The Seven Star Sect of today was a far cry from the one Yang Kai had once seen. The massive sect occupied countless spiritual mountains and precious rivers, with peak after peak rising into the sky. Within those peaks, pavilions and towers peeked in and out of view among the hills and wilderness, while many rare and exotic flying beasts and spirit creatures moved about between them. The entire sight was one of imposing grandeur.
Tens of thousands of years of heritage had given this sect — once migrated from elsewhere — a profoundly deep foundation.
Yang Kai hadn't paid attention to the state of his own Small World in a long time. When he took a look at the Seven Star Sect now, he couldn't help but feel a sense of things having changed beyond recognition.
He still held some sentiment toward the Seven Star Sect. After all, his Soul Avatar had stayed here for a period of time back then, and all three of his disciples had been taught within the sect.
After a thorough inspection yielded nothing of particular note, Yang Kai wasn't in a hurry. He proceeded to examine other areas in detail.
Years passed in the blink of an eye within the Small World. When Yang Kai's divine sense swept over the Seven Star Sect once more, something stirred in his heart. He mused that he did seem to share some fate with this sect.
Having accepted three disciples here was one thing, but now even his human body's destiny seemed to converge upon this place.
In truth, over these past years he'd had no shortage of options, but none had been entirely satisfactory. This concerned his future path, so Yang Kai naturally couldn't afford to be careless — it had to be as close to perfect as possible.
This opportunity, however, was quite satisfying.
After another careful inspection, Yang Kai made his decision without further hesitation. Silently, he activated the Three-Part Unification technique. In an instant, his soul was torn apart, and his aura plummeted.
When he killed those Innate Domain Lords and employed the Soul-Extinguishing Thorn, he too had to tear his soul, infusing the Thorn with the power of his own spiritual soul to wound both himself and his enemy. But that tearing was different from what he experienced now. As the Three-Part Unification technique took effect, Yang Kai was struck by the sudden sensation of being split in two. Had he not already had countless experiences activating the Soul-Extinguishing Thorn over the years, the pain alone would have been unbearable — he would likely have fainted on the spot.
That fellow Devouring... the techniques he'd deduced were truly bizarre. If this worked, it would be well worth the suffering. If not, he'd have endured the pain for nothing.
With his soul torn asunder, Yang Kai not only suffered a drastic drop in aura and felt utterly weak, but his mind grew sluggish and lethargic. He felt dizzy and scorching hot, as if stricken by a high fever.
In his current state, he probably couldn't even exert half of his peak strength. If he encountered an Innate Domain Lord, he'd only be killed.
Summoning his will, he employed a secret technique to seal the severed soul fragment layer by layer. This was, after all, a fragment split from the soul of a top-tier Eighth-Order cultivator — no ordinary vessel could hope to contain it without proper sealing.
Only once the soul fragment had been fully sealed did Yang Kai let out a long breath. With a thought, the fragment pierced through the Small World and descended toward a specific location.
The Seven Star Sect, as a top-tier sect with tens of thousands of years of heritage, was not only magnificent within its own grounds but also vibrant and prosperous beyond its borders.
Several great cities stood guard around the sect like stars encircling the moon, with warriors streaming through them in unceasing torrents.
Twenty li outside one of these great cities lay the Fang Family Estate. The Fang ancestors had once studied at the Seven Star Sect, though their aptitude hadn't been particularly impressive — the strongest among them had only reached the Dao Source Realm, and he had passed away a thousand years ago.
Over the nearly thousand years since, the Fang family had produced a handful of individuals with cultivation talent now and then, but none had been remarkable geniuses capable of bringing glory to the family name.
Though the entire Void Continent now enjoyed a flourishing martial culture and gifted individuals were hardly uncommon, the vast majority of people remained far from the realm of true genius.
Fortunately, the current cultivation environment was far more favorable than it had been tens of thousands of years ago. As long as one wasn't a complete fool, one could cultivate to some degree — how far depended on individual talent and effort.
The current head of the Fang family, Fang Yubai, was one such ordinary member of the masses. His cultivation was unremarkable — a mere Zhenyuan Realm. Such a level was insignificant when measured against the entirety of the Void Continent.
Fortunately, he harbored no grand ambitions. The passage of time had long since smoothed away the youthful vigor of his younger years. Over a decade ago he had married, and now he lived a modest life on the meager inheritance left by his ancestors.
His wife, Zhong Yuxiu, was even weaker in cultivation — only at the Separation-Union Realm — but she was well-read, refined, and virtuous.
The husband and wife lived in quiet harmony, content and undisturbed by the affairs of the world. This was the reality for most people on the Void Continent. Those so-called heaven-blessed geniuses and sky-soaring powerhouses remained far too distant from them.
Lately, however, Fang Yubai had been feeling rather troubled.
The Fang family had produced only a single heir for ten generations running. The family line was thin, and no one could say why. By Fang Yubai's generation, the situation hadn't improved — it had arguably grown worse.
The couple had been married for over a decade, and Fang Yubai had been diligent enough in his efforts. Yet no matter what, his wife's belly simply refused to swell. As he watched her grow older with each passing year, worry gnawed at him. He couldn't tell whether the problem lay with him or with her.
But the ancestors of the Fang family must have been watching over them. Six months ago, his wife had begun feeling unwell — dizzy upon waking in the morning and nauseous at the sight of food. After an examination, both were overjoyed: she was pregnant.
Fang Yubai immediately burned incense and prayed to the ancestors, reporting the heavenly news.
From that day forward, he had been obsessively protective of his wife, terrified that she might bump or bruise herself somewhere. He had even vetoed her years-long sword practice habit, insisting she rest properly and avoid any disturbance to the pregnancy.
Zhong Yuxiu naturally acquiesced. After all this time, finally being with child had lifted a weight from her shoulders as well.
But life rarely goes as one wishes — nine times out of ten.