Whether it was the Yellow Crystal or the Blue Crystal, both were manifestations of the power of Zhuozhao and Youying. Although they had been transformed into Yin-Yang-attributed resources that could be refined and absorbed through their clashes and battles, their fundamental essence had not changed.
The power in the final finger-taps that Big Brother Huang and Big Sister Lan had left before departing served as the keys to unlock the energy seals on the backs of Yang Kai's left and right hands.
Yellow on the left hand represented Yang, blue on the right hand represented Yin. Yang Kai pressed his palms together, harmonizing Yin and Yang, and the two colors of energy merged and converged, transforming into a dazzling white light!
Yang Kai had never seen such pure white light—it was a purity untainted by even the slightest impurity, as if it could purify all things under heaven and earth.
Ever since being dragged out by Yang Kai, the Third-Order Ink Disciple had been glaring at him with furious, hostile eyes, guttural sounds of meaningless fury escaping his throat like a man-eating beast. But the moment the white light bloomed, the ferocity and rage in his eyes instantly gave way to bewilderment.
In the next instant, bewilderment turned to panic, and the man began thrashing violently.
But a secret technique had sealed his power, and no matter how he struggled, he could not move an inch.
Seeing this, Yang Kai grew even more confident that he had found the right method. He hadn't expected that the Yellow Crystal and Blue Crystal he had obtained during his last visit to the Chaos Dead Zone would turn out to be the key to purging the Power of Ink.
Yang Kai raised his hand, which now seemed to hold a miniature sun radiating white light, and cast it down over the Ink Disciple's head.
The white light cascaded down like moonlight, bathing the Ink Disciple in its glow. In the next instant, an extraordinary transformation erupted.
The Ink Disciple seemed to endure unimaginable torment—his eyes bulged wide, his face contorted in excruciating pain. Then, wisp after wisp of pitch-black energy seeped out from various parts of his body, dissipating in the blink of an eye. More than that, a sound emanated from within him, like the melting of accumulated snow.
Yang Kai focused carefully. The pitch-black energy seeping from the Ink Disciple's body carried traces of the Power of Ink, yet it was not the genuine Power of Ink—it had likely been purified by the white light, and so could not persist as true Power of Ink would. The moment it was expelled, it vanished without a trace.
Great billows of black energy surged from the Ink Disciple's body. As time passed, the black energy grew ever less, and the pained expression on the Ink Disciple's face gradually softened into calm.
In merely a dozen or so breaths, no more black energy escaped, and the Ink Disciple's eyes finally returned to clarity.
The miniature sun of white light still clutched in Yang Kai's hand had not been fully depleted—it had merely been reduced by half.
In other words, the remaining white light should be sufficient to purge the Power of Ink from one more Ink Disciple. Yang Kai did not waste it—after all, this was power converted from the Yellow Crystal and Blue Crystal. He kept it in check within his hand and turned his gaze upon the Ink Disciple.
"Many thanks to Sect Master Yang for saving my life!" The Ink Disciple suddenly spoke, his expression as normal as could be, his manner utterly sincere.
Yang Kai raised an eyebrow slightly. "I'm going to release the seal on you. Don't do anything rash."
"I wouldn't dare!" the Ink Disciple replied.
Only then did Yang Kai cast his technique and undo the power restraining him.
True to his word, the Ink Disciple did nothing rash. Yang Kai said bluntly, "Open your Small Universe. I need to inspect it."
Only by inspecting the Small Universe could he confirm whether any residual Power of Ink remained within this Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator. Under normal circumstances, such a request would be considered highly offensive, and no one would agree to it lightly. But the Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator clearly understood that circumstances were beyond his control. After only a brief hesitation, he readily opened his Small Universe to prove his innocence.
The Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator's Small Universe was not particularly robust—it remained illusory, having not yet solidified into a physical form. Yang Kai probed it carefully and confirmed that indeed no residual Power of Ink remained within. Only then did he feel at ease.
Although Big Brother Huang and Big Sister Lan were not the most reliable in their methods, they could still be trusted. They hadn't taken action to purge the Power of Ink themselves, but they had at least pointed Yang Kai in the right direction.
Furthermore... Yang Kai lowered his gaze to examine the ball of white light he held suppressed in his hand, vaguely sensing that Big Brother Huang and Big Sister Lan’s actions weren’t merely about avoiding trouble, but rather bestowing upon him a method to purge the Power of Ink.
In the future, should he encounter another Ink Disciple, there would be no need to travel countless miles to this chaotic dead domain to seek help. He could perform the technique himself to purge the corruption.
After pondering for a moment, Yang Kai looked up at the person before him. "Do you feel any discomfort?"
The Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator silently assessed himself for a moment, then shook his head. "No discomfort, actually. If anything, it feels like being reborn."
"Do you remember what happened before?"
The Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator gave a bitter smile. "I remember, clearly and vividly. When that evil force occupied my body and mind, my thoughts weren’t greatly affected; they still seemed normal. But my true self felt sealed away, replaced by another self I didn’t recognize at all."
"That is the evil of the Power of Ink. Those eroded by the Power of Ink hold only the Ink supreme!"
The Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator nodded with lingering fear, recalling his previous thoughts and feeling that truth resonate deeply within him.
"I will forever remember this life-saving grace," the Third-Order Open Heaven cultivator said with sincere gratitude.
Yang Kai waved a hand dismissively. "It was nothing. Don’t worry about it. However, you cannot leave just yet. This is no ordinary place. Stay here for now. Once matters are settled, we will leave together."
"Understood." The man agreed, then asked, "Does Sect Master Yang require any service?"