Why did the various cave-heavens and blessed lands want to borrow the Creation Divine Furnace? Wasn't it precisely to produce more Yin-Yang attributed materials above sixth grade? Why would they trade something like that away for the right to use the Creation Divine Furnace?
Yang Kai's words had undoubtedly shut everyone down.
"I've only just returned to the Star Boundary and have a hundred matters to attend to, so I won't keep you company." With that, Yang Kai flashed away, leaving over a dozen Open Heaven Realm masters exchanging bewildered glances.
On Spirit Peak, Dong Suzhu gazed into the distance.
The moment Yang Kai had returned to the Star Boundary, Hua Qingsi had already sent word to the two elders. Overjoyed to learn of her son's return, Dong Suzhu had come to this spot to wait.
Old Master Yang walked out from the bamboo house behind her with his hands clasped behind his back, snorting: "First thing he does upon returning and he doesn't come to see his parents. Raising this son was a waste."
Though those were his words, his eyes kept glancing downward, his expression full of eager anticipation.
Dong Suzhu turned to glare at him: "Always so much to say. Our son's status is different now. With the great Lingxiao Pavilion, and him not having returned for so many years, of course he needs to discuss matters with Steward Hua. If you don't like waiting, go back inside — nobody forced you to stand out here."
Old Master Yang sighed: "A doting mother spoils the son!"
As they spoke, ripples spread through space, and a figure appeared before them — none other than the son the two elders had been worrying about day and night, Yang Kai.
Dong Suzhu hurried forward: "Son, you're back!"
"Mother!" Yang Kai nodded, then looked to Old Master Yang beside her. "Father!"
Old Master Yang gave a muffled grunt, turned, and walked back into the bamboo house.
Dong Suzhu took Yang Kai's hand, looking him over from head to toe. Only after a long moment did she say with satisfaction: "You haven't lost weight — in fact, you've filled out a bit more. Have you had a hard time all these years out there?"
Yang Kai shook his head with a smile: "I'm used to it."
Sensing his mother's aura carefully, Yang Kai raised an eyebrow: "Mother, you've reached the Open Heaven Realm?"
Dong Suzhu nodded: "That's right. Mother has reached the Open Heaven Realm too." It felt almost like a dream. Looking back on everything they'd been through — from the Yang Family in Zhongdu all the way to now — they had actually achieved the Open Heaven Realm one day.
"What grade?" Yang Kai asked with concern.
Dong Suzhu smiled: "A full fifth grade."
Yang Kai exhaled softly: "That's good." Back when the Star Boundary had received the nourishment of the World Tree, both his parents had been fortunate enough to condense their Dao Seals. Yang Kai had personally inspected them at the time. With their original aptitude, even if they could break through to Open Heaven, third grade would have been the limit. But because of the Star Boundary's World Tree, they had a chance to secure fourth grade and aim for fifth.
Dao Yi Divine Water and the Tianyuan True Seal Pill — with both combined, Dong Suzhu had successfully ascended to fifth grade in recent years.
"What about Father?" Yang Kai asked.
"Fifth grade as well!" Dong Suzhu chuckled. In truth, the two of them had faced some risk during their breakthrough. Their aptitude truly wasn't sufficient on its own — breaking through to fourth grade Open Heaven would have been the safest choice. But once they learned that reaching fifth grade meant their future potential could extend to superior grade, they had decisively chosen to take the gamble.
It wasn't purely for the sake of their own future achievements. All these years, they had lived under Yang Kai's wings and protection. They also wanted to be able to help their son one day, rather than simply growing old at home.
Seventh grade Open Heaven would give them at least some qualifications, wouldn't it? So after their breakthrough, the two elders had been cultivating diligently ever since. Lingxiao Pavilion never lacked resources, and Hua Qingsi had been fully supportive of their cultivation — providing whatever they needed.
"Come, let's go inside to talk." Dong Suzhu pulled Yang Kai toward the bamboo house.
The family of three sat together in pleasant conversation.
Dong Suzhu suddenly asked: "By the way, how are little Xiao'er and little Xue'er doing?"
Yang Kai replied: "They're both doing well. Before I came, Xiao'er went to the Sacred Spirit Ancestral Land with a senior. The environment there is immensely beneficial to his cultivation. Xue'er couldn't follow along, so she stayed behind in the Void Land to cultivate in seclusion."
Dong Suzhu complained: "That girl of hers — she never comes back to visit."
Old Master Yang stroked his neatly groomed beard and said in a deep voice: "Speaking of Xiao'er and Xue'er, we actually need to discuss something about them."
Yang Kai was puzzled: "What does Father want to discuss?"
Old Master Yang and Dong Suzhu exchanged a glance. It was Dong Suzhu who spoke first: "Those two grew up together from childhood. If you disregard seniority, they're practically childhood sweethearts. Having lived and cultivated together for so many years, they've surely developed feelings for each other by now. You, their elder brother, have been traveling so much that you may not have noticed, but the two of us old folks have seen it plain as day."
"However, there is a generational gap between them. Xiao'er is your adopted son — in terms of address, he has to call Xue'er 'Little Aunt.'" Old Master Yang picked up the thread. "Kai'er, you've always been the one with the strong opinions. How do you think we should handle this?"
Yang Kai pondered for a moment. In truth, he had considered the matter of Yang Xiao and Yang Xue before. It was perfectly natural for a boy and girl living and cultivating together for years to develop feelings. But the two little ones had never shown anything in front of him, so he hadn't wanted to bring it up rashly.
Now that his parents had raised the issue, it was time to come to a decision.
After a moment, Yang Kai said: "If we go by seniority, then yes, Xiao'er is one generation below Xue'er. But if we go by their martial lineage, they're proper senior and junior martial siblings. My inclination is to let nature take its course — let them sort it out themselves. If something does develop, each side can count their own seniority separately. It's really no big deal. We cultivators shouldn't fuss over such trivial formalities. In the end, the two of them share no real blood relation. Even if they did become partners, it would be a fine thing."
Old Master Yang and Dong Suzhu exchanged another look. The Old Master said with worry: "If that's the case, won't outsiders have something to say?"