"What should I do?" Yang Kai asked.
"Go recruit more companions." Luan Baifeng smiled sweetly. "More and more people are entering the Black Domain these days. They're all potential power our Master will need once he awakens — we can't let the opportunity slip by."
Yang Kai replied respectfully, "It is my honor to serve the Master!"
"Go on, then. I'll be waiting for your good news." Luan Baifeng waved her hand.
Yang Kai flashed toward the depths of the Black Domain. At the same time, he considered the situation from the perspective of an Ink Disciple.
The powerhouses from the Cave Heavens and Blessed Grounds hadn't arrived yet. The most pressing thing for him right now was to keep Luan Baifeng off his guard. But now she wanted him to convert more companions, which put him in a difficult position.
He did possess the power of the Essence of Ink within his body — it could be used to convert Ink Disciples. Yuan Tongguang had been converted by his own hand, after all.
But that had been done under duress. Under Luan Baifeng's watchful eye, he'd had no choice but to act.
Now that Luan Baifeng was giving him free rein, Yang Kai naturally had no intention of doing it again. Yet if he refused to act, his identity would inevitably be exposed before long. When that happened and Luan Baifeng questioned him, how would he explain himself?
Another concern weighed on him: the Ink Clan prisoner locked deep within the Black Prison.
Back then, he had performed a sacrificial rite to summon that vast and majestic will, hoping to locate where its owner was hiding, but he had failed. Still, he had clearly felt the existence and power of that will — and the other party had certainly sensed his presence as well.
If the Ink Clan prisoner deep in the Black Prison was the owner of that very will, then his current situation was extremely dangerous.
The Ink Clan prisoner had been imprisoned for so many years that he was still slumbering. Once he awakened, it was entirely possible that he would detect Yang Kai's presence.
When that happened, his identity would be exposed immediately.
So no matter what, Yang Kai felt that his disguise wouldn't last much longer. Exposure was merely a matter of time. This was a race — a race against time.
If the Cave Heavens and Blessed Grounds powerhouses could arrive before his identity was revealed, everything could still be salvaged. But if they didn't make it in time, things would become very troublesome.
His thoughts churning, Yang Kai arrived at Mining Star Sixteen of the Celestial designation.
The moment he descended from the sky, the cultivators on Mining Star Sixteen sensed his arrival. Before long, the elderly surnamed You and Yuan Tongguang and the others hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Sect Master Yang!"
Yang Kai nodded. "I'm just here for a casual look. Carry on with your work."
Everyone responded in unison, "Yes!"
Yuan Tongguang and the others dispersed and returned to their tasks.
Yang Kai remained on Mining Star Sixteen. Though there was a risk of his identity being exposed, he was unwilling and would not convert any more Ink Disciples. All he could do was silently pray for the Cave Heavens and Blessed Grounds powerhouses to arrive soon.
But doing the math, Luo Tinghe and the others had only left a month or two ago. Even traveling at top speed, the reinforcements should still be en route.
Fortunately, the following half month passed without incident. Yuan Tongguang and the others focused on mining resources, and Luan Baifeng showed no interest in seeking him out. Yang Kai enjoyed a stretch of peaceful days.
Before long, however, he discovered something that left him speechless.
On Mining Star Sixteen, a total of thirteen Open Heaven Realm cultivators were now mining resources. The strongest among them was the elderly surnamed You who rode the jade-eyed toad — a Fifth-Order cultivator. The rest were all Third or Fourth Order.
And all thirteen of these Open Heaven Realm cultivators had been converted into Ink Disciples!
Luan Baifeng must have made her move before Yang Kai's arrival.
Yuan Tongguang had been converted by Yang Kai personally. Once he became an Ink Disciple and returned to Mining Star Sixteen, with him working from the inside, it would have been easy for Luan Baifeng to subdue the Open Heaven Realm cultivators stationed here.
If that were all, it would have been one thing. But twenty days after Yang Kai's arrival on Mining Star Sixteen, something happened one day. Yuan Tongguang and the others, who had been mining resources, suddenly gathered together.
Yang Kai sensed the shift but couldn't tell what was happening, so he walked over to observe.
He didn't bother concealing himself. The Ink Disciples noticed his presence but said nothing.
Led by Yuan Tongguang, the group each removed their Space Rings and handed them to the elderly surnamed You, who accepted them in silence, his expression solemn.
"I'm leaving everything to you," Yuan Tongguang said, looking at the old man.
The elderly man named You nodded. "Rest easy. You all go ahead. I'll join you in a few days."
Yuan Tongguang and the others simultaneously placed their hands over their chests. "The Ink endures forever."
The elderly man replied, "The Ink endures forever."
In the next instant, all twelve Open Heaven Realm cultivators flashed into motion, streaking outward in twelve beams of light.
Yang Kai's expression darkened as he vaguely realized what was happening. He walked slowly to the side of the elderly man named You and stood beside him, looking up in the direction Yuan Tongguang and the others had departed.