Upon hearing this, Luo Tinghe and Qu Huashang both nodded in agreement, with the former saying, "Indeed."
Yang Kai said, "Wan'er is perceptive. That's what I think as well."
Tao Lingwan blushed at the compliment and smiled shyly, saying no more.
This was rather strange. Two people's names had vanished from the Scroll of Loyalty and Subjugation without explanation, yet the two who were supposed to be dead were alive and well, and neither of them had any idea about it.
Just then, a group of several people came galloping at speed from the direction of Star Market, chatting and laughing as they rode, clearly well acquainted with one another.
However, the auras emanating from the group were not particularly impressive. The leader was merely a Fourth-Order Open Heaven, while the rest were all Third-Order.
The group didn't spot Yang Kai and the others until they were quite close, and the discovery gave them quite a fright.
In the Void, robbery and murder were all too common. Those without sufficient strength could encounter danger at any moment while traveling through it.
However, given how close they already were, the group couldn't very well turn and flee without appearing weak. They stopped talking, raised their guard, and drifted slightly off their course to put some distance between themselves and Yang Kai's group as they passed by.
Seeing that Yang Kai and the others bore no ill will and showed no signs of moving to stop them, the group quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
But soon enough, the leading Fourth-Order Open Heaven circled back.
Yang Kai watched him with curiosity.
As though confirming that Yang Kai truly meant no harm, the Fourth-Order cultivator clasped his fists and said, "Yuan Tongguang of Baiya State. Greetings, friends."
Yang Kai nodded coolly. "How can I help you?"
Though Yang Kai had never heard of Baiya State, it was likely a second-tier power in some major Domain—much like Great Moon State, which had Middle-Order Open Heaven cultivators in its ranks and qualified as a second-tier force, yet whose strongest members could not exceed Fifth-Order Open Heaven.
Such forces dotted the entire Three Thousand Worlds in countless numbers.
Yuan Tongguang was only Fourth-Order Open Heaven, and with Yang Kai's group simply standing there in silence, he had no way of gauging the cultivation of this man and three women. However, he vaguely sensed that none of the four were weaker than himself, so his manner was quite polite. "I wouldn't presume to offer any advice. I merely wished to ask—are you friends also heading to the Black Domain?"
Yang Kai's expression flickered at this, and he followed the thread. "We are. What about you?"
At the same time, he was puzzled. Before Yang Kai's arrival, the Black Domain had always been Luan Baifeng's stronghold and her exclusive domain. Though there were mining slaves within, they were all people she had seized and abducted through various means. Later, after the Heavenly Sword Alliance's defeat, many captives had been taken into the Black Domain by Luan Baifeng to mine.
Anyone who entered the Black Domain became Luan Baifeng's mining slave, destined to extract resources for her until death.
She had never allowed outsiders to interfere.
Yet from the way Yuan Tongguang spoke, it sounded as though the Black Domain had thrown open its gates, allowing anyone to enter as they pleased.
Yuan Tongguang laughed. "That's right. I'd long heard that the Black Domain held considerable resources, but had no chance to see them for myself. Now Warden Luan has shown great benevolence and opened the Black Domain for us to mine. For those of us whose cultivation is neither high nor low, this is an extraordinary opportunity. Quite a few have already gone ahead."
Yang Kai frowned and probed carefully, "Brother Yuan, the few of us heard the news and came from another Domain. We don't know much about this Black Domain or Warden Luan, but I've heard she's no gentle soul—her methods are ruthless and her nature cruel. If we really entered the Black Domain, would we make it out alive? Could we keep the resources we mined? I find it hard to believe."
Yuan Tongguang looked Yang Kai up and down and smiled. "So that's what you've been worrying about—that's why you've been lingering here and haven't entered the Black Domain yet."
He had clearly misunderstood something, but Yang Kai had no intention of correcting him. After all, he'd been fishing for information.
Yuan Tongguang continued talking, nodding to himself. "Your concerns aren't unfounded. If the old Warden Luan had made such an offer, no one would have dared believe it. But times have changed. Warden Luan has long since submitted to Void Land and is now an Elder of Void Land. Ah, you've heard of Void Land, haven't you?"
"More or less," Yang Kai replied vaguely.
A look of admiration suddenly appeared on Yuan Tongguang's face. "Void Land is truly remarkable. Especially its master—rumor has it he's only Sixth-Order Open Heaven, yet he once killed a Seventh-Order! He offended Thousand Crane Blessed Land and came away unscathed. He's also the Great Emperor of the Star Realm—you must have heard of the Star Realm? The World Tree, that supreme treasure of heaven and earth, resides within it. Now every major Blessed Land and Inheritance Cave has established a dojo there, cooperating extensively with Void Land's master."
"I've long admired his reputation!" Yang Kai said, his expression rather odd. Being praised to his face like this, he genuinely didn't know what expression to wear.
Qu Huashang, standing nearby, pressed her lips together and stifled a laugh.