Yuan Du's stance put Gu Ling'er and the others on edge once more — they had only just begun to relax, but now they clustered around Yang Kai, each channelling World Force, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
Killing Yang Kai here and now would certainly cause complications, but compared to the exposure of their identities as Mo Slaves, it was a forced hand they had no choice but to play. When the time came, they could cook up any excuse — say that this Yang Kai had been overcome by lust and attempted to assault Gu Ling'er. That would be more than enough to cover their tracks.
After all, his image as a heartless scoundrel was already deeply ingrained in everyone's minds. He had already abandoned Gu Pan after toying with her affections, so it would come as no surprise whatsoever if he now took a fancy to Gu Ling'er's beauty.
Yang Kai turned his head and swept his gaze across them all. The cold, indifferent look in his eyes sent a chill through Gu Ling'er and the rest, reminding each of them of what it had been like to face him in combat during the trial.
With the strength Yang Kai had demonstrated before, killing them would have been child's play. So regardless of how Yuan Du was calculating the situation, Gu Ling'er and the others absolutely did not want this fight to break out.
"Senior..." Yang Kai lowered his head, his voice deep and subdued. "The Small World is the most private aspect of any cultivator — it is not something that can be inspected on a whim. I can understand that Senior has doubts about my identity, and I have already offered proof. Why is Senior still so insistent?"
Yuan Du spoke in a heavy tone: "This matter must be verified beyond any doubt!"
Yang Kai raised his head, looked Yuan Du straight in the eyes, and bared his teeth in a grim smile. "Since Senior knows I possess the body of a Divine Dragon, then Senior should also know that even within Senior's own Small World, killing me would not be so easy. And if we truly come to blows, I won't have a pleasant time of it — but neither will Senior, I suspect."
Yuan Du's expression shifted. "Are you threatening me?"
"I wouldn't dare. I'm merely explaining the situation as it stands," Yang Kai said with an insolent grin.
Gu Ling'er and the others were stunned. Just moments ago, Yang Kai had been the very picture of courtesy and deference, even treating an elder like Yuan Du with extraordinary respect. Now, in the span of a heartbeat, he had become this domineering, aggressive figure — a complete one-eighty that left them thoroughly disoriented.
But then they reconsidered. Yang Kai was, after all, a Divine Dragon. He was fully entitled to speak with Yuan Du as an equal. It was only his identity as a Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator that had caused everyone to unconsciously overlook the terrifying combat power his dragon form possessed. His deference toward Yuan Du had been nothing more than a matter of courtesy.
If they made the mistake of treating him as a mere junior because of that, they would be sorely mistaken.
"If it were only that, I would accept it. But if the shockwave of our battle leaks out, the fact that we are Mo Slaves will be discovered by Langya — and the consequences of that are impossible to predict!" Yang Kai inhaled slowly.
Yuan Du's face was suffused with warmth, but his voice was cold: "I am well aware of that. But if you are not a Mo Slave... then our identities would be exposed regardless. So no matter what happens, I must inspect your Small World today!"
Yang Kai's brows knitted tightly. "Why must Senior go this far?!"
"What exactly are you hiding?!" Yuan Du shouted.
The more Yang Kai resisted, the more uneasy Yuan Du felt. It was only a Small World inspection — was such an extreme reaction really necessary?
Unless he wasn't a genuine Mo Slave. But Yuan Du had just witnessed him wield the Force of Mo with his own eyes. That was precisely what baffled him.
Yang Kai fell silent. After a long moment, he let out a slow, drawn-out sigh. "Senior is right. There are indeed some secrets I wish to keep hidden — but they have nothing to do with my identity as a Mo Slave. Very well. If a fight breaks out, neither side will come away unscathed. Since Senior is so insistent, then I shall comply with Senior's wishes!"
As he spoke, he channelled World Force, and the phantom of his Small World materialised behind him.
However, Yang Kai did not fully reveal his Small World. He only displayed the portion that contained the sealed Force of Mo.
At this moment, he felt profoundly grateful that he had chosen to absorb and seal the Force of Mo left behind after Shi Zheng's death within his Small World all those years ago. Without that, there would have been absolutely no way to handle today's predicament.
The alternative, without question, would have been a full-blown battle. Caught inside Yuan Du's Small World, even in his Divine Dragon form, he would not have come out ahead.
In Yuan Du's field of vision, the phantom of Yang Kai's Small World churned with power as dark and dense as ink. The moment they saw it, every last one of them let out a breath they hadn't even realised they'd been holding.
And then came the shock, the confusion, the utter disbelief!
The phantom of the Small World receded. Yang Kai looked toward Yuan Du. "Senior, does this sufficiently prove my identity?"
Yuan Du's expression softened slightly, and he gave a small nod. "I was being overly suspicious. Please don't take it to heart, Nephew!"
Yang Kai waved a hand. "Senior was simply being cautious. I understand completely."
The two spoke as though nothing had happened, their tones mild and cordial, as if the swords-drawn tension of moments ago had been nothing more than a shared hallucination.
Gu Ling'er's crimson lips parted in astonishment. "Junior Brother Yang... your Small World has already transitioned from illusory to corporeal?"
Zong Yuquan and the others wore expressions of sheer shock. They had grasped this the instant they caught a glimpse of Yang Kai's Small World — the world within it was extraordinarily solid and dense, utterly unlike their own Small Worlds.
But... Yang Kai was only a Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivator! How could his Small World have already solidified from illusory to real? Was that not a privilege exclusive to those who had advanced to the Seventh Order?
No wonder he hadn't wanted anyone inspecting his Small World — the secret he was hiding was this!
It was, without question, an unbelievable secret. Throughout all of history, only upon ascending to the Upper Orders had an Open Heaven cultivator's Small World ever made that transition from illusory to corporeal. Countless sages had forged that path over countless ages, and to this day, there had never been a single exception.