Inside the Universe Palace, Yang Kai was squatting on the ground in an undignified posture, studying the Universe Grand Formation, when his body suddenly went rigid.
Looking up, he saw that an additional figure had appeared at the edge of the formation at some indeterminate point. The person seemed to have been standing there all along, yet Yang Kai hadn't sensed them in the slightest — it was only when he suddenly became aware of someone watching him that his vigilance stirred.
He couldn't make out the person's features. The figure existed somewhere between real and illusory, shrouded in a layer of hazy light.
Yang Kai turned his head and looked to the side. Two more identical figures stood on his left and right.
The three formed a triangular formation, with Yang Kai boxed in the center.
He rose slowly to his feet, not daring to act rashly in the slightest. The three of them radiated an aura even deeper than Xu Linggong's — clearly, they were all Eighth-Order Open Heaven cultivators.
Recalling what Xu Linggong had mentioned earlier, Yang Kai realized at once that these three had to be Sect Masters or Supreme Elders from the great Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands.
"Void Land's Yang Kai greets the three seniors." Yang Kai cupped his fists and bowed respectfully.
The three said nothing, silently scrutinizing him. The invisible pressure of their cultivation made Yang Kai furrow his brow.
After a long moment, the first figure Yang Kai had noticed spoke. "Xu Linggong should have already explained the situation to you."
Yang Kai replied, "Lord Xu told this junior that there would be a trial upon my arrival, but he didn't specify what it would entail. I must ask the three seniors to enlighten me!"
The figure said nothing. Instead, it raised one hand, extended a finger, and pointed it at Yang Kai.
Yang Kai stood motionless — not because he trusted these three mysterious Eighth-Order Open Heaven cultivators, but because he trusted that Xu Linggong wouldn't have brought him here to his death for no reason.
Moreover, if all three truly intended to attack him, there was nothing he could do to resist.
A point of faint luminescence bloomed from the figure's fingertip, pure and unblemished. The white light expanded into a sphere and enveloped Yang Kai.
He looked down and inspected himself but found nothing wrong. The white light seemed to be merely a method of examination, carrying no offensive force whatsoever.
Yang Kai didn't know what exactly they were checking. All he could do was accept his situation and wait.
Moments later, the white light dissipated. The figure who had acted gave a slight nod, and the invisible pressure released by the other two figures seemed to ease noticeably as well.
Yang Kai asked curiously, "Has this junior passed the trial?"
The figure chuckled. "The real trial hasn't even begun yet."
Yang Kai was speechless. Gathering himself, he asked, "What does this junior need to do?"
The figure didn't beat around the bush. "We need to examine your Small Universe, so you simply need to open it up."
Even though Yang Kai had steeled himself mentally, hearing such an outrageous demand still provoked a flash of irritation. His voice dropped. "Examine my Small Universe?"
"Precisely." The figure nodded.
Yang Kai nearly laughed from sheer exasperation, but the three figures stood like wooden stakes, utterly unresponsive.
The Small Universe of an Open Heaven cultivator was one's most fundamental foundation, harboring all of a person's secrets. How could anyone simply allow others to freely inspect it?
The privacy of a Small Universe ran even deeper than that of a space ring on a warrior's finger!
Under normal circumstances, if someone demanded to examine another person's space ring, it would be taken as a grave insult — let alone a Small Universe.
Yang Kai hadn't expected that this so-called trial was actually this. What did understanding and repairing the Universe Palace have to do with this? Why be so guarded and cautious?
Unable to figure it out, he instinctively moved to refuse. "And if I decline?"
The figure said flatly, "No one is forcing you. If you don't agree, you're free to leave."
Yang Kai immediately cupped his fists. "Then this junior shall take his leave!"
He turned and strode toward the exit, quickly passing through the great hall's doors.
The three figures remained motionless at the edge of the formation, standing perfectly still.
Moments later, Yang Kai wandered back in with his hands clasped behind his head, moving at a leisurely pace, and dropped himself onto the center of the formation with an air of resignation. "Let's get it over with."
He didn't trust these three Eighth-Order cultivators who wouldn't even show their faces, but he trusted Xu Linggong. Since the old man had arranged this, Yang Kai didn't want to let his efforts go to waste.
Besides, he didn't really have any great secrets to expose. At most, they would discover that his Small Universe had transformed from ethereal to corporeal. The mysteries of the Dao of Space left behind by ancient creations held tremendous appeal for him as well.
Weighing everything, he decided it was better to swallow his pride for the moment.
The figure smiled faintly. "Don't worry — it'll just take a little effort!"
As Yang Kai willingly opened his Small Universe, the next instant he felt three auras surge into it. He wore a sour expression on his face, feeling as though three stray cats had intruded into his own backyard.
The three auras froze the moment they entered, clearly noticing something unusual about Yang Kai's Small Universe.