The warriors aboard this warship were all women, without a single man among them—a true army of maidens. And most of them were Yang Kai's most intimate bed companions.
He had sensed their power fluctuations just moments ago, which was why he had hurried over.
The longing in his heart surged like a tidal wave. In that moment, there was so much he wanted to say, but when a thousand words reached his lips, they ultimately distilled into a single soft phrase: "I'm back!"
Yes, he was back.
Since he had departed from the Black Domain all those years ago, nearly a thousand years had passed. He had finally returned. If one counted the years he had spent within the Great Sea Celestial Phenomenon, it had been closer to five thousand years.
Though he had not returned in triumph—a slight regret—he had come back all the same!
During his countless battles against the Ink Clan on the Ink Battlefield, he had imagined this scene over and over again. And today, his wish had finally been granted.
Yu Rumeng rushed toward him in excitement. Yang Kai opened his arms, ready to catch her as she threw herself into his embrace…
But the Demon Saint of the Succubus race swept right past him, launching a divine technique that blasted into the distance, sending the fleeing Ink Clan members into a wretched scramble.
Yu Rumeng had reached the Seventh-Order Open Heaven realm as well!
"Less talking, more killing!" she shouted.
Yang Kai stood there with his arms wide open, frozen in place, his expression somewhat awkward.
Something wasn't right!
Your husband returns after a thousand years, and instead of weeping with joy and throwing yourselves into his broad embrace to enjoy long-awaited tenderness and affection, you… ignore me entirely? What kind of situation was this?
Across from him, Su Yan and Ji Yao stood rooted to the spot, their eyes suddenly rimmed red. But before they could utter a word, Yu Rumeng called out sharply: "Su Yan, Yao'er, Aro, form a formation with me! Yue'er, Huashang, Wan'er, Qing'er, form another formation! Everyone else, provide careful support!"
Hearing this, the women's expressions turned solemn. They immediately soared into the air, and in the blink of an eye, eight women had split into two great formations and charged out from the warship.
The formations they employed were nothing more than the simplest Four Symbols Formation—a formation that could be formed by a handful of people, extremely common on the Ink Battlefield. Yang Kai had once formed this same formation with several Seventh-Order cultivators from Dawn. Though simple, it allowed those in the formation to respond to one another in perfect coordination, often proving invaluable on the chaotic battlefield.
The warship had carried only ten people total. With eight gone, only two remained.
"Greetings, Sect Master!" Among those left behind, Luan Baifeng offered a graceful bow.
Yang Kai gave a slight nod, putting on his Sect Master's dignity, and raised his hand. "Rise."
Subordinates were more reliable after all…
His wives… seemed to be trending toward rebellion. But Yang Kai could understand—after all, he had abandoned them for nearly a thousand years. Who wouldn't harbor a bit of resentment?
They were women, after all.
"Young Master…" Yue He called out softly, her voice choked with emotion.
Yang Kai stepped forward and ruffled her head, smiling gently. "Not bad—you've reached the Seventh Order. You haven't been slacking in your cultivation all these years."
It wasn't just Yue He who had reached the Seventh Order. Every single one of the ten women aboard this warship was a Seventh-Order Open Heaven cultivator!
Yue He and Luan Baifeng went without saying—they had already been at the Sixth Order back in the day. In the years since Yang Kai had left, neither Virtual Void Territory nor Ascending Cloud Palace had ever lacked cultivation resources. Moreover, the Star Boundary still had the World Tree's subsidiary trees. For Open Heaven cultivators like Yue He and Luan Baifeng, while the subsidiary trees' nourishment effect had little direct benefit, they could still enhance cultivation speed.
As for Yu Rumeng and the others, they had originally advanced directly to the Sixth Order in their early years. These women had either been born into Cavern Heavens and Blessed Lands with powerful backers, or had already taken those Eighth-Order Divine Monarchs as their masters. With no shortage of resources, their cultivation had naturally progressed rapidly.
This ten-person team was made up entirely of his own people. This was clearly a deliberate arrangement by someone.
No other team would have such a configuration. Ten Seventh-Order cultivators fighting together—they could stand against even an Ink Clan Domain Lord.
This was probably why none of the women had suffered any injuries.
The other reason, back then, was that their warship had been somewhat special—a fact Yang Kai had noticed the moment he arrived.
In terms of age, Yue He was considerably older than Yang Kai. After all, when he had first met her, she had already been a Fifth-Order Open Heaven cultivator.
Yet after having her head ruffled by Yang Kai like this, Yue He could hold back no longer. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gazed at him steadily, laughing through her sobs.
"Kill!" From the front of the warship, Yu Rumeng's fierce cries rang out without pause. She attacked without the slightest mercy, her killing intent pervading the air as she cut down the Ink Clan members, filling them with dread.
That darned man—even at a time like this, he couldn't stop being romantic. He simply didn't know the meaning of the word "death"!
Yang Kai bowed once more. "Elder, you've worked hard all these years. Thank you for looking after them."
The warship trembled slightly, and an aged voice came through, carrying a hint of teasing: "This old man hasn't worked hard. But you… you might be in for some hard work."