The entire Black Domain was riddled with formations, and those formations, together with the countless mine-stars, composed a super-formation that blanketed the whole Black Domain—turning it into a cage that had imprisoned the Mo Race since ancient times.
The formations in the central zone were undoubtedly the most critical and profound. Finding flaws in those formations and charting a safe route inward was no simple task.
Fortunately, the Mo Race had once sent Mo Insects out from within, which gave the many formation grandmasters trails to follow.
With Yang Kai's Small World enveloping and shielding them, they had nothing to fear about the depletion of their foundations—they had ample time to study.
More than a dozen formation grandmasters, each employing their own methods, worked busily day after day. Sometimes they fell into deep contemplation, sometimes they activated secret arts to glimpse the mysteries of the formations, and sometimes they gathered together, arguing without end.
Yang Kai was of no help in this matter, and the five Eighth-rank Supreme Elders who had escorted them here were equally powerless.
During his idle moments, Yang Kai began studying the method Brother Huang and Sister Lan had bestowed upon him for purifying Mo Power. When Brother Huang and Sister Lan had granted him this technique, Yang Kai hadn't thought much of it—he'd assumed they simply couldn't be bothered and wanted him to do the work of restoring the Mo Devotees to their true selves.
But when they were leaving the Chaotic Death Domain, a remark from Brother Huang made him realize that this technique wasn't limited to merely saving Mo Devotees who had been corrupted by Mo Power.
Against the Mo Race, it could well be a devastating weapon!
However, wielding this technique was rather troublesome. He first had to absorb the energy of the Yellow Crystals and Blue Crystals, merging Yin and Yang into one, before he could activate it.
Yellow Crystals and Blue Crystals were something Yang Kai had no shortage of. His Small World was piled high with countless Yellow Crystals and Blue Crystals—practically innumerable. But in a fight against a powerful enemy, even the slightest delay could mean the difference between life and death.
His Small World was under his control, and the Yellow Crystals and Blue Crystals were stored right within it. There seemed to be no need to take them out of his Small World and hold them in his hands to absorb their energy.
Absorbing them directly from his Small World would save considerable time, and it could also catch opponents off guard.
The moment this thought occurred to him, Yang Kai immediately began trying.
So over the long stretch of time that followed, the five Eighth-rank Supreme Elders could see that, from time to time, a mass of yang-attributed or yin-attributed energy would gather in Yang Kai's left or right hand.
Realizing that Yang Kai was researching something, they didn't disturb him.
After more than a full month, the more than a dozen formation grandmasters who had been searching for flaws finally had a lead. They had found a route that could bypass the great formation and lead into the heart of the Black Domain.
"This passage is theoretically viable, but whether it will actually trigger the formations here, we cannot say for certain—unless someone is willing to test it first." Luan Baifeng was the one who explained it to Yang Kai. "Ancient formations differ slightly from modern ones. Many of the arrangements make absolutely no sense when viewed through contemporary eyes, so you must be extremely careful. If anything feels wrong, retreat immediately."
Yang Kai nodded. "I'll be careful."
Luan Baifeng glanced at the other formation grandmasters, then continued, "Once you're ready, we'll work together to open that passage for you. After that, you'll be on your own."
"I don't need to prepare anything," Yang Kai said. He then looked toward Six Wood Divine Lord and the others, cupping his fists in a bow. "Esteemed seniors, this junior will be heading out now."
Six Wood stepped forward. "No rush just yet."
As he spoke, he suddenly extended a finger and pointed it at Yang Kai. A drop of crimson essence blood seeped from his fingertip, containing enormous energy.
It was none other than his own essence blood.
As the droplet descended, Six Wood's finger danced lightly, and the essence blood burst apart, transforming into an arcane symbol that was implanted into Yang Kai's body.
Having completed this, Six Wood Divine Lord's complexion turned slightly pale, clearly indicating a heavy expenditure.
After him, the other four Eighth-rank Supreme Elders did the same. Though their methods differed, each of them planted a secret technique belonging to himself upon Yang Kai.
Yang Kai didn't resist. He immediately felt as though five powerful protections had manifested inside his body. Understanding what had happened, he clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, esteemed seniors."
Six Wood waved his hand weakly. "There's not much else we can do for you. These five secret techniques come from the five of us. In a moment of crisis, they can each block a full-force strike from one of us."
"That's more than enough!" Yang Kai finished speaking, then turned his head and nodded to Luan Baifeng.
Luan Baifeng understood the signal. She stepped forward and, together with the other formation grandmasters, began channeling their arts. Formation plates were driven one after another into the void. As their hand seals shifted, the space ahead suddenly rippled, and a passage radiating with a faint glow materialized—as though it could lead to the heart of the cage. The glowing passage resembled a bridge of light, strikingly conspicuous.
Yang Kai took a deep breath, stepped onto the bridge of light, and began walking forward, one step at a time.
He had taken only a few steps before glancing back—and everyone else had vanished. In the vast, desolate void, Yang Kai had instantly become utterly alone.
Beyond the bridge of light, fierce killing intent seemed to lurk in hiding. That intent was undoubtedly the power of the formations here. Yang Kai didn't even dare extend his divine sense recklessly, for fear of triggering some unforeseen incident.
He pressed onward step by step, his stride steady.
He didn't know how long he walked, but he couldn't see the end.
Everything around him remained unchanged. Yang Kai was even seized by the illusion that he was treading in place.
But he knew he absolutely wasn't standing still. The feeling was merely the influence of the formations.