The group of little radishes below had no idea what was happening. Following Master Yang Si's gaze, they all turned to look back, curiosity painted across their faces.
"He's back, he's back — my son really is back!" It took a good while before Dong Suzhu finally released Yang Kai, clutching both his arms with her hands. Like a young girl she bounced and jumped, tears and laughter mingling together. After studying him carefully for a moment, she suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Mom!" Yang Kai called softly, feeling his robes grow damp almost immediately. He raised his hand gently and patted Dong Suzhu's trembling shoulders.
After another few moments, Dong Suzhu finally recovered from the overwhelming joy. She lifted her head, wiped her eyes, and gazed at Yang Kai with tender affection. She pinched his arm, patted his legs, confirmed that he was completely unharmed, and let out a long breath of relief.
Master Yang Si walked over as well, looking Yang Kai up and down before clenching his fist and giving a light cough. "You're back?"
Yang Kai quickly greeted him: "Father!"
Master Yang Si gave a slight nod, then glanced behind him. "Alone?"
Yang Kai smiled. "Su Yan and the others are all staying in Void Land to cultivate in seclusion."
Master Yang Si waved his hand dismissively. "I wasn't asking about your wives."
Yang Kai was momentarily confused. If not Su Yan and the others, then who? Then it clicked: "Xue'er is also in seclusion in Void Land. Her cultivation has been advancing at an incredible pace, Father — you don't need to worry."
Master Yang Si glared at him with the look of a man deeply disappointed in his son's failures, and declared sternly: "In all these years, have I got a single grandchild?"
So that's what he was asking! The moment these words came out, even Dong Suzhu — who had been crying just moments ago — pricked up her ears, her gaze fixed intently on Yang Kai.
Yang Kai looked thoroughly guilty. "I'm... working on it!"
Master Yang Si flew into a rage: "Useless thing! You've taken so many wives and haven't produced a single heir — what use are you to me? Should your mother and I have another child just so the Yang family line doesn't die out?"
Dong Suzhu slapped him on the back with a resounding crack, her face flushing red. "What nonsense — the children are all right here!"
Master Yang Si looked around and, sure enough, saw a cluster of little radishes staring at the scene with wide eyes. He couldn't very well continue on that topic, so he waved the children off. "That's enough for today. Go back and study well — don't be lazy with your lessons!"
The little radishes rose to their feet. Led by the tallest one at the front, they bowed in unison and chirped: "Disciples thank Grandmaster!"
Though the little radishes were young, they were impeccably mannered. Forming two neat lines, they made their way down the mountain. As they passed by Yang Kai, each one stopped to bow to him individually.
Yang Kai watched them go and raised an eyebrow. "Fine seedlings, every one of them!"
He had quietly assessed the children's aptitude just now. Although he hadn't examined them up close, his spiritual sense had swept over them, and he had found that each and every one possessed clear minds and extraordinary talent. Barring any mishaps, every single one of them would advance to the Emperor Realm!
Master Yang Si shot him a sidelong glance. "If you could produce one of your own, I guarantee it'd be better than any of them."
Yang Kai immediately fell silent.
Fortunately, his mother was on his side. She slapped Master Yang Si again. "Our son has finally come back after all this time, and all you can do is nag!"
Then she turned to Yang Kai and said: "Don't mind him. Come inside with Mom. You must have suffered out there — look at you, you've gotten thinner!"
She left Master Yang Si standing outside, face full of anguish, thumping his chest. "A doting mother spoils her son!"
A short while later, inside the bamboo cottage, the family of three sat together in warmth and happiness. After chatting with his parents for a while, Yang Kai finally said: "I mainly came back this time to check on how you two are doing. Heihe said you've both condensed your Dao Imprints."
Dong Suzhu nodded. "That's right. We should really thank Heihe for that. If not for his careful guidance all these years, we wouldn't have known how to condense a Dao Imprint at all."
Within the Heavens, the Emperor Realm was the absolute limit. Only by breaking free of the Heavens' constraints could one touch upon the higher reaches of the martial path. Yang Kai's decision years ago to leave Heihe behind to guard the Star Boundary and the Demon Realm had unquestionably been the right one. At the very least, under his guidance, both his parents had successfully condensed their Dao Imprints.
"Let me see!" Yang Kai reached out and took hold of Dong Suzhu's wrist, sinking his mind inward to examine her carefully.
After a moment, a flash of surprise crossed Yang Kai's face.
Dong Suzhu immediately grew anxious. "What is it? Is there a problem?"
Yang Kai answered honestly. "There is a problem, but it's not a bad thing — it's a good one. Let me check Father's as well."
He did the same for Master Yang Si, examining his Dao Imprint, and the look of astonishment on Yang Kai's face deepened.
"If it's good news, then out with it!" Master Yang Si flicked his sleeve.
Yang Kai deliberated briefly, then said: "Since Heihe has already told you both some things, you must know about the grading of the Open Heaven Realm!"
Master Yang Si and Dong Suzhu both nodded. "Of course we know."
Yang Kai continued: "The grade of one's Open Heaven Realm determines one's strength. And what determines that grade is the quality of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements resources one refines. The higher the grade of resources one refines, the higher one's Open Heaven grade will ultimately be. But to refine higher-grade resources, one needs a more stable Dao Imprint!"
Master Yang Si summed it up: "The Dao Imprint is the foundation for achieving the Open Heaven Realm!"