Over the countless years, the number of high-grade Open Heaven cultivators who had fallen and perished outside Biluo Pass could not possibly have been limited to a mere thousand.
There were far more high-grade Open Heaven cultivators whose small universes had collapsed into nothing along with their deaths, leaving not a trace behind.
There were also Fortune Lands and Fortune Cave Heavens left behind that had been completely Ink-corrupted, subsequently resealed by Yang Kai.
Of those whose small universes had been preserved after death — ones that were actually usable — less than one in ten remained. In other words, at least ten thousand high-grade Open Heaven cultivators had fallen outside Biluo Pass.
That was an astonishing number. Every single one of them had been a high-grade Open Heaven — in the Three Thousand Worlds, they would have been figures on the level of Inner Sect Elders within the great Fortune Cave Heavens, each of them renowned and formidable.
Outside Biluo Pass, over a thousand Fortune Lands and Fortune Cave Heavens lay with their gates thrown wide. Countless Formation Grandmasters bustled about, setting up grand formation traps within each one. Perhaps in some future great battle, these preparations would deliver a devastating surprise to the Ink Clan army.
But none of this was Yang Kai's concern anymore. He only needed to open the gates; the formation traps were someone else's problem.
After half a year of toil, Yang Kai was thoroughly exhausted. He was just about to return inside the Pass with Feng Ying when he spotted two figures approaching leisurely toward them. As they flew closer, the pair chatted and laughed, gesturing here and there.
When they drew near, Yang Kai promptly bowed. "Disciple greets Elder Lu."
One of the two was none other than Lu An of the Yin-Yang Heaven. The other was also an Eighth-Order, but a face Yang Kai had never seen before.
Lu An stroked his beard with a smile. "Yang Kai, are you finished here?"
Yang Kai clasped his fists. "Everything has been handled. I was just on my way to report to the Commander."
"You've worked hard these past months." Lu An nodded slightly.
Yang Kai hurriedly replied, "It was my duty."
"So this is Yang Kai?" The unfamiliar Eighth-Order beside Lu An lit up, looking Yang Kai over with an expression of keen interest.
Lu An nodded. "Indeed." He turned to make the introduction. "This is Elder Tang Qiu — my senior martial brother. By seniority, he would be your great-uncle master. He's come over from Yin-Yang Pass."
From Yin-Yang Pass? Yang Kai's mind stirred at the words. And judging by what Lu An had said, this Tang Qiu must also be from the Yin-Yang Heaven.
Yang Kai bowed again. "Disciple greets Elder Tang!"
Tang Qiu smiled and nodded. "I've heard of you long ago. Seeing you today, you truly live up to your reputation — not only did you make quite a name for yourself in the Three Thousand Worlds, but you've been equally conspicuous here on the Ink Battlefield. Why can't our Yin-Yang Heaven produce a rising talent like you? The old fogeys in the Sect ought to be moved out of their seats."
Yang Kai looked abashed. "Elder flatters me."
Tang Qiu shifted topics abruptly. "Any interest in coming back to Yin-Yang Pass with me?"
Yang Kai was taken aback.
Feng Ying, standing beside him, immediately grew guarded. She clasped her fists and said, "Senior, Yang Kai is now part of Biluo Pass. Your words are inappropriate."
Tang Qiu glanced at her coolly. "How so? He belongs to my Yin-Yang Heaven. What's wrong with him returning with me to Yin-Yang Pass?"
Feng Ying pressed her lips together and was silent for a moment before speaking. "Senior's words will be reported to the Commander in full."
Tang Qiu snorted. "As if they'd dare bite me." He looked back at Yang Kai. "It's a one-word answer — yes or no. If you want to go, I'll negotiate with Zhong Liang and the others."
Lu An laughed bitterly from the side. "Brother Zhong and the others will certainly never agree to let him go. Senior Brother, don't make things difficult for the younger generation."
Only then did Tang Qiu relent, somewhat reluctantly. "Fine. Go back and think it over carefully. I'll be lingering around Biluo Pass for a while yet — if you make up your mind, come find me then."
Lu An gave Yang Kai a meaningful look. Yang Kai clasped his fists. "Elders, this disciple takes his leave."
"Go on." Tang Qiu waved his hand, then suddenly seemed to recall something. "Oh, right — Xu Linggong came along with me on this trip. He's waiting for you inside the Pass. Go see him."
"Xu Gong is here too?" Yang Kai exclaimed, turning to look, but Tang Qiu and Lu An had already departed into the distance.
After their parting at the Star Boundary, Xu Linggong had simply said he had a mission to attend to and needed to travel far. Later, when Yang Kai had gone to the Yin-Yang Heaven to find Qu Huashang, he hadn't found Xu Linggong there either, assuming that the so-called mission hadn't been completed. It wasn't until he gradually came to understand the Ink Clan and the Ink Battlefield that he learned Xu Linggong had long since set foot on the Ink Battlefield.
At that time, Qu Huashang had still been serving her hundred-year lockdown.