"It's said that after those Superior-Grade Open Heaven cultivators from second-rate powers were recruited by the great Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands, they vanished without a trace—either imprisoned or secretly murdered." Xu Wang chuckled softly. "I've spent many years in Bright King Heaven and have seen several Superior-Grade Open Heaven cultivators from second-rate powers. They were all brought to Bright King Heaven by their sect elders."
Yang Kai asked curiously, "How are they now?"
Xu Wang shook his head. "Each one was seen only once. After that, there was no more news—not even whether they were dead or alive!"
A chill ran down Yang Kai's spine. The implication of Xu Wang's words made even those Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands seem opaque and unfathomable.
"The great Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands have difficulty monitoring and constraining the Shattered Heaven," Xu Wang continued. "That's why many who've advanced to Superior-Grade Open Heaven flee here to live in seclusion. Some even come specifically to advance to the Superior-Grade here, just to escape the gaze of those great powers. So, Junior Brother, there are not only Seventh-Order cultivators here, but Eighth-Order ones as well. You must be careful when traveling through the Shattered Heaven."
"I'll keep that in mind." Yang Kai nodded slightly, though his heart was far less calm than his outward demeanor. If what Xu Wang said was true, the waters of the Shattered Heaven ran deeper and murkier than he'd imagined.
Those few Seventh-Order Open Heaven cultivators who had been hiding in the crowd clearly knew something about the Qiankun Grotto-Heaven. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been waiting here specifically, ready to rush in the moment the portal fully opened.
Unfortunately, after they entered, the grotto-heaven portal vanished again. Even if the others wanted to follow and grab a share, it was mere wishful thinking. Yang Kai did have the ability to track it down and force the portal open, but why would he do something so thankless?
"The Shattered Heaven really is quite the place." Yang Kai sighed with sudden emotion, then turned his gaze in a particular direction, narrowing his eyes with a smile. "Isn't that right, Blood Crow?"
Xu Wang's expression turned grave as he followed Yang Kai's gaze.
In that direction, three people walked together—clearly from the same sect, two men and one woman. Noticing Yang Kai and Xu Wang's gaze, all three turned their heads.
The two men furrowed their brows, faces wary and somewhat confused. The woman spoke with equal puzzlement: "Is this senior brother speaking to us?"
Yang Kai gave her a chuckle. "If those Superior-Grade Open Heaven cultivators hadn't just appeared and stirred your aura, I wouldn't have been able to figure out where you were hiding. Now that I've detected your presence, there's no point in pretending. You're a senior, after all—at least act with some dignity. Playing dumb like this is quite disappointing for those of us who look up to our seniors."
The woman looked displeased. "I don't know what you mean, senior brother."
The two men beside her glared at Yang Kai with even more hostility, as though he had offended their cherished lady.
Yang Kai scoffed mockingly. "What's the matter? Tired of being a man? Want to try out being a woman?"
One of the two men shouted angrily, "Friend, watch your tongue! The three of us—senior brothers and junior sister—have no grievance with you and have never even met you. I don't know what offense we've given you."
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Xu Wang whispered. He couldn't detect the slightest trace of Blood Crow on the woman, nor sense any abnormal aura. Her reaction was perfectly reasonable, and Yang Kai's absolute certainty baffled him.
The commotion naturally drew the attention of many nearby. The portal to the Qiankun Grotto-Heaven had already vanished, and several Superior-Grade Open Heaven cultivators had burst onto the scene and charged into it. Many among the crowd were already thinking of retreating.
After all, Superior-Grade Open Heaven cultivators were formidable, and they simply didn't have the nerve to snatch scraps from under their noses.
Getting nothing was one thing; watching the spectacle was still worthwhile. In an instant, pairs of eyes turned their attention to the scene.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Yang Kai suddenly reached out and grabbed at the void. As light flashed, a spear thrust forward. The bewitchingly beautiful, gracefully curved woman had no time to even react before her head was blasted apart, blood gushing from her headless corpse like a fountain.
Everyone was startled.
The burly man standing not far from Yang Kai was particularly terrified. Earlier, when Yang Kai had spoken to him, he had been dismissive—purely relying on his impressive Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivation. Even when Yang Kai had arrived and he'd sensed they were both Sixth-Order, he hadn't paid much mind.
But this stunning spear strike and the surging World Power that had been released and retracted in an instant made the burly man realize the vast gap between himself and Yang Kai.
Cold sweat poured down his body. He slipped backward dozens of li in an instant, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.
In the midst of casual conversation, a flower-like beauty had perished.
The two men beside her froze for a moment, then their eyes instantly turned red. One of them roared, "You killed Junior Sister Guo?! I'll fight you!"
As he spoke, he summoned a long sword artifact and drove his World Power to charge at Yang Kai. The other said nothing but also summoned his own artifact, his killing intent blazing.
Both were only Fifth-Order Open Heaven. Even knowing they couldn't match Yang Kai, watching their junior sister die before their eyes for no reason—who could keep their rationality?
Xu Wang quickly raised his hand and called out, "Please calm down, both of you! That person was not your junior sister—she was..."
Before he could finish his explanation, a spear had already thrust past his ear. Xu Wang instinctively ducked. By the time he raised his head again, the two charging Fifth-Order cultivators had met the same fate as Junior Sister Guo—their heads exploding one after another as they perished, their Dao extinguished.