The towering Domain Gate spanned the void, its energy flowing slowly, eternal and undying!
Outside the Domain Gate stood a mobile palace, clearly an Artifact that combined defense, offense, and flight capabilities into a single vessel — costly to produce and imposing in presence.
Within the palace, figures of cultivators could be seen moving about, and outside, even more figures darted back and forth!
Yang Kai led the numerous Open Heaven realm cultivators of Void Land here, and the first thing he laid eyes on was that palace.
"The Heavenly Sword Palace!" Lao Bai whistled in admiration. "They actually brought this thing out — they really do intend to set up shop in our Void Territory!"
"You've seen it before?" Yang Kai asked, tilting his head.
In all of Void Land, there was no shortage of Open Heaven cultivators, and with sixteen Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators now, the numbers were impressive. But when it came to worldly experience, no one could beat the original First Inn crew. Over the years, they had traveled the far and wide with their Boss Lady, gathering all manner of information about the Three Thousand Worlds. There was very little about the Outer Domain that they didn't know about.
Lao Bai nodded. "Not that I've seen it in person, but the Heavenly Sword Palace is legendary — I've heard plenty about it. Back when the Heavenly Sword Alliance forged this Artifact, they nearly bankrupted themselves, and it took them close to a hundred years."
Yang Kai was mildly surprised. The Heavenly Sword Alliance was a top-tier second-class force, yet they had nearly bankrupted themselves for a single Artifact and spent so much time on it. That spoke volumes about the resources the Heavenly Sword Palace had consumed — and the greater the investment, the less it could be underestimated.
Though he hadn't personally verified the Heavenly Sword Palace's power, Yang Kai could sense that it must possess ironclad defenses and devastating offensive capabilities.
This kind of thing had already transcended the scope of ordinary Artifacts — it was a weapon of war!
And with such a fearsome weapon deployed, the Heavenly Sword Alliance's morale must be sky-high!
In comparison, Void Land looked rather shabby.
Yang Kai glanced around. His forces were positioned roughly three hundred thousand li from the Domain Gate — not a short distance by any means, but not terribly far either. Three hundred thousand li was nothing for an Open Heaven cultivator to cross in a short time, and with nothing to obstruct vision in the void, both sides could see each other's movements clearly enough if their eyesight was sharp.
Large and small warships were scattered across the void in a somewhat disorganized fashion.
If the opportunity arose, he really should have a mobile palace Artifact forged. Otherwise, the next time a situation like this came up, their morale would be crushed before a single blow was struck.
But Void Land was short on resources at the moment — this wasn't the time to consider such things. It would have to wait.
"I don't see Zuo Quanhui?" Yang Kai turned to look at Mao Zhe.
Mao Zhe shook his head slowly. "Haven't seen him."
Yang Kai focused his gaze on the Heavenly Sword Palace. Zuo Quanhui hadn't shown his face — either he hadn't come and was still hiding in Feiyan Domain, or he was inside the Heavenly Sword Palace itself.
Yang Kai estimated the former was more likely. If Zuo Quanhui had actually come, he wouldn't have let Mao Zhe and the others leave so easily.
Or perhaps he had been hiding in Feiyan Domain before but had now arrived at the Heavenly Sword Palace.
And with such a devastating weapon already deployed, the Heavenly Sword Alliance was still holding their position near the Domain Gate — which meant they were merely probing for now, with no intention of launching a full-scale assault. Otherwise, they could have simply activated the Heavenly Sword Palace and charged straight into Void Territory!
Of course, attacking Void Land head-on was something Zuo Quanhui wouldn't dare do in his wildest dreams — not with Bixi and Zhu Jiuyin standing guard.
Placing the Heavenly Sword Palace near the Domain Gate gave them the flexibility to advance or retreat as needed. Zuo Quanhui's cautious arrangement actually suited Yang Kai just fine.
After a long moment of contemplation, Yang Kai spoke in a low voice. "In the fight against the Heavenly Sword Alliance, I'm afraid I won't be able to contribute much. Everything will have to rest on your own shoulders — be careful in all things."
The Open Heaven cultivators around him were taken aback. Most didn't understand what Yang Kai meant, but a few sharper minds thought it over and quickly caught on.
Yang Kai's strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Sixth-Order cultivator. If he entered the fray, no one on the Heavenly Sword Alliance's side would be his match, which would inevitably draw Zuo Quanhui out. And once Zuo Quanhui showed himself, the situation would be far harder to control.
After all, no one on their side could restrain a Seventh-Order Open Heaven cultivator.
Zuo Quanhui was currently staying hidden mainly out of fear of Zhu Jiuyin, who hadn't come to this location. As long as Yang Kai didn't reveal himself, Zuo Quanhui wouldn't either — and that arrangement benefited Void Land far more.
Yue He was one who grasped this point. Upon hearing Yang Kai's words, she nodded. "Rest easy, Young Master. As long as Zuo Quanhui doesn't make a move, the Heavenly Sword Alliance is nothing but chickens and clay dogs!"
For Void Land in its current state, this was a perfectly valid assessment of the Heavenly Sword Alliance.
"Set up camp first — Zuo Quanhui's probing could last who knows how long," Yang Kai ordered, and the crowd happily complied.
Several figures shot out, vanishing deep into the void.
Half a day later, a fragment of some desolate Spirit Continent, salvaged from who knew where, was brought back and placed in their position.
The Spirit Continent fragment was barren and lifeless — the kind found in every major Domain. It couldn't compare to the Heavenly Sword Palace's imposing grandeur, but it served perfectly well as a temporary base.