Yang Kai was surprised to hear this. "Everyone already knows about this?"
The Lord chuckled. "Naturally, we keep a close eye on matters concerning the Domain Lord."
Yang Kai understood. "I see."
Learning that Yang Kai was an Ink Devotee under Black Abyss, the Lord's demeanor softened considerably. He said, "If you're looking for Zha Gu, head in this direction. By your Human Race's reckoning, he lives about three thousand li from here."
Yang Kai looked in the direction he indicated and cupped his fists. "Thank you."
After bidding farewell to the Lord, Yang Kai shot off in that direction. A mere three thousand li was covered in moments.
From a distance, Yang Kai spotted a fortress resembling Black Abyss's ancient castle, perched atop a barren mountain. Scanning the surroundings, there were no signs of other Ink Race inhabitants within a hundred li. If he wasn't mistaken, this should be where Zha Gu resided.
Yang Kai alighted before the fortress. Probing with his divine sense, he found quite a few Ink Race members within, though they were mostly low-ranking members of no real standing. Higher-ranking ones were extremely scarce.
At the deepest part of the fortress, he sensed a familiar aura — it should be Zha Gu.
Confirming that his target was indeed here, Yang Kai called out, "Brother Zha Gu!"
The cry shook the fortress. The numerous Ink Race members turned toward the sound. Zha Gu, who had apparently been in the midst of healing, was startled awake and slowly opened his eyes, his gaze piercing through the void toward the caller.
Moments later, the fortress gates swung open, and Zha Gu stepped out, regarding Yang Kai with surprise. "How did you end up here?"
Yang Kai cupped his fists with a smile. "I came specifically to pay you a visit, Brother Zha Gu. I hope I haven't been a bother."
Zha Gu nodded slightly. "Come inside and talk."
Following Zha Gu into the fortress, Yang Kai arrived at a courtyard room, and the two took their seats as host and guest.
"Has the Domain Lord given you some instruction?" Zha Gu asked. In his mind, Yang Kai — an Ink Devotee favored by Black Abyss — coming here alone likely meant he carried some secret order from the Domain Lord.
To his surprise, Yang Kai shook his head. "The Domain Lord entered the Ink Nest to recover from his injuries that day and hasn't been seen since. I hear it will take several years."
So it wasn't a matter of the Domain Lord needing something from him. Zha Gu couldn't help but feel relieved.
"I came to see you on my own today, Brother Zha Gu. There's something I'd like your help with." Yang Kai explained his purpose.
Zha Gu frowned slightly. "What could I possibly help you with?"
Although Yang Kai was an Ink Devotee under Black Abyss and highly regarded by him, he was still just an Ink Devotee. Zha Gu was willing to befriend him but wouldn't go so far as to curry favor, so he needed to know exactly what was being asked before deciding.
Yang Kai sighed and said leisurely, "I was hoping to ask you, Brother Zha Gu, whether the Ink Race has any way to earn wealth."
"Earn wealth?" Zha Gu looked taken aback.
"Money-making methods," Yang Kai coughed lightly. "As you know, Human Race warriors generally don't carry supplies when they go to battle. After being taken in by the Domain Lord some time ago, my Small Universe is now damaged and needs a Mysterious Yin Spirit Fruit to repair. I also need to cultivate, which requires resources. But the Domain Lord has entered the Ink Nest for seclusion, and I have nothing to my name — whether it's repairing my Small Universe or cultivating, I can't meet my needs."
Zha Gu was puzzled. "For the Mysterious Yin Spirit Fruit, didn't the Domain Lord say before entering seclusion that he would have Lord Gui Liao find one for you? With Lord Gui Liao's status, obtaining a Mysterious Yin Spirit Fruit shouldn't be difficult."
"Perhaps," Yang Kai nodded. "But I seem to have offended Lord Gui Liao, so he may not be willing to help me find one."
Zha Gu was startled. "You offended Lord Gui Liao? How did that happen?"
Yang Kai had no choice but to explain the earlier conflict with Liu Zi'an and its cause.
Zha Gu stared at him with a strange expression. "You offended Lord Gui Liao over something like that?" His tone suggested that agreeing to Lord Gui Liao's request would have been no big deal, and he couldn't understand why Yang Kai had refused.
Yang Kai spread his hands. "As you know, Brother Zha Gu, I've already severed my Small Universe twice before. My foundation was badly damaged and my strength plummeted. If I let Lord Gui Liao devour my Small Universe's power as well, my grade might drop. If that happened, what use would I be to the Domain Lord? I'd be nothing but dead weight."
"That's true," Zha Gu conceded with a nod.
"So I had no choice but to disappoint Lord Gui Liao. But that means I can't count on getting a Mysterious Yin Spirit Fruit from him."
Zha Gu frowned. "It shouldn't come to that. He wouldn't dare disobey the Domain Lord's orders — though you might have to wait a while."
Yang Kai thought to himself, how could he afford to wait? The sub-tree was constantly working to repair his Small Universe. Without quickly obtaining a Mysterious Yin Spirit Fruit to mask things, the secret of his Small Universe would be exposed before long.
But Zha Gu reassured him, "Don't worry. Before the Domain Lord emerges from seclusion, Lord Gui Liao will definitely find you a Mysterious Yin Spirit Fruit."