Setting aside opportunities like entering the Small Source World for training, a Sixth-Order cultivator like Yang Kai would naturally refine Sixth-Order resources fastest and most efficiently if he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. But Sixth-Order Yin-Yang dual-element resources were exceedingly rare, so one had to settle for refining Fifth-Order instead.
Yang Kai was no exception, and neither were the high-rank Open Heaven cultivators from the various Grotto-Heavens and Blessed Lands. Virtually all of them were the same — few would squander Sixth-Order resources so recklessly.
Twenty sets of Fifth-Order resources and thirty million Open Heaven Pills should be enough to sustain Yang Kai for roughly half a year to a year.
Xia Linlang had given her orders, and Qin Fen naturally dared not disobey. Over the next several days, he had been helping Yang Kai construct a bamboo pavilion. He had originally intended to throw together some haphazard structure and call it done, but what infuriated him to no end was that Yang Kai acted like a foreman, constantly gesturing and directing from the sidelines.
Qin Fen wished he could skewer the bastard with his spear!
Several days later, the bamboo pavilion was finally completed. Qin Fen left at the first opportunity, not sparing Yang Kai so much as a glance, for fear he wouldn't be able to contain his rage.
The days that followed were uneventful.
On the small island at the heart of the lake, undisturbed by anyone, Yang Kai devoted himself wholeheartedly to secluded cultivation.
Since advancing to the Open Heaven realm, Yang Kai had rarely had the opportunity to settle his mind and focus on cultivation like this. Back outside the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven, he had been forced to advance to Fifth-Order against his will, then entered the Shadowless Grotto-Heaven and consumed a World Fruit, managing to advance to Sixth-Order. After that came all manner of running around and busyness — when he did have occasional leisure, the time available was never much.
This time, having been brought here by Xia Linlang, though it had been against his will, it could also be considered an opportunity. The timing was perfect to take advantage of this chance and properly consolidate his cultivation. After reaching the Open Heaven realm, cultivators needed to carefully nurture their Small Universe. This nurturing couldn't be achieved overnight, but required slow, steady accumulation over years and decades.
What was even more rare was having someone willingly provide him with cultivation resources. True, Yang Kai now had a vast enterprise and didn't particularly care about such things, but who would refuse something given for free?
After roughly half a year, the supplies Qin Fen had delivered were completely depleted.
Yang Kai didn't go to Xia Linlang asking for more, because by normal consumption rates, the supplies she had sent would be enough for a Sixth-Order cultivator to use for two to three years.
Fortunately, his own Small Universe held a considerable reserve of resources, so his cultivation wasn't hindered.
Such cultivation was extraordinarily tedious, but it was unavoidable for every Open Heaven cultivator. As his cultivation deepened, Yang Kai gradually settled his mind and began to identify certain shortcomings within himself.
His advancement from Fifth-Order to Sixth-Order had been because he consumed a Medium-grade World Fruit. After reaching Sixth-Order, thanks to various opportunities, his cultivation had surged rapidly. In the short term, rapid power growth was obviously a tremendous advantage, but in the long run, it had planted certain imperceptible hidden dangers.
These hidden dangers might not erupt all at once, but as his cultivation continued to rise, they would definitely gradually undermine his foundation. A single ant hole could breach a thousand-mile levee — that was precisely the principle.
This period of dedicated, focused cultivation had, without him even realizing it, given him the chance to address those flaws.
And this Qiankun Grotto-Heaven truly possessed an extraordinarily dense concentration of Spear Dao traces, as could be seen from that Qin Fen he had encountered earlier. The man was also a spear user, and his attainment in the Spear Dao even exceeded Yang Kai's by a narrow margin. The only reason Qin Fen had managed only a single thrust before being repelled was the considerable gap in their overall strength.
If they had been evenly matched and fought spear against spear, even if Yang Kai deployed his Great Freedom Spear Art, he might not necessarily have won.
During breaks from cultivation, Yang Kai naturally spared no effort in comprehending the mysteries of the Spear Dao concealed within this Qiankun Grotto-Heaven.
Time flew by — three years, then another three. Yang Kai sat motionless in the bamboo pavilion, never stepping outside.
Every three years, someone would come to deliver cultivation supplies, though it wasn't that same Qin Fen from before. Presumably, having suffered a loss at Yang Kai's hands and lost face, he was too embarrassed to come again. The one who now delivered supplies was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven cultivator. There was no exchange between them whatsoever — each time, they would arrive at the lake island, hand Yang Kai a Space Ring, and promptly depart.
A full ten years passed, and Yang Kai never once saw Xia Linlang, having no idea what she was up to.
Ten years was not long, but not short either — not enough to significantly bolster the depth of Yang Kai's Small Universe, but sufficient to elevate his Spear Dao to new heights.
Originally, Yang Kai's attainment in the Spear Dao had been at most at the third tier — that of a skilled novice. But after ten years of secluded contemplation here, he had reached the fifth tier — mastery through integration.
Of the Daos Yang Kai had comprehended, the Dao of Space had reached the eighth tier — the absolute pinnacle. The Dao of Time was roughly at the sixth tier — outstanding excellence. And now his Spear Dao had also achieved mastery through integration.
He had abandoned the Dao of Alchemy long ago, and barring unforeseen circumstances, Yang Kai didn't intend to expend any effort in that area.
On this particular day, Yang Kai, deep in secluded cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes and looked up toward the sky. In his perception, Xia Linlang's aura had emerged from a certain direction, transforming into a brilliant streak of light and departing directly. She quickly left this Qiankun Grotto-Heaven, vanishing without a trace.
Yang Kai froze for a moment, then broke into a grin. "After waiting so damn long, the day has finally come!"
He rose to his feet without a moment's hesitation and flashed outside the bamboo pavilion. He cast a glance toward the distance, and his figure blurred, vanishing on the spot.
The place where Xia Linlang's aura had emerged housed a divine palace — none other than her seat of power: Linlang Palace!
Before the towering palace, Yang Kai's figure materialized. He looked up at it and murmured to himself, "Just as I thought!"