Zhong Liang said, "Since those humans already live within your Small Universe, you provide them with food, clothing, and a worry-free environment for cultivation. Add some policies that reward bearing and raising children, and why would you worry about not increasing their numbers?"
Yang Kai nodded upon hearing this. "That's true. I'll think of more ways in the future."
In fact, the human population within his Small Universe had already grown considerably over the years. After all, his Small Universe offered a superior environment with no conflicts or dangers—even ordinary people could live there without worry.
Yang Kai had never cared much about the numbers. Birth, aging, sickness, and death were all part of the Great Dao's cycle of reincarnation. It was precisely this cycle of life and death that drove the propagation and continuation of a race, constantly enriching the foundation of his Small Universe.
Now that a subsidiary tree of the World Tree had been added to his Small Universe, it was indeed time to boost the population.
"You've only just obtained the World Tree—I don't know whether it might have some drawbacks. Stay inside the Pass for now and don't run off," Zhong Liang admonished. "Besides, the Biluo Theatre has been relatively peaceful of late. There won't be any major battles for decades to come, so it's the perfect time to focus on cultivation and improve your strength."
"Yes!" Yang Kai acknowledged, then added, "Sir, I'd like to visit the Hall of Alchemy."
Zhong Liang looked puzzled. "The Hall of Alchemy? What for?"
Yang Kai explained, "You may not be aware, sir, but the former owner of the Secret Realm I forcibly absorbed was an Alchemist of extraordinary skill. His attainments in the Alchemy Dao were exceedingly high. As it happens, dabbled in alchemy myself in my early years, so having refined quite a few of this predecessor's Alchemy Dao Marks after absorbing his Secret Realm, I could say I've inherited a portion of his legacy."
Zhong Liang's eye twitched. "You've dabbled in alchemy as well?"
"It was something from my early days—hardly worth mentioning now," Yang Kai said modestly.
Ding Yao frowned. "Are you planning to pursue alchemy further? You should know that skill lies in mastery, not breadth. Only by focusing wholeheartedly can you forge a clear path in martial cultivation."
Shentu Mo also nodded. "The Mo Theatre has no shortage of Alchemists—what's lacking is the materials for refining pills. Don't let this distract you."
Yang Kai clasped his fists. "You've all misunderstood. I have no intention of studying the Alchemy Dao further. It's just that I obtained a portion of this predecessor's legacy, and I also discovered a notebook he left behind in that Secret Realm. Although it's somewhat damaged, some of the things recorded in it appear to be of use. I'd like to verify that. If it turns out to be the case, it could benefit the soldiers stationed in the Pass."
"A notebook?" Ding Yao said in surprise.
Yang Kai reached out and produced a palm-sized object that was neither metal nor jade. It looked ancient and weathered, covered with numerous cracks—clearly damaged.
This was the notebook left behind by the Secret Realm's former owner.
Had Yang Kai not forcibly absorbed the entire Secret Realm into his Small Universe, he might never have found it.
Those predecessor Alchemists had fallen countless years ago. The Small Universes they left behind had undergone tremendous geological changes over the ages.
The notebook had been buried deep underground.
But after Yang Kai had forcibly absorbed that Secret Realm into his Small Universe, he had spent years of painstaking effort dissecting it piece by piece and excising it from his own Small Universe.
In doing so, he had effectively conducted an exhaustive search of the entire Secret Realm. Anything hidden within it had been unearthed.
This notebook was one of the finds. The other was the variety of rare medicinal herbs that had not yet been fully harvested within the Secret Realm.
Yang Kai and Bai Yi had not explored the Secret Realm completely. Once they had discovered the herb garden, they had stopped—there were still many herbs remaining, all of which Yang Kai had since transplanted into the medicinal garden of his own Small Universe.
The information recorded in the notebook was quite disorganized, given its damaged state, but Yang Kai could still determine that it contained the predecessor Alchemist's various insights into pill refinement, along with a number of peculiar pill recipes.
One recipe that was recorded in relatively complete detail particularly caught his attention.
Zhong Liang took the notebook from Yang Kai and probed it with his spiritual sense, furrowing his brow after a moment. "Can you actually make sense of this?"
Under his perception, there was indeed some information preserved within the notebook, but many of the word combinations were vastly different from modern usage, making comprehension extremely difficult. There were even strange characters he did not recognize—clearly an extremely ancient script.
Yang Kai answered honestly, "I can mostly understand it, which is why I need to verify it."
After all, he had refined numerous Alchemy Dao Marks within that Secret Realm and had obtained a portion of the predecessor Alchemist's legacy. If anyone in this world could read this notebook, it would be him.
Ding Yao and the others also took turns examining the notebook, each wearing the same bewildered expression as Zhong Liang—none could understand it.
After a brief pause, Zhong Liang said, "If you want to visit the Hall of Alchemy, then go. I'll send word ahead and have them cooperate with you."
"Thank you, sir."
Zhong Liang waved a hand. "But cultivation must remain your priority. Don't waste your time."
"I will heed your counsel, sir."