The direction Feng Ying led him flying was not toward the pass guarded by the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands, but rather seemed to be circling around in some roundabout way, which left him rather puzzled.
Feng Ying explained, "This operation should have enraged the Ink Clan. Their army is massing up ahead, and the two of us alone may not be able to break through their defensive line. Rushing in blindly would just be walking into a trap. It's better to find some more help first."
"Help?" Yang Kai raised an eyebrow slightly, catching on. "Ink Disciples?"
Feng Ying nodded. "You have the means to purify the Ink. If we can find more Ink Disciples, we might be able to gather a group and cause chaos in the Ink Clan army's rear. Only then will we have a chance to make it back."
She hadn't originally had this plan. Being stranded alone deep in Ink Clan territory, she had already steeled herself for death. If not for that, she wouldn't have struck at Nuyan the moment she had recovered earlier. She had never expected to make it out alive—her only thought had been to kill as many Ink Clan and Ink Disciples as possible, so that even in death, it wouldn't be a total loss.
But after witnessing Yang Kai's extraordinary purification technique, a plan had taken shape in her mind. If this plan could be executed successfully, there was a chance they could survive—and even rescue some Ink Disciples.
That said, Yang Kai was an indispensable part of this plan. Without him, it simply could not be carried out.
Once she explained, Yang Kai immediately understood. He looked around for a moment, then turned his gaze toward a mass of Ink Cloud condensed in the void. "Senior, how about we hide inside that Ink Cloud over there?"
Feng Ying followed his gaze and looked thoughtfully. "You mean…"
Yang Kai said, "Ink Disciples are bound to be traveling alongside Ink Clan. If the two of us keep flying about, even if we spot some Ink Disciples, the Ink Clan with them will be on guard and it'll be hard to make a move. But if we hide inside the Ink Cloud and reveal ourselves as the Ink Clan pass by, the situation will be completely different."
Feng Ying considered for a moment after hearing this and nodded. "You make a good point."
She was a sharp person and didn't need Yang Kai to spell everything out—she naturally grasped the various advantages of this approach. However, if they actually went through with it, there was only one concern: "Can you keep me safe?"
Though her strength was formidable and her Small Universe was deep and robust, giving her considerable resistance to the Ink Force's corrosion, she couldn't remain inside an Ink Cloud for an extended period. If the duration was too long, even she wouldn't be able to endure it.
"Let's find out!" Yang Kai called out with excitement, darting first toward the Ink Cloud.
He couldn't help but feel exhilarated. After mucking about in Ink Clan territory for two years, treading on thin ice the entire time, being cautious at every turn, the prospect of doing something this thrilling made his blood boil.
Moments later, Yang Kai plunged into the Ink Cloud, with Feng Ying close behind.
The dense Ink Cloud had almost solidified into something tangible. Hidden within it, anyone passing by would need to search carefully to detect their presence.
However, Yang Kai possessed the Heaven and Earth Spring, so no matter how potent the Ink Cloud was, it had absolutely no effect on him. Feng Ying was a different matter entirely. Once inside the Ink Cloud, she had to actively channel her Small Universe's power to resist the Ink Force's erosion upon her body. Her strength was draining rapidly, and she faced the constant risk of being corroded.
Yang Kai had long been prepared. He deployed the Purification Light, dispersing all the Ink Force in the space around them and creating a safe zone.
Feng Ying finally let out a breath of relief. When Yang Kai had been using the Purification Light, she had observed it carefully, but she still couldn't tell exactly what kind of technique it was.
"Rest up—we could be in a fight at any moment," Feng Ying said, closing her eyes first to conserve her energy.
Yang Kai had no particular need for rest. The earlier battle hadn't cost him much, and besides, he needed to stay alert and monitor their surroundings. This sort of ambush setup carried far too many uncertainties—he had to observe every possible development with extreme care.
Time trickled by. Their luck held up reasonably well, and after only an hour, more than a dozen figures came flying in a group from the direction of the Ink Clan's interior.
Yang Kai sensed them immediately and called out, "Senior."
Feng Ying opened her eyes and peered outward with full focus. The Ink Cloud obstructed clear vision, but her divine sense could perceive everything distinctly.
Feng Ying said, "Two Lords, six Upper Ink Clan, and five Ink Disciples!"
She frowned slightly—the numbers were a bit high, which would make handling them tricky. But this was the first batch they'd encountered, and they had to act. Only with a good start would the situation keep improving.
She checked her Small Universe—the two Ink Disciples she had thrown in earlier still hadn't regained consciousness. Yang Kai had hit them pretty hard.
Those two were useless to them for now. As she was still deliberating, Yang Kai spoke up: "Leave the two Lords to me, Senior. The rest I'll handle."
Feng Ying looked at him with surprise. "Are you sure you can manage?"
Although their brief earlier encounters had shown her that Yang Kai was indeed capable, she didn't know the full extent of his abilities. Taking on six Upper Ink Clan by himself was no easy task, and once the fight broke out, those five Ink Disciples wouldn't just stand by watching—they would jump in to aid their masters.
"Don't worry, Senior. I may be young, but I've been through plenty of big battles. I won't let you down." Yang Kai licked his lips, looking eager and impatient. He had been holding back for so long, and he could finally let loose.
Feng Ying hesitated briefly, then nodded. "Be very careful. I'll finish off those two Lords as quickly as possible and come help you."
Yang Kai nodded, exchanged a glance with Feng Ying, and shot directly out of the Ink Cloud where they had been hiding.
The instant the two of them appeared, the Ink Clan flying past took notice, and pairs of eyes swiveled toward them at once.