The World Tree!
Yang Kai's expression shifted slightly. If the changes in the Star Boundary were related to the World Tree he had planted all those years ago, it was not impossible.
The World Tree was far too extraordinary—at the very least, Yang Kai had never seen nor even heard of any treasure besides the World Fruit that could allow an Open Heaven Realm cultivator to advance directly to the First Order.
The Small Source World was already remarkable enough. Yang Kai had made a trip to the Divine Weapon World of the Yin-Yang Heaven for training, and his foundation as a Sixth Order Open Heaven cultivator had been greatly strengthened. But if he could obtain a high-grade World Fruit, he could advance directly from the Sixth Order to the Seventh Order—the two were simply not comparable.
If even the World Fruit possessed such heaven-defying effects, then what manner of marvel must the World Tree that bore it hold?
The World Tree planted in the Star Boundary was a root fragment he had brought out from the Land Without Elders in the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm. Back then, the Star Boundary had been shattered by the great war between the human and demon races, its foundations draining away, nearly facing destruction.
Even though they had ultimately achieved victory and slain Mo Sheng, the severely damaged Star Boundary still could not endure for long. The reason Yang Kai had ventured beyond the cosmos was twofold—to pursue a deeper path of martial arts, and to find the World Tree to save the Star Boundary.
Fortunately, he had succeeded, bringing back the World Tree's root from the Grand Ancient Ruins Realm.
Upon returning to the Star Boundary and planting that root, Yang Kai had vaguely sensed that some changes would come. The warriors who remained behind would grow along with the Star Boundary's revival, gaining unexpected benefits in the process.
The chance to grow and revive together with an entire cosmos was exceedingly rare. Across the entire Three Thousand Worlds, only the Star Boundary—where the World Tree root had been planted—experienced such a phenomenon.
He just hadn't expected that these changes would come so quickly! And the effects were so significant that even his own parents had managed to condense Dao Seals.
No wonder the Grand Steward Hua Qingsi, who remained in the Star Boundary, had sent Heihe to the Void Land to find him—the Star Boundary had undergone such tremendous changes, which was truly no small matter.
A silence fell over the hall. Heihe thought for a moment and continued, "My Lord, the Grand Steward conducted a thorough investigation of all the warriors in the Star Boundary. Essentially everyone's cultivation speed has become faster than before. Among the infants born in recent years, many possess exceptional aptitude. The major sects have already taken in quite a few promising disciples—in time, they are sure to become formidable."
Yang Kai nodded. "I understand. But how were you captured?"
Heihe gave a bitter laugh. "When we passed through the Qiankun Hall in the Zhaobai Domain, Miss Lan Xun inadvertently mentioned the Void Land. Yin Xinzhao must have overheard at that time, because he then laid an ambush for us outside the cosmos. After that..." His face darkened and he could not continue. He was merely Fifth Order, and although Yin Xinzhao had only recently advanced, he was Sixth Order—dealing with Heihe would have been as easy as pinching a snail with all ten fingers.
After casting a Soul Search on Lan Xun, Yin Xinzhao brought Heihe and Lan Xun through the Flying Smoke Domain to the Heavenly Sword Palace.
Zuo Quanhui was naturally overjoyed at Yin Xinzhao's arrival, especially since he had brought two generous gifts along. Upon learning that Heihe and Lan Xun were people from Yang Kai's homeland, Luan Baifeng took notice. Using the opportunity of escorting the two to the dungeon, she seized the chance to help them escape.
It was fortunate that Luan Baifeng was well-versed in the Dao of Formations and possessed many formation plates; otherwise, she would never have been able to escape Zuo Quanhui's pursuit.
However, she was still injured, and what followed was the scene Yang Kai had witnessed.
Learning the full story, Yang Kai felt a fresh wave of lingering fear. This time, he truly owed his gratitude to Luan Baifeng's decisiveness—otherwise, he would have been placed in an utterly disadvantageous position.
With Zuo Quanhui holding Heihe and Lan Xun in his grasp, the Void Land would have been in a far more difficult position.
If not for the special circumstances at the moment, he would have immediately rushed to the Star Boundary to investigate whether the changes there were truly caused by the World Tree he had planted years ago.
But with the Heavenly Sword Alliance currently positioned across the Void Domain, watching like a tiger eyeing its prey, how could he possibly leave?
"Perhaps I could go back and take a look?" Great Emperor Flower Shadow suggested. The Star Boundary was their homeland, and everyone held unique feelings for it. Although judging from Heihe's account, the changes in the Star Boundary were undoubtedly a good thing, who could rest easy without confirming it for themselves?
Great Emperor Flower Shadow was now also a Sixth Order cultivator and a native of the Star Boundary, so investigating the changes there would pose no problem.
Yang Kai was about to nod in agreement when Jin Yuanlang rushed in urgently from outside, clasping his fists and reporting, "Sect Master, there is unusual activity from the Heavenly Sword Palace!"
Hearing this, Yang Kai immediately flashed outside the hall. Looking up, he saw that the Heavenly Sword Palace—which had been stationed outside the Domain Gate for over a year—was now slowly retreating, plunging backward into the Domain Gate and vanishing from sight.
Zuo Quanhui had actually fled?
Sensing something was gravely wrong, Yang Kai's instincts flared. After a brief moment of contemplation, he shouted in a low voice, "Not good—Zuo Quanhui is heading for the Star Boundary!"
Yin Xinzhao had cast a Soul Search on Lan Xun. Regardless of how much intelligence he had uncovered from her memories, the location of the Star Boundary and the existence of the World Tree could not be hidden.
The Star Boundary was the homeland of Yang Kai and the various Great Emperors. It housed the Lingxiao Pavilion and his parents. If Zuo Quanhui were to make a move against the Star Boundary, it would have no way to resist.
There were no Sacred Spirits presiding there!
Moreover, the existence of the World Tree was more than enough to make Zuo Quanhui covet it greatly! Yang Kai did not know whether the root he had brought back could grow into another World Tree or bear World Fruit, but anything that could cause changes across an entire cosmos was certainly no ordinary thing!
The Heavenly Sword Palace retreating inexplicably into the Flying Smoke Domain clearly indicated that Zuo Quanhui had set his sights on the Star Boundary—otherwise, why would he act this way?