembly. He only came to see Junior Sister Qu, saying that since this whole affair started because of him, it would be unreasonable not to come and check on things."
"Not participating in the Discussion Assembly?!" Xu Linggong erupted with fury, roaring like a great dragon. "If he's not participating, then why did he come? To watch? Watch what—watch the show? This kid, I think he's tired of living!"
Qu Huashang murmured from the side, "Junior Brother Yang truly has noble character!"
The three of them looked at her in unison, utterly speechless.
After a long moment, Xu Linggong suppressed his rage and said in a low voice, "I don't care what he came here for. One way or another, he's going to participate in the Discussion Assembly. If he refuses, don't blame me for being unsparing!"
Qing Kui's expression turned solemn, knowing that his Master was truly furious now. If Yang Kai remained obstinate, it would certainly end in disaster. He quickly said, "Master, rest assured. There are still some days before the Assembly convenes. Leave this matter to me—I'll make sure he understands the situation and has a change of heart."
"Mm." Xu Linggong gave a slight nod and casually tossed over a jade slip. "Take a look. These are the candidates each faction is planning to send to the Discussion Assembly. What kind of trash is this!"
Qing Kui took it and probed it with his spiritual sense, discovering that it was exactly as he had suspected. The strongest among the candidates were all Fifth-Order Open Heaven cultivators—not a single Sixth-Order among them.
If they had directly advanced to Fifth-Order, that would have been acceptable. They'd still have potential for growth and a chance to advance to Seventh-Order in the future—not too shabby, and barely worthy of the Qu girl.
But among these candidates, there were clearly some who had struggled to reach Fifth-Order through effort later in life, for whom Fifth-Order was the absolute limit. Well past their prime, such trash had the nerve to come participate in the Discussion Assembly. No wonder Master was so furious.
Inside Wangchuan Tower, only Yang Kai and the Emperor Realm maid remained.
Yang Kai had asked several times how he could meet with Qu Huashang, but the maid was powerless to help. Her cultivation was low after all, and within Yin-Yang Heaven, her status was far too modest to reach Qu Huashang's level.