The world within was a riot of bizarre, distorted scenery. Yang Kai looked around and couldn't find a single normal thing.
Li Yuanwang sat upright not far ahead, seemingly upon a throne, his body slightly leaning forward, one hand propping up his chin as he regarded Yang Kai with leisurely composure — brimming with aggression.
Around him, terrifying energies materialized one after another, transforming into sharp, gleaming swords that hummed ceaselessly.
Sword intent permeated the air, killing intent surged.
This was the world within the painting! Yang Kai suddenly came to his senses.
The painting actually contained a cosmos within!
Only now did Yang Kai realize he had underestimated the Langya Sect Leader. The painting wasn't mere doodling — he simply hadn't known how to appreciate it.
Gu Pan beside him was also somewhat shocked. She had clearly perceived the extraordinary nature of this painted world. She had always assumed her master's painting skills were terrible, yet who would have thought he possessed such bizarre abilities?
"Boy, what did you just say? Say it again — I didn't hear you clearly." Li Yuanwang looked at Yang Kai, his gaze sharp.
He had heard clearly, of course. He merely wanted to confirm. His earlier pretense of ignorance had been nothing more than a ploy to catch Yang Kai off guard and trap him inside this painted world at the first opportunity.
Yang Kai turned to look at Gu Pan. At a time like this, explaining was useless — better to let Gu Pan speak.
Gu Pan caught on immediately and delivered a bombshell: "Master, Elder Shi Zheng has been Ink-corrupted!"
Li Yuanwang's imposing aura froze abruptly. He might harbor suspicions toward Yang Kai, but he was still willing to believe his own disciple. His expression turned grave: "Where did this information come from? Can it be confirmed?"
Gu Pan nodded heavily: "Senior Brother Yang witnessed it with his own eyes. He traveled here from the Star Boundary specifically for this matter."
"Tell me the details!" Li Yuanwang turned to Yang Kai.
Yang Kai promptly recounted what he had previously told Gu Pan. Li Yuanwang's expression shifted restlessly, growing more and more somber.
After Yang Kai finished, Li Yuanwang said: "So you tested Zong Yuquan and found him out, and then you decided to test me as well?"
Yang Kai nodded. Mainly, faced with that dreadful painting, he had been at a loss for words and had blurted out the remark without thinking.
"Words are proof of nothing. Open your Small Cosmos — I want to examine it." Li Yuanwang stood. Deep down, he believed what Yang Kai said was likely true; otherwise, the young man wouldn't have traveled all the way from the Star Boundary. But when it came to the Ink Clan, caution was paramount.
Yang Kai sighed helplessly. He had been having his Small Cosmos inspected far too frequently lately. But to determine whether one had been Ink-corrupted, this really was the simplest and most effective method.
He opened the gateway to his Cosmos, and Li Yuanwang's divine sense surged in immediately. A moment later, Li Yuanwang stared at Yang Kai with an expression of shock: "You've got quite the nerve — locking Ink Smoke away inside your own Small Cosmos."
Yang Kai smiled: "If not for the Heaven and Earth Spring, I wouldn't have dared take such a reckless gamble."
Li Yuanwang nodded slightly and was about to speak when Yang Kai said: "Senior, it's your turn!"
Li Yuanwang's mouth hung open: "What?"
Yang Kai fixed him with a stare: "Please open your Small Cosmos as well, so I may conduct a thorough examination."
Li Yuanwang burst out laughing in exasperation: "You want to inspect my Small Cosmos?"
Yang Kai's expression was dead serious: "Only in this way can I confirm that you haven't been Ink-corrupted!"
"If I had been Ink-corrupted, you'd already be a dead man!"
"Not necessarily. Perhaps you're simply trying to deflect suspicion!" Yang Kai shook his head.
Li Yuanwang looked at Gu Pan, then tapped his own temple: "Does your friend have something wrong with his head?"
Gu Pan said: "Master, I'd like to take a look as well."
Li Yuanwang immediately put on a pained expression: "Little Pan, how can you be like this too? Sure enough, once a girl grows up, her loyalties shift outward? Do you have any idea how hard I worked to raise you?"
Yang Kai stepped forward, his voice deep and stern: "Senior, this is a matter of great importance. If you refuse to let me examine your Small Cosmos, then I have no choice but to assume you have been Ink-corrupted and are unwilling to let anyone inspect you. In that case, please don't blame me for being discourteous!"
Li Yuanwang regarded Yang Kai with a grin: "And how exactly will you be discourteous?"
Yang Kai said: "The Ink-corrupted currently believe I'm one of them. If I fight you here, this matter won't end well — the Ink-corrupted will surely be alerted. If you truly haven't been corrupted, you certainly wouldn't want that to happen. Please cooperate!"
Li Yuanwang couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain behind his teeth, but he had to admit Yang Kai was right.
He had already left the impression of being an ally with Zong Yuquan. Zong Yuquan would certainly have sent word to the other Ink-corrupted by now. If a battle broke out here, it would alert the enemy and cause needless complications.
Yang Kai might not care about any of that — he wasn't a Langya disciple. But Li Yuanwang, as the Langya Sect Leader, certainly could not afford to ignore it.
Gritting his teeth, he turned his gaze skyward, wearing an expression of utter resignation: "Fine, fine! Look all you want!"
With that, Li Yuanwang opened the gateway to his own Small Cosmos.