Zhao Ya and Zhao Yebai had lived in Yang Kai's small cosmos ever since birth. Though his small cosmos was quite good, it couldn't compare to the current cultivation environment of the Star Realm.
Looking across the entire Three Thousand World, among the countless cosmos worlds, over all these years only the Star Realm was worthy of the title "cradle of the Opening Heaven Realm." If not for that, why would the great blessed grotto-heavens have painstakingly sent their disciples across millions of miles to come here?
Yang Kai had previously asked Zhao Ya to suppress her realm progression because he feared her cultivation would advance too quickly. Once her cultivation grew too high and her malleability faded, she wouldn't be able to enjoy as many benefits from the World Tree's nourishment.
Actually, there were quite a few talented warriors in his small cosmos. For instance, Miao Feiping, who had grown up alongside Zhao Yebai and Zhao Ya and had entered the Seven Star Workshop together with them—when his aptitude was assessed, he had been rated as top-grade. Even if left to cultivate within the small cosmos, advancing to Emperor rank in the future would not be difficult. If thrown into the Star Realm, his future achievements would only be higher. Reaching the fifth rank directly would be no problem, and if his foundations were solid enough, advancing to the sixth rank wasn't impossible either.
As the master of his small cosmos, Yang Kai naturally knew everything about it like the back of his hand.
Warriors with aptitude like Miao Feiping's—there were about five or six of them in the entire small cosmos.
Yang Kai planned to settle them in Lingxiao Palace for cultivation, but before that, he needed to obtain their consent.
On the journey back to the Star Realm, Yang Kai had already handled this matter. The five or six individuals he had selected were, without exception, overjoyed.
"Xiao Ya." Yang Kai looked at Zhao Ya. "In the past, your master had you suppress your realm progression out of caution. Now that we've arrived at the Star Realm, there's no need to deliberately hold back anymore."
Zhao Ya's beautiful eyes lit up. "Master, does that mean I can advance freely?"
Yang Kai nodded.
Zhao Ya cheered.
Others might not understand her pain—there were times when she could clearly feel the opportunity for a breakthrough, needing only a single seclusion session or even a single battle to advance to the next level, yet because of her master's orders, she could only suppress it with bitter effort. That feeling was like being so hungry your stomach was touching your back, with a feast of delicacies laid out before you that you couldn't take a single bite of.
Now hearing Yang Kai say she could advance freely, no longer needing to hold back as before, she was naturally delighted.
Yang Kai then turned to Zhao Yebai. "Xiao Bai, your aptitude is much lower than Xiao Ya's. But your master has always believed in one saying: diligence can compensate for a lack of talent. Work hard from now on, and don't let your junior sister pull too far ahead of you!"
Zhao Yebai said in a deep voice, "Yes, Master. This disciple will cultivate diligently and not let down Master's expectations!"
"Mother, I'll have to trouble you and Father to look after these two children from now on," Yang Kai said to Dong Suzhu.
Dong Suzhu beamed. "No problem. Rest assured and leave them with us—we'll take perfect care of them."
The elderly couple had once resented Yang Kai for not being able to stay by their side often, so even past the ideal age, they had tried hard for a second wind and given birth to little Yang Xue.
But once Yang Xue grew up, she ran off to follow her big brother too.
For all these years with no one around to keep them company, the two elders often felt lonely. Now that Yang Kai had suddenly sent Zhao Ya and Zhao Yebai their way, how could they not be delighted?
If it were anyone else, that would be one thing—but these were disciples Yang Kai had taken in! What difference was there from their own grandchildren?
Not to mention that Zhao Ya was such a pretty girl with a sweet tongue, and though Zhao Yebai was a bit slow-witted, he was gentle-natured and a good child.
Dong Suzhu grew more and more pleased the more she looked at them.
Seeing this, Yang Kai hurriedly cautioned, "You mustn't spoil them too much. If they make mistakes, they still need to be punished. Without rules, nothing gets done."
"I know, I know!" Dong Suzhu waved her hand impatiently.
Yang Kai shook his head helplessly and could only look sternly at the pair. "You two, cultivate diligently under your grandparents from now on and behave. If I hear that you've done anything wrong, I will not let it slide!"
"We wouldn't dare!" the two children said in unison.
Yang Kai nodded with satisfaction. "Father, Mother, I still have matters to discuss with the Grand Steward, so I won't stay any longer."
Dong Suzhu nodded understandingly. "Go on then."
Yang Kai bowed and turned to leave.
He had been discussing the new great domain with Hua Qingsi just before, but then Yu Changdao and the others had shown up together, and he still hadn't figured out what was going on over in the new great domain.
Finding Hua Qingsi again, Yang Kai first brought Miao Feiping and the other four out of his small cosmos and explained their backgrounds.
Hua Qingsi nodded and called someone over to take Miao Feiping and the others away to settle them in.
Only then did Yang Kai have the chance to ask, "What exactly is the situation over in the new great domain?"
Hua Qingsi replied, "The new great domain is extraordinarily rich in resources—it's a completely untouched land of abundance. We've found many wonderful things there over the years, and a few years ago, we even discovered a particularly interesting cosmos world."
"A cosmos world?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "What's interesting about it?"
Hua Qingsi kept him in suspense. "As for the details, Sect Master, you'll understand once you go see it for yourself. Just hearing me talk about it won't give you the full picture."