What could be confirmed now was that Yuan Du was the root cause of everything. As long as this source and the few lieutenants he had cultivated were eliminated, Langya's troubles would be resolved.
What could not be confirmed was where the Ink Clan that Yuan Du had been worshipping was hiding! Eradicating Yuan Du and those few Ink Servants alone would not uproot the hidden Ink Clan, and the problem would remain fundamentally unsolved. Perhaps a few thousand years later, a second, even a third Yuan Du would appear in this world.
Li Yuanwang said with deep concern, "Judging by Yuan Du's words, the Ink Clan must be sealed somewhere within the Three Thousand Worlds. Over the past century, his contact with them has grown increasingly frequent, which suggests the sealed Ink Clan is showing signs of breaking free!"
Yang Kai nodded. "That is what Yuan Du said."
"Does anyone have any theories about where this Ink Clan might be imprisoned?" Li Yuanwang looked up at the gathered Upper-Order Open Heaven cultivators below.
Everyone shook their heads.
Yu Changdao spoke up. "In recent years, no particularly unusual intelligence has emerged from any of the great domains across the Three Thousand Worlds. Moreover, none of the records in our Caves Heavens and Blessed Lands contain any similar accounts. This tells us that the sealed Ink Clan dates back to an extremely ancient era — possibly even before the Caves Heavens and Blessed Lands came into existence."
A thought struck Yang Kai. "Could it be from the same era when the Dragon and Phoenix Clans sealed that colossal Ink Colossus?"
Li Yuanwang stroked his beard. "It's not impossible, but no one can say for certain."
Otherwise, there would be no way to explain why none of the great Caves Heavens and Blessed Lands had any records of it. If such a sinister entity had truly been sealed away, the texts passed down through the Caves Heavens and Blessed Lands would surely have mentioned it.
If even the Upper-Order Open Heaven cultivators of the great Caves Heavens and Blessed Lands knew nothing about it, then the sealed Ink Clan must date back to an inconceivably remote age.
"Could it be in the Shattered Sky?" someone said with a frown. "The situation across the various great domains of the Three Thousand Worlds is largely understood now. Only the Shattered Sky remains chaotic and fraught with danger — even our Upper-Order Open Heaven cultivators who venture deep inside may not return unscathed if they encounter true peril. If the Ink Clan is truly sealed within the Shattered Sky, that would explain everything!"
Yu Xiangdie said, "It seems we'll need to conduct a thorough search of the Shattered Sky. This matter is of the utmost importance; we cannot afford the slightest negligence."
Li Yuanwang nodded. "We can discuss that later. For now, the priority is dealing with the Ink Servants within Langya."
"Senior Brother Li, just give us your instructions. We will of course lend Langya a hand!"
They had originally assumed there were a great many Ink Servants in Langya, which was why dozens of Upper-Order Open Heaven cultivators had rushed over at once — a preventive measure. Now that the number of Ink Servants had been confirmed to be small, the tension they had carried for days eased considerably.
With so many Upper-Order Open Heaven cultivators, dealing with a handful of Ink Servants would pose no problem, so long as they were careful not to come into contact with that Ink force.
Langya's affairs were Langya's to handle. Over the next few days, everything was calm and peaceful. The trial that Yang Kai had ignited had become a topic of lively discussion, and it had also rekindled the determination of Langya's many Open Heaven cultivators to train diligently. It was said that after that trial, several hundred Sixth-Order cultivators in Langya had entered seclusion at once, and a few had sworn not to emerge until they had broken through to the Seventh Order.
As a result, Langya, once so bustling, had grown noticeably quiet.
On the spirit continent where Li Yuanwang resided, numerous Upper-Order Open Heaven cultivators concealed their auras, as though awaiting someone's arrival.
Yang Kai was similarly hidden in the void, his presence masked by the continent's grand formation, not a trace of his aura leaking through.
Below, before a thatched hut, Li Yuanwang sat in a rattan chair like some old country farmer, a teapot cradled in his hands, taking an occasional sip.
A streak of light shot in from the distance and landed before Li Yuanwang. The figure cupped his fists. "Greetings, Sect Master!"
Li Yuanwang smiled and gestured. "Sit!"
Yuan Du nodded and settled into a seat beside him. "Sect Master, you summoned me. Is something the matter?"
Li Yuanwang shook his head. "Can't an old friend simply call his senior brother over for a chat?"
Yuan Du blinked. Senior brother — he hadn't heard that address in a very long time. The last time someone had called him that, was it three thousand years ago? Or five thousand?
It had been so long he could no longer remember.
"Of course," Yuan Du said with a smile. "Now that you mention it, we brothers really haven't sat down quietly together like this in far too many years."
"Indeed." Li Yuanwang let out a wistful sigh. "Ever since you were elevated to Vice Sect Master and I took the seat of Sect Master, I've had to worry about Langya day in and day out."
Yuan Du shot him a sidelong glance. "I haven't seen you do all that much worrying, Senior Brother. It's the three of us Vice Sect Masters whose hair has been turning whiter year by year."
"Nonsense!" Li Yuanwang said with perfect seriousness. "All these years I have devoted my heart and soul to Langya, pouring out every last drop of effort. Without that, how could Langya possibly enjoy such a glorious flourishing?"
Yuan Du laughed and cursed, "Stop patting yourself on the back. This prosperity was built on the foundation laid by countless predecessors over countless years. You've merely been keeping what they built!"
Li Yuanwang adopted a solemn tone. "Keeping what's been built is no easy task. Everyone thinks the Langya Sect Master lives in splendid comfort, but who truly understands the heartbreak I've endured for the sake of Langya's disciples?"
Yuan Du curled his lip. "Shamelessness — that's one thing about you, Senior Brother, that hasn't changed in all these years."
Li Yuanwang suddenly said, "It's you who has changed greatly, Senior Brother!"
Yuan Du's eyelids tightened slightly. "How have I changed?"
Their gazes locked. Li Yuanwang's expression turned deeply grave. "You've aged so much, Senior Brother. Gone entirely is the dashing elegance of your youth!"