Of course, this was merely his own speculation and couldn't be verified.
The human race reclaiming Dayan Pass — that was a momentous event. Just thinking about it was enough to set one's blood racing.
For the Expedition, retaking Dayan Pass was absolutely necessary. With that pass still in the hands of the Ink Clan, once the human race launched their expedition, their rear could be subject to Ink Clan harassment. Before the Expedition could begin, every factor that might jeopardize the grand plan had to be eliminated.
Yang Kai suddenly thought of something. "My Lords, Dayan Pass has fallen into the hands of the Ink Clan, and by your account, a Domain Lord still holds it there. To oppose a Domain Lord, only a Grand Ancestor can suffice. Are our Grand Ancestors going to personally lead the army to reclaim Dayan Pass?"
Though Biluo Pass had enjoyed a long period of peace, its Grand Ancestor couldn't simply leave. If the Ink Clan learned that the Grand Ancestor had departed, who knew what they might attempt? With no one to counter the Ink Clan's Domain Lord, Biluo Pass itself might not be at risk of falling, but the forward camp would certainly be lost — and with it, centuries of effort would go to waste.
Biluo Pass would never do something so foolish.
Shentu Mo said, "For this reclamation battle, a Grand Ancestor will indeed lead the army — but not ours."
Yang Kai frowned. "Then whose?"
No matter which pass's Grand Ancestor it was, they shouldn't be easily dispatched.
"You know this Grand Ancestor."
"I do?" Yang Kai was stunned. After a moment's thought, he realized that in this Ink Battlefield, he only knew three Grand Ancestors — Biluo Pass's Grand Ancestor, Yin Yang Pass's Grand Ancestor, and Myriad Demon Pass's Grand Ancestor. He hadn't yet had any dealings with the Grand Ancestors of the other passes.
But since Shentu Mo had said this reclamation battle had nothing to do with Biluo Pass's Grand Ancestor, that left only the two from Yin Yang Pass and Myriad Demon Pass.
"This operation will be fully managed by the one from Yin Yang Pass."
Yang Kai immediately thought of that gluttonous little girl, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly. He had assumed it would be the one from Myriad Demon Pass, but it turned out to be Yin Yang Pass's.
That one's reliability was... questionable! Was it really viable to have her lead an army to retake Dayan Pass?
But Yang Kai was more concerned about another matter. "If that one leaves, what happens to Yin Yang Pass?"
Just as Biluo Pass's Grand Ancestor couldn't easily leave, Yin Yang Pass faced the same situation. The very existence of each Grand Ancestor served as an enormous deterrent to the Ink Clan.
Hearing his question, Ding Yao hesitated briefly before speaking. "Over two hundred years ago, Wu Qing — the Southern Army Corps Commander of Yin Yang Pass — showed signs of a breakthrough. He returned to the Three Thousand Worlds through No Return Pass and successfully advanced to the Ninth Order at Danxia Blessed Land!"
Whether it was his imagination or not, Yang Kai felt that Ding Yao spoke of this with unmistakable envy.
Still, the news shocked him greatly. "Senior Wu has advanced to the Ninth Order?"
Ding Yao and Shentu Mo nodded in unison. Shentu Mo added solemnly, "This matter is of great importance. Even within Yin Yang Pass, only the Eighth-Order cultivators are aware of it. You must not spread it around."
Yang Kai nodded instinctively, his mind still reeling from the shock.
Wu Qing had advanced to the Ninth Order!
This was tremendous news for the entire human race — another Grand Ancestor-level combatant. And now, Yin Yang Pass had two Grand Ancestors.
Come to think of it, before his last visit to Yin Yang Pass, he had already heard people mention Wu Qing. This man controlled the Xuanji Fish, one of the Four Pillars of Heaven and Earth, making him immune to the corruption of the Ink Force. He was powerful in his own right and frequently ventured solo deep into Ink Clan territory to wreak havoc. The Ink Clan in the Yin Yang theater despised Wu Qing to no end, yet could do absolutely nothing about him.
Wu Qing had been an Eighth-Order cultivator for many years, perpetually on the verge of taking the next step, and was widely regarded as the most likely person to advance to the Ninth Order in recent times. This was no secret among the various human passes. But whether he could actually take that step, and exactly when — nobody could say for certain.
Perhaps one day, struck by sudden inspiration, he would grasp the opportunity to break through. Or perhaps he would remain at the Eighth-Order for tens of thousands of years without progress. Advancing from Eighth-Order to Ninth-Order was no longer merely a matter of accumulation — often it came down to fortune and providence.
Over two hundred years ago, Wu Qing had an epiphany and immediately returned through No Return Pass to Danxia Blessed Land.
Ordinary warriors who entered the Ink Battlefield had no easy way to return to the Three Thousand Worlds. But Wu Qing was different. As the bearer of the Xuanji Fish, he could not be corrupted by the Ink Force, and his special state of impending breakthrough allowed him to return successfully.
Advancing to the Ninth Order was far too conspicuous. Had Wu Qing attempted it at Yin Yang Pass, the Ink Clan's Domain Lord would certainly have detected it. Once the Ink Clan learned of it, they would be put on high alert.
Returning to the Three Thousand Worlds and quietly advancing within his own sect at Danxia Blessed Land was the best option.
In truth, every Eighth-Order cultivator who advanced to the Ninth Order returned to the Three Thousand Worlds to do so, within the blessed land of their own sect.
After advancing to the Ninth Order, Wu Qing remained at Danxia Blessed Land for over two hundred years to stabilize his realm. Only a few years ago did he quietly return to Biluo Pass.
It was only after that the human race formulated the strategic plan to reclaim Dayan Pass.