"Elder Shi Zheng is permanently stationed over in the Star Boundary. Junior Brother Yang, if you ever need anything in the future, you're welcome to seek him out. Our Langya Blessed Land has always had ties with you, Junior Brother Yang—we should naturally help each other." Zong Yuquan smiled.
Yang Kai nodded. "I actually just saw Elder Shi Zheng before coming here. He's been very generous with his care."
Zong Yuquan asked with concern, "How is Elder Shi Zheng's health these days?"
Yang Kai smiled. "Everything is well."
After a few more pleasantries, Zong Yuquan seemed to receive some kind of transmission. Looking slightly apologetic, he said, "I'm afraid I need to remain at the ferry terminal to verify the information of incoming and outgoing personnel. I won't be able to chat much longer, Junior Brother."
Yang Kai stood up knowingly. "Please go about your business, Senior Brother."
Zong Yuquan nodded. "Junior Sister Gu should be arriving shortly. Feel free to wander around the Star Market in the meantime. Our Langya Star Market has quite a few good things—if you see anything you like, just let me know."
"Will do!" Yang Kai agreed. As he turned to leave, a thought suddenly surged through him as if guided by instinct. He gave Zong Yuquan a slight nod and said in a low voice, "Ink will be eternal!"
These were the words Shi Zheng had uttered before dying. At first, Yang Kai hadn't understood their meaning, but after hearing Yu Xiangdie and the others explain so much, he naturally understood now.
Those who had been Ink-Transformed appeared no different on the surface, but in truth their natures had completely changed. They were devoted only to the Ink. Even someone like Shi Zheng, a Seventh-Order Open Heaven cultivator, could only cry out this single phrase before death—proof of just how dangerous the Ink Clan truly was.
Shi Zheng had almost certainly already lost himself.
And this phrase was likely a belief they held to, or perhaps a battle cry!
Yang Kai hadn't said it because he had detected anything suspicious. It was nothing more than a casual probe.
He hadn't expected any response at all.
Yet Zong Yuquan's expression froze for a moment as he looked at Yang Kai. Then he reached up and lightly pressed his hand over his chest, murmuring, "Ink will be eternal!"
Yang Kai gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
Exiting the Void Ferry terminal, he slipped into the bustling streets and, using the crowd as cover, quickly melted into the throng.
Moments later, he stopped in front of a shop, his expression perfectly calm on the surface while inwardly he was cursing furiously.
Hadn't they said Ink Worms were precious, and that the Ink Clan would only target upper-grade Open Heaven cultivators?
Zong Yuquan was actually Ink-Transformed! This revelation left Yang Kai both stunned and incredulous.
Yu Xiangdie and the others had told him before that Ink Worms were extraordinarily precious to the Ink Clan as well. Converting a mid-grade Open Heaven cultivator simply wasn't worth the cost, so the Ink Clan would only set their sights on upper-grade Open Heaven cultivators. For years, the various Blessed Lands and Grotto-heavens had been recruiting or sending their upper-grade Open Heaven cultivators to unknown regions precisely because they feared the Ink Clan would target them. One bad apple could spoil the whole barrel.
Yet in the span of a casual probe, Yang Kai had confirmed that Zong Yuquan was Ink-Transformed.
Thinking back, Zong Yuquan had likely been probing him as well when he had casually brought up Elder Shi Zheng. He probably knew about Shi Zheng's plan over in the Star Boundary.
And after Yang Kai had spoken those words—Ink will be eternal—Zong Yuquan had responded without the slightest hesitation, clearly believing that Shi Zheng had succeeded!
The truth was, if Yang Kai hadn't happened to obtain the Heaven and Earth Spring, he might not have escaped unscathed when facing that Ink Worm before. In the eyes of an Ink-Transformed individual like Zong Yuquan, it would have been perfectly natural for Shi Zheng to succeed.
How many Ink-Transformed individuals were there in Langya Blessed Land?
It felt as though the situation had suddenly grown far more dire, and Yang Kai couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.
He wandered aimlessly through the Star Market for a while before a familiar strand of Divine Sense suddenly spread out, searching through the market with restless urgency.
It was Gu Pan's Divine Sense. Yang Kai sent a brief response, and she quickly located his position. A petite figure descended from the sky.
Many people on the street stopped to stare, marveling at whoever could be so brazen as to act so freely within the Langya Star Market.
But one look at Gu Pan's clothing told them she was clearly someone from Langya Blessed Land, and they thought nothing more of it.
"Senior Brother Yang." Gu Pan landed in front of Yang Kai and greeted him with a nod.
"Junior Sister Gu!" Yang Kai returned the nod. "It's been years, and you're as lovely as ever!"
The last time he'd seen her was at the Yin-Yang Heaven's Dao Discussion Assembly. In the blink of an eye, decades had passed.
Gu Pan replied, "Senior Brother Yang seems even stronger now."
Yang Kai laughed it off. "I stumbled across a few opportunities."
Gu Pan asked curiously, "Did you come here for something specific, Senior Brother Yang?"
Yang Kai said casually, "Nothing in particular. Mostly I just came to see you."
Gu Pan studied him intently for a moment, then suddenly produced a jade slip and held it up toward Yang Kai, her voice perfectly calm. "Senior Brother Yang, please repeat what you just said."
"What do you mean?" Yang Kai was confused.
Gu Pan said, "I'm gathering evidence. Once Senior Sister Qu comes out of seclusion, I'll let her know that while she was in closed cultivation, her Senior Brother was out philandering with every woman he met!"
Yang Kai's face went dark. "That's not what happened at all! Besides, even if I were going to philander, someone with your tiny frame certainly wouldn't catch my eye!"