The Domain Lords had been bickering endlessly over whether to fight or hold their ground, but now that the King Lord had returned, it was only natural to seek his orders.
After a brief moment of contemplation, the King Lord spoke: "Defend with everything you have. If the humans do not attack the King City, you are not to make any moves on your own!"
Having said that, he turned his gaze toward the Domain Lord who resembled an ancient turtle. "Che Kong, I appoint you as supreme commander of this battle. While I am recovering from my injuries, you will command the other Domain Lords and oversee the defense of the King City."
The old turtle-like Domain Lord known as Che Kong gave a slight bow. "Your subordinate accepts the order!"
He did not bother with empty threats about executing those who disobeyed. Without the King Lord's orders, these Domain Lords had indeed each gone their own way, scattered like loose sand. But once the King Lord gave a command, they would all follow it without question.
Moreover, whether in terms of strength or qualifications, this turtle-like Che Kong Domain Lord stood at the very top among all Domain Lords.
He was a Domain Lord who had personally participated in the battle to ambush Grand Ancestor Da Yan thirty thousand years ago — and survived.
This participation was not merely taking part in the siege of Da Yan. He had directly clashed with Grand Ancestor Da Yan himself.
Though he had exchanged only three moves, the price he paid was a full eight hundred years of slumber, and the massive gash on the turtle-shell-like armor on his back remained shockingly visible to this day, still not fully healed.
That was a wound left by Grand Ancestor Da Yan.
For a Domain Lord to survive a clash with a Human Grand Ancestor — that alone was reason enough for him to hold his head above his peers.
So when the King Lord appointed Che Kong as supreme commander, the other Domain Lords accepted it without any objections.
Che Kong had also been one of the conservative faction. It was precisely his counterbalancing influence that had prevented the war-hawk Domain Lords, who outnumbered the others, from launching an attack on the humans.
After issuing his orders, the King Lord immediately retreated into the Ink Nest within the King City, dedicating himself to healing. Vast quantities of resources were delivered by the Ink Clan into the Ink Nest and cast into the Ink Pool, converting into the Ink Nest's power.
The King Lord's thinking was simple.
Since the optimal window for attack had already been missed, there was no further point in striking the humans. And judging from the humans' posture, it seemed unlikely they would assault the King City anytime soon. Both sides were bound to enter a period of standstill and relative calm.
He could use this opportunity to focus entirely on his recovery.
During their clash, he had suffered some damage at the hands of the Human Old Ancestor, but when it came to the speed of recovery, with a King-level Ink Nest at his disposal, the Human Old Ancestor could not even begin to compare.
From the King Lord of the Yin-Yang Battlefield, he had received a crucial piece of intelligence: the cultivation method practiced by this Human Old Ancestor was extraordinarily peculiar even by human standards. And because of its peculiarity, once she was injured, recovery was exceedingly troublesome — it apparently required the aid of a force known as Red Dust Power.
Within Yin-Yang Pass, the Human Old Ancestor had made numerous preparations to assist in her healing. But here in the Great Yan Battlefield, what preparations could she possibly have?
In other words, if he simply dragged things out, his injuries would definitely heal faster than the Human Old Ancestor's. Once he had recovered, he could go settle the score with her. Wouldn't that be splendid?
When that time came, he would make her pay the price for this battle.
Filled with fighting spirit, the King Lord sank into deep slumber, dense Ink Force wrapping around him.
…
On the Dawn Warship, Yang Kai gazed in the direction of the base.
He had clearly seen the Old Ancestor's return. Perhaps it was because he had been in close contact with her before, but despite the overwhelming aura she brought back, he still detected a subtle anomaly.
The Old Ancestor was badly wounded…
Everything was just as he had anticipated. The Old Ancestor had specifically requested that he accompany the army precisely because she intended to leverage the power of his Small Universe to heal. That meant the moment she engaged the King Lord, she would fight with everything she had, trading wounds for wounds — and as a result, their battle would not last very long.
Now that the Old Ancestor had returned, the time when she would need him was surely at hand.
At that thought, Yang Kai summoned Feng Ying and instructed her, "If a major battle breaks out while I'm gone, look after yourself."
Feng Ying asked in surprise, "You have a mission again?"
"Perhaps…" Yang Kai had barely finished speaking when a streak of light burst from the pocket world of the base, hurtling straight toward them. As it drew near, it resolved into the figure of a person who cupped his fists and said, "Senior Brother Yang, the Corps Commander requests your presence!"
"Understood." Yang Kai nodded. "I'll head over now."
He followed close behind the messenger, flying toward the pocket world. But they did not descend on the side closest to the Ink Clan's King City. Instead, they circled halfway around the world along its outer perimeter, arriving at the opposite face before the guide finally brought them to a stop.
Shortly after, the two arrived at the edge of an enormous valley. The guide said, "Senior Brother, please proceed ahead. The Corps Commander awaits you up ahead."
Yang Kai thanked him and continued on alone.
Before long, he reached the valley's entrance.
Xiang Shan and Liu Zhiping were both there, standing just outside the mouth of the valley, waiting in silence.
Yang Kai stepped forward and greeted them, then turned his gaze toward the interior of the valley. At this moment, however, the valley was filled with roiling clouds and mist, giving off an aura of extreme danger — clearly, a grand formation was shrouding it.
"How is the Old Ancestor's condition?" Yang Kai asked.
Xiang Shan replied, "Go in yourself. You'll see soon enough."