In the void, more than twenty Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators faced off from ten thousand li apart, the air thick with hidden currents and drawn swords.
Ten thousand li was barely a stone's throw for Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators. A single divine ability could bridge that distance in an instant.
Yet neither side made the first move.
Yang Kai's divine sense surged outward, sweeping in all directions as he searched for Zuo Quanhui's aura. With a Seventh-Order master lurking unseen, the pressure was suffocating. Until he found Zuo Quanhui's whereabouts, he couldn't afford to act rashly.
A faint killing intent lingered around him — not from any of the Sixth-Order cultivators before him, but from the hidden Zuo Quanhui.
Yang Kai's body tensed, his flesh and blood churning as every ounce of power coiled in readiness. His gaze was resolute. If Zuo Quanhui dared show himself, then he would have no choice but to unleash the Iron Blood Great Emperor and the others for a fight to the death right here.
The agonizing wait wore on. He had no idea how long it lasted before the killing intent that had been clinging to him suddenly dissipated without a trace. Ten thousand li away, the ten Sixth-Order cultivators facing the Void Land group all reacted simultaneously, as if receiving some signal. They transformed into streaks of light and retreated at full speed.
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes, understanding that Zuo Quanhui had ordered them to pull back. He allowed himself a quiet breath of relief.
He watched the Heavenly Sword Alliance forces withdraw beyond a hundred thousand li before raising his hand. "We're pulling back too."
There were still many unanswered questions. This was no time for a decisive battle. Better to get the full story from Black River first.
The group turned and raced back toward the broken Spirit Continent that served as Void Land's base. They arrived in short order.
"Lan Xun's injuries first!" Yang Kai ordered Luan Baifeng, then strode toward the main hall.
Black River had already returned ahead of them with Lan Xun and was inside the hall. A crowd surrounded Lan Xun while the Soul Ning Great Emperor examined her condition.
At the sound of footsteps, everyone turned to see Yang Kai and parted to make way.
"How is she?" Yang Kai asked, reaching out to take Lan Xun's wrist. He lowered his gaze to meet hers.
Their eyes locked, and Yang Kai's heart sank. Lan Xun's eyes were wide open, but the once-lively irises were now vacant and devoid of any spark.
The Soul Ning Great Emperor spoke gravely: "Not good. Her soul has suffered severe damage. I can't repair it."
"Even you can't?" The Iron Blood Great Emperor turned to look.
Among all the Great Emperors, none surpassed the Soul Ning Great Emperor in soul-related mastery. He had achieved the Dao through the soul and was the undisputed authority on such matters.
In the ongoing conflict with the Heavenly Sword Alliance, the Great Emperors had been advancing to the Sixth Order one after another. The only ones who hadn't yet made the breakthrough were Miao Dan and Tianshu.
Hearing his words, the other Great Emperors' expressions turned grim. Seeing their old friend's daughter reduced to this state weighed heavily on their hearts, and their hatred for the one responsible for her suffering deepened to the bone.
The Soul Ning Great Emperor pondered for a moment. "I suppose I could try, but first we need to understand why her soul was damaged so severely."
Everyone turned in unison to look at Black River. When he had first brought Lan Xun in, the Great Emperors had all crowded around to examine her condition, and no one had thought to ask for details.
Black River answered honestly: "A Soul Search was performed on her."
"A Soul Search!" Everyone who heard recoiled in horror.
No matter where you went, the Soul Search was one of the most sinister secret arts in existence. The fact that Lan Xun had survived a Soul Search at all, with only soul damage to show for it, was a testament to her extraordinary luck. Had fortune been less kind, she would have perished long ago.
The Soul Ning Great Emperor's expression grew solemn. "If it was a Soul Search, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."
"I'll try!" Yang Kai suddenly swept Lan Xun into his arms and charged toward the inner chambers. He burst into a sealed chamber, activated the prohibitions, and laid Lan Xun gently on the bed before settling into a cross-legged position beside her head.
Lan Xun had been subjected to a Soul Search, her soul so badly damaged that even the Soul Ning Great Emperor had no remedy. But that didn't mean Yang Kai was without options.
The Warm Spirit Lotus was a supreme treasure of Heaven and Earth, possessing unique efficacy for repairing and nourishing the soul. Throughout his growth, Yang Kai had suffered soul injuries in battles against powerful enemies more times than he could count. Any other cultivator would have been left with a fragmented soul and unable to continue cultivation. Yet every time, the Warm Spirit Lotus had mended his soul back to wholeness with astonishing speed.
The formidable soul power he now wielded owed everything to the Warm Spirit Lotus's years of quiet, nurturing refinement.
He drew a gentle breath, leaned forward, and pressed his forehead against Lan Xun's. His divine sense surged forth, transforming into a soul avatar that wrapped around the Warm Spirit Lotus and plunged toward Lan Xun's Spiritual Sea.
Under normal circumstances, entering another person's Spiritual Sea would meet with resistance and obstruction. But Lan Xun's soul was already shattered, leaving her in a deep coma. Yang Kai encountered no opposition at all as he carried the Warm Spirit Lotus deep into her Spiritual Sea.
He looked around. The inner world of her Spiritual Sea was in ruins — a post-apocalyptic wasteland of scorched earth and devastation, as though a great battle had razed everything in sight. The sight pierced Yang Kai's heart with pain, and he could almost tangibly feel the agony Lan Xun must have endured.
A Soul Search was no pleasant experience. Every scene, every fragment of one's life was plucked out and laid bare, and the soul bore the excruciating torment of being torn apart.
In one corner of the Spiritual Sea, a few specks of faint luminescence flickered weakly, barely visible.