If this were anyone else, they probably wouldn't have taken it so calmly. Yang Kai's reaction actually earned Zhong Liang's respect.
Yang Kai genuinely harbored no resentment, because he understood that Tian Xiuzhu was not targeting him personally. Everything the man had said and done was free of self-interest.
To protect the secret of that Void Corridor, Meng Qi had been willing to sacrifice his own life. Could Yang Kai not endure such a minor grievance?
"Yang Kai, the greater good of the Human Race comes first!" Tian Xiuzhu earnestly tried to persuade him. Seeing Yang Kai remain silent, he assumed the young man was unwilling.
But whether one was willing or not, this was simply how things had been handled since ancient times. Anyone who set foot on the Ink Battlefield had already placed their own life and death aside, and Tian Xiuzhu believed Yang Kai would come to understand this in time.
Yang Kai slowly shook his head. "Senior misunderstands. I am not someone who fails to grasp reason. Senior has explained the situation clearly—how could I fail to understand?"
Tian Xiuzhu nodded with approval. "Good. As long as you understand."
"However—" Yang Kai's tone shifted. "From what Senior implied earlier, if I have the opportunity to ascend to the Eighth Order in the future, then the Heaven and Earth Spring would not need to be surrendered?"
For him, surrendering the Heaven and Earth Spring would certainly damage his Small Universe. Even though he had the Xuanpin Spirit Fruit to repair it, he would no longer be able to ignore the erosion of the Ink Force. On the Ink Battlefield, that was extremely dangerous. It wasn't that he was unwilling to sacrifice for the Human Race—since ancient times, the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands had done more than enough for humanity. They had fought silently against the Ink Clan on the Ink Battlefield day after day, year after year, investing vast numbers of personnel. The peace of the Thirty Thousand Worlds owed much to their efforts.
In that peaceful rear existed his disciples from the Void Land and his friends and family from the Star Boundary. If he were an ordinary Open Heaven cultivator, he would not hesitate to give up the Heaven and Earth Spring.
But he had confidence in himself. Throughout his life, at the same cultivation level, he had always been able to crush his opponents. In other words, if he were to ascend to the Eighth Order in the future, the impact and strength he could bring to bear would absolutely surpass that of any Supreme present.
Tian Xiuzhu blinked in surprise at this, but nodded nonetheless. "As it should be. If you truly can ascend to the Eighth Order, there would be no need to surrender the Heaven and Earth Spring. The pass will also provide its full support to help you reach the Eighth Order as soon as possible, so that you may serve the Human Race."
Yang Kai cupped his fists. "This Junior can ascend to the Eighth Order!"
Everyone froze. Someone furrowed their brow. "Boy, didn't you just say you were only Fifth Order when you broke through to Open Heaven? How can you possibly reach the Eighth Order? Don't tell me you have a sufficient supply of the Ascension Pills born from the Cosmos Furnace."
The Ascension Pills born from the Cosmos Furnace were natural treasures of heaven and earth, containing the profound mysteries of creation. They could help cultivators break through barriers and bypass the bottlenecks of Open Heaven cultivation. With enough of these pills, regardless of where one started, one could ascend all the way to the pinnacle of the Ninth Order.
But such things were incredibly rare. The Cosmos Furnace was a supreme treasure of heaven and earth, elusive and formless. When it occasionally manifested in the world, it appeared only briefly. Obtaining the Ascension Pills from within it was far from simple. Moreover, even if such pills existed, they would never be given to someone like Yang Kai—they would have been administered to some Eighth Order cultivator long ago to help them break through to the Ninth Order.
One more elder-level powerhouse would be an enormous boon for the Human Race.
Yang Kai explained. "This Junior was indeed only Fifth Order upon breaking through to Open Heaven, but after that, I was fortunate enough to consume a Middle-Grade World Fruit, which allowed me to ascend to the Sixth Order."
"A Middle-Grade World Fruit?" someone exclaimed in a low voice, while more faces filled with astonishment.
As Eighth Order Open Heaven cultivators, how could they not know of the World Fruit's existence? This treasure was even more rare than the Ascension Pills born from the Cosmos Furnace.
Someone spoke up. "There are legends of a World Tree that grows in the Realm of Grand Desolation, and the Realm of Grand Desolation is virtually inaccessible to ordinary people. Did you, by chance, enter the Realm of Grand Desolation?"
Yang Kai nodded. "I was swept into it by chance in my early years and spent some time there. It was in that place that I obtained the World Fruit."
A wave of murmured awe swept through the room. This was no small fortune—a single Middle-Grade World Fruit could raise one's cultivation by an entire order and also elevate one's ultimate potential.
Lu An spoke. "In that case, though you were Fifth Order when you broke through, you do have the opportunity to reach the Eighth Order?"
The Heaven and Earth Four Pillars held tremendous appeal for any Open Heaven cultivator, especially for Eighth Order cultivators like themselves. Possessing one would make them even more formidable on the battlefield. In truth, he had no desire to rob a junior of their belongings, but in the face of the greater situation, Yang Kai simply could not keep the Heaven and Earth Spring. Allowing him to hold onto it would only result in losses for the Human Race—which was why Lu An had remained silent until now.
He was quietly considering that if Yang Kai were truly made to surrender the Heaven and Earth Spring, some form of compensation would have to be provided. At the very least, he would do everything within his power to ensure the young man's safety.
He had not expected that Yang Kai had consumed a Middle-Grade World Fruit.
"I have!" Yang Kai nodded firmly. "So I have every confidence in my ability to reach the Eighth Order!"
Lu An gave a slight nod. "Work hard in the future, and do not hesitate to inform me of anything you need." Since Yang Kai could be considered part of Yin Yang Heaven and they were stationed at the same pass, Lu An naturally felt a sense of obligation to look after him. While the Human Race's pass was not rife with factionalism, one always felt closer to one's own people.
"Thank you, Elder." Yang Kai bowed respectfully.
After a moment of silence, Tian Xiuzhu spoke. "In that case, the matter of the Heaven and Earth Spring is settled. However, I have one more thing to say."
Yang Kai looked at him. "Please, Senior, share your wisdom."
"The Ink Battlefield is exceedingly dangerous. Be cautious in all things. If something were to happen to you, it would be a tremendous loss for the Human Race."
"This Junior will remember!" Yang Kai bowed deeply.