Back in the Star Boundary, Yang Kai had originally intended to have Xia Ningshang take Miao Dan the Great Emperor as her master. However, Miao Dan the Great Emperor had already taken his final disciple and would accept no more, so the matter had to be dropped.
That said, Miao Dan the Great Emperor had personally taught Xia Ningshang the art of alchemy. Xia Ningshang had also resided in the Medicine Pill Valley for a considerable period, and afterward had cultivated the alchemy path under the side of Miao Dan the Great Emperor's final disciple, Ji Ying—effectively receiving instruction on the master's behalf through Ji Ying.
So while there was no formal master-disciple title between them, the reality of the relationship was there.
Now that Xia Ningshang had the good fortune of becoming a disciple under the Purple Jade Divine Lord of Divine Medicine Heaven, Miao Dan the Great Emperor was happy for her as well.
Divine Medicine Heaven hadn't originally intended to make things too difficult for Yang Kai. But since every other place had put forth trials, they naturally couldn't be the exception—they'd just go through the motions. Regardless of how Yang Kai's alchemy turned out, they would let him take Xia Ningshang away.
However, once both sides began their alchemy, the Divine Medicine Heaven Open Heaven Realm cultivator who stepped forward had no choice but to bring out his full skill. That was because he discovered that the one representing Ling Xiao Palace possessed an extraordinary level of mastery in the Dao of Alchemy. If he was careless, he might actually lose this contest.
The alchemy competition was a dazzling display, with both sides showcasing everything they had.
The spirit pills they refined weren't particularly complex, and both finished within half an hour. Each knew in their own heart whose was superior. The Divine Medicine Heaven disciple cupped his fists toward Miao Dan the Great Emperor, who returned the gesture.
The Purple Jade Divine Lord personally appeared to evaluate the pills refined by both sides but refrained from making any direct comparison—comparison meant a winner and loser, and neither side would come out looking good.
However, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that while Miao Dan the Great Emperor's alchemy was superb, he had only broken through to the Open Heaven Realm a few hundred years ago. How could he compare to someone who hailed from Divine Medicine Heaven?
That person had been an established Open Heaven Realm cultivator for at least several thousand, if not tens of thousands, of years. The time immersed in the Dao of Alchemy was simply not something Miao Dan the Great Emperor could match.
This contest of alchemy skills was deemed passed, and Yang Kai strode happily into the great hall. Guided by a Divine Medicine Heaven disciple, he entered a chamber and scooped up his little senior sister, who was dressed festively in red.
The final stop was Yin-Yang Heaven.
There were no trials here, nor were any needed.
Yang Kai and Qu Huashang's trial had been witnessed by all at the Samsara Pavilion—the feat of nine lifetimes of reincarnation. To this day, Yin-Yang Heaven had produced only one such case. What further trial could there be?
The Divine Lord leading the Yin-Yang Heaven delegation bore the title Azure Feather. Yang Kai stepped forward and bowed respectfully. Azure Feather gave a reserved nod and said nothing more.
Standing beside him, Yu Xiangdie smiled and said, "Follow me. She's waiting inside."
With that, she turned and led the way, Yang Kai following close behind.
Entering the great hall and stepping into the side chamber, Yu Xiangdie led Yang Kai through the door. His eyes fell immediately upon two women sitting on the bed, dressed in bright red gowns, red veils draped over their heads. At the sound of the door opening, the one on the left stiffened slightly, her small hands instinctively twisting together in clear nervousness.
Yang Kai stared in surprise.
Why were there two? He wondered if Yin-Yang Heaven had some trial of their own. But after a brief sense with his consciousness, he identified exactly who they were.
One was Qu Huashang, and the other was Tao Lingwan. Neither was hiding anything—though the red veils concealed their faces, their auras were easy to distinguish.
Yang Kai turned his head toward Yu Xiangdie, a questioning look in his eyes. The meaning was obvious: he wanted to know what Yin-Yang Heaven meant by this.
Yu Xiangdie simply smiled without answering.
During that moment of hesitation, Tao Lingwan, who sat perfectly still on the bed, grew visibly more anxious. Beside her, Qu Huashang reached out her delicate hand and took hold of hers.
Yang Kai didn't hesitate for long. After a brief pause, he strode forward and came to a stop before the two of them. Extending his hands left and right, he said gently, "My two wives, please rise!"
Two small hands settled into his palms. Yang Kai passed between them, turned, and with one in each arm—left and right—strode out head held high, chest puffed with pride.
On his left, Tao Lingwan's rigid body slowly relaxed.
Behind Yang Kai, Yu Xiangdie quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
This arrangement hadn't been coordinated with Yang Kai at all—the point was to catch him off guard. She had observed his attitude toward Tao Lingwan back at Yin-Yang Heaven and knew that if given the choice, he might not have been willing to join hands in matrimony with Tao Lingwan.
It wasn't that he looked down on her. It was mainly that they weren't familiar with each other and hadn't spent much time together—their hearts hadn't drawn close.
Tao Lingwan had been tricked by her own master. To resolve an awkward situation at Yin-Yang Heaven, Chen Xiu had deliberately timed his own disciple's Qi Deviation, arranging for Yang Kai to help Tao Lingwan through it. Since then, Yang Kai's aura had lingered within Tao Lingwan's Small World. And because of the nature of her cultivation technique, for the rest of her life, Tao Lingwan could only accept power belonging to Yang Kai. To advance to the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Realm, only Yang Kai could help her.
This was a path that every Yin-Yang Heaven disciple who cultivated the Path of Affection had to walk.