The flowing light dissipated, and a graceful figure landed not far from Yang Kai. She was a woman who appeared to be only about twenty years old, wearing a green floral skirt with her beautiful hair casually pinned up behind her head. Her figure was slender and elegant, her temperament serene.
Upon spotting Yang Kai, the woman was visibly startled. She regarded him with suspicion, her eyes clear as water, then bent slightly and performed a graceful bow before slipping past him and heading straight for the grand hall ahead.
Yang Kai stared blankly at her retreating figure. The woman seemed to sense his gaze, glanced back, and offered a faint smile.
Moments later, she entered the grand hall where Master Mafan secluded himself day after day, moving with the ease of long familiarity.
Yang Kai grew ever more certain that this woman was a resident of this sealed place, and very likely a remnant of the Great Yan Blessed Land — otherwise there would be no reason for her to be so nonchalant about it. After all, he had been trying to enter that very hall for days now, only to be ignored by Master Mafan every single time.
After waiting outside for less than half an hour, the green-skirted woman emerged once more. Yang Kai was already standing in her path, and when she drew near, he cupped his fists and said: "Yang Kai of the Void Land greets this Senior Sister!"
The green-skirted woman smiled gently. "You've come to have Ancestor forge an artifact for you?"
Ancestor! Yang Kai's mind cleared at once, confirming the suspicion he had harbored. He nodded. "That's right!"
The woman covered her mouth and laughed softly. "Ancestor didn't agree?"
Yang Kai smiled sheepishly. "Senior Sister has a sharp eye. Master did indeed refuse me."
The woman said in realization: "Half a year ago, Ancestor opened the gate — so it was you who came? It's been half a year, and you've been waiting here the entire time?"
Yang Kai replied earnestly: "With sufficient sincerity, even metal and stone can be cleaved."
"It won't work." The green-skirted woman shook her head. "If Ancestor doesn't want to help you, no amount of waiting will make a difference. Since you've called me Senior Sister, I'll share a piece of wisdom."
"Please, Senior Sister."
"Go back to wherever you came from. Staying here is just a waste of time." With that, she playfully winked at Yang Kai and darted away.
Yang Kai was left speechless. After a moment's thought, he turned and gave chase, falling into step beside the green-skirted woman.
She seemed somewhat surprised by his audacity. "Why are you following me? I don't know how to forge artifacts — Ancestor never taught me those things."
Yang Kai grinned. "I'm not asking Senior Sister to help with forging. I simply want to have a casual chat."
"Chat about what?" The woman's dark brows furrowed slightly, making her look even more lovely.
"Whatever comes to mind," Yang Kai replied casually. Though their acquaintance had been brief — only a handful of words exchanged — he could already tell that this Sixth-Order woman's heart seemed extraordinarily pure. To put it charitably, one might call it a childlike innocence; to put it more bluntly, she was simply naive about the ways of the world. For a Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator to still possess such a disposition was truly rare. Out in the wider world, which Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator hadn't endured scheming and deception during their rise? Even the purest of hearts, once dipped into the dye vat of the mortal world, would emerge stained every color imaginable. That the green-skirted woman could maintain such purity was obviously because the Great Yan Blessed Land had sealed its gates.
"But I really don't have anything to talk about with you," the woman said, shaking her head.
Yang Kai flashed what he considered a clean, honest smile and went for the flattery. "From the very first moment I saw Senior Sister, I felt an incredible sense of closeness — as though we'd known each other for ages."
The green-skirted woman blushed slightly, her tone sharp with mild offense. "How can you speak so without any restraint?"
Yang Kai said with utter sincerity: "I'm telling the truth. There is absolutely no jest in my words. Please don't be upset, Senior Sister."
The woman believed him readily enough, and actually grew a little embarrassed herself.
Before long, the two flew into a World and landed before a cluster of palaces. By Yang Kai's estimation, this World was quite decent — its Heavenly Laws were complete, its natural rules were rich, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was impressive. It qualified as a first-rate World. Moreover, when he had surveyed it from high above earlier, he had noticed the place was well-populated, clearly home to many living beings.
Several Open Heaven cultivators of varying ranks were waiting there. Upon seeing the green-skirted woman's return, they all called out, "Eldest Senior Sister!" A man who appeared to be in his thirties asked nervously: "Eldest Senior Sister, what did Ancestor say?"
The green-skirted woman smiled gently. "Don't worry. Ancestor said the wine you brewed this time has a rich and fragrant aroma — a Grade A rating."
Hearing this, everyone cheered.
Only then did Yang Kai understand. The green-skirted woman had been delivering wine to Master Mafan, and that wine had obviously been crafted by these Open Heaven cultivators before him.