The Flying Smoke Domain was a neighboring domain of the Void Domain. The two could practically be called neighbors.
Within the Flying Smoke Domain existed a second-rate power that wasn't particularly strong — the Flying Smoke Palace. The domain itself derived its name from this palace. The Palace Master of the Flying Smoke Palace was named Yu Xiushan, a Fifth-Order Open Heaven cultivator.
When the Seven Faced Earth had been sprawling across the Void Domain, it had clashed with the Flying Smoke Domain on numerous occasions. Friction between powers sharing neighboring domains was an exceedingly common occurrence throughout the Three Thousand Worlds — the Flying Smoke Domain and the Seven Faced Earth were far from a unique case.
Back then, after the Seven Faced Earth had been severely weakened due to the struggle over the Grand Array's control with Xu Huang — losing several of their Protectors and leaving the Seven Faced Lord, True Monarch Seven Faces, gravely wounded — the Flying Smoke Palace had seized the opportunity. Yu Xiushan had mustered his forces and, while the Seven Faced Earth's vitality had yet to recover, moved in to wipe them out completely.
At that time, Yang Kai had just returned from the Taixu Ruins and was being hunted by Zhao Baichuan, the Grand Chieftain of the Crimson Star, and his entourage. With nowhere left to turn, he remembered the Seven Faced Earth and used the Grand Array jade token that Xu Huang had handed him before dying to secretly infiltrate the Seven Faced Earth's market city.
Subsequently, Zhao Baichuan and his people had somehow managed to ally with Yu Xiushan. Together they attacked and captured the Seven Faced Earth, slaughtering every Open Heaven realm cultivator there, and usurped the territory as their own.
Yu Xiushan, having established his base in the Flying Smoke Domain, naturally had no intention of remaining in the Seven Faced Earth. He departed with armfuls of war spoils, while Zhao Baichuan and his followers stayed behind, planning to use the place as their foundation to restore the Crimson Star to its former glory.
However, it was a classic case of the mantis stalking the cicada while the oriole watched from behind. No sooner had Zhao Baichuan's beautiful dream begun than Yang Kai led a force from the shadows, catching Zhao Baichuan and his men completely off guard.
In the ensuing battle, the Crimson Star's Open Heaven realm cultivators either perished or fled. The sole survivor, Chen Tianfei, had even surrendered the Tome of Loyalty in exchange for his life.
It was at that time that Yang Kai seized the Seven Faced Earth and became its master, later renaming it the Void Land.
Tracing things back to their origin, the Flying Smoke Palace and Yu Xiushan had actually played a considerable role in Yang Kai obtaining the Void Land — though Yu Xiushan had been entirely unaware of it at the time.
After that, as the Void Land rose to prominence and its reputation grew, Yu Xiushan had personally visited the Void Land, hoping to meet Yang Kai and cultivate a relationship. After all, as neighbors, maintaining good relations would make future dealings far more convenient. But Yang Kai had mostly been secluded in cultivation or away on travels, and after two visits, Yu Xiushan had never managed to see him.
When the Heavenly Sword Alliance had led the Hundred Sects Alliance to besiege the Void Land, the Flying Smoke Palace had thrown in its lot as well! That battle had scared Yu Xiushan half to death.
The outcome went without saying. Kong Feng perished on the spot, the Hundred Sects Alliance crumbled into disarray, and the Flying Smoke Palace suffered devastating losses. Yu Xiushan barely escaped with his life, gravely wounded.
Among the powers that had later come in person to offer apologies and compensation, the Flying Smoke Palace had been among them! They had paid an exorbitant price for it. Fortunately, the Void Land had shown no inclination to settle scores afterward. The Flying Smoke Palace members had lived in terror for several years before gradually regaining their peace of mind.
Yang Kai and Luan Baifeng had taken this route through the Flying Smoke Domain on their way back from the Black Domain.
Right now, several thousand li from the Domain Gate, Yang Kai and Luan Baifeng concealed their auras and presences, observing the situation near the gate.
That Domain Gate was the one connecting the Flying Smoke Domain and the Void Domain — in other words, passing through it would bring them back to the Void Domain.
The problem was that several large ships were currently moored outside the Domain Gate. That alone would have been manageable, but the key issue was that those ships appeared to be blockading the gate. Yang Kai had personally watched a tower ship approach, intending to pass through the Domain Gate into the Void Domain, only to be intercepted by the ships stationed outside.
The two sides appeared to have gone through some brief negotiations, after which the tower ship was forced to retreat the way it had come.
This scene made Yang Kai frown deeply. He had a vague feeling that this had something to do with Zuo Huihui. He had been away from the Void Domain for nearly half a year, and it seemed the situation had undergone some change once again.
As for exactly what had changed, he couldn't say for now.
After half a year, Zuo Huihui's injuries should have healed. Having suffered such a devastating loss last time — with even his Sixth-Order Open Heaven disciple, Zhou Ti, dying at Yang Kai's hands — he would certainly be looking for ways to exact his revenge.
"Follow that tower ship and find out what's going on." Yang Kai couldn't very well show his own face, so he could only send Luan Baifeng.
Luan Baifeng curled her lip but obediently flew off.
Yang Kai waited in place for roughly an hour before Luan Baifeng quietly returned.
"What did you find?" Yang Kai asked.
Luan Baifeng's expression was rather peculiar as she replied, "Those blockading the Domain Gate are ships of the Heavenly Sword Alliance. No one wishing to enter the Void Land is being allowed through."
"The Heavenly Sword Alliance!" Yang Kai's eyebrows shot upward. "How are these trash popping up again? What do they think they're doing, blockading the Domain Gate?"
A surge of anger rose in his chest. After the Heavenly Sword Alliance had led the Hundred Sects Alliance in their siege against the Void Land, virtually every participating power — aside from the Senluo Altar and the Jinhong Province, which Yang Kai had personally razed — had come to offer apologies and compensation. The Heavenly Sword Alliance was the sole exception, showing not the slightest gesture of contrition.