His answer was impeccable — after all, Yang Kai had come out this time to search for that light, and since he had nothing better to do anyway...
"But we did find something." Sister Lan suddenly spoke up.
Yang Kai's expression turned serious. "Please, do tell."
Instead of answering, Sister Lan posed a question: "Do you know how to refine pills?"
Yang Kai had no idea what pill refining had to do with anything, but he nodded honestly. "A little."
His Small Universe contained quite a few Dao Marks of Alchemy. While not on par with his three primary Daos, they were still remarkably impressive. If he wished, he could easily become a grandmaster of pill refining — not to mention that he had, in fact, refined pills in earlier years.
Many cultivators within his Small Universe had benefited from this, possessing considerable talent in the Dao of Alchemy.
Sister Lan said, "Since you understand pill refining, you should know that many times, when herbs with mutually antagonistic properties are placed together in the same furnace, rather than neutralizing each other, they can actually enhance one another's efficacy."
Yang Kai nodded. "That's right. The Dao of Alchemy is vast and profound, with the greatest emphasis placed on the proportions and compatibility of various herbs." He looked thoughtful. "You mean to say..."
"If Brother Huang and I are like two herbs with conflicting properties, then what would it take to draw out our true power?"
Yang Kai's eyes lit up. "A catalyst!"
Two herbs with conflicting properties could still be placed in the same furnace — all it took was the right catalyst to transform the dregs into something miraculous. Not only would it unleash the full potential of both herbs, but they would also merge to produce entirely new properties.
"I understand! I understand!" Yang Kai's face broke into elation, like a patient who had finally found a cure after a long and desperate search — almost delirious with joy.
Last time he had visited the Chaotic Death Domain, his conversation with the two of them had made him realize they were deeply connected to that light. Perhaps they had been separated from it — because Sister Lan had once mentioned that in their early, hazy state of consciousness, they had felt abandoned.
Abandoned by whom? And what kind of being could abandon them?
That light, without question.
Though he didn't know the exact reason, that light had separated its supreme Yang and Yin forces, giving birth to Solar Zhuozhao and Lunar Youying.
That was why they had felt abandoned in their formless, dawning consciousness. They had once been whole, torn apart by some immense power.
Now, to reunite them, the process had to be reversed. There had to be another singular existence in this world — and that existence would serve as the catalyst to bring Brother Huang and Sister Lan back together!
If he could find that catalyst, perhaps the glory of that original light could be restored.
Brother Huang and Sister Lan exchanged a glance, their faces completely deadpan.
But soon enough, Yang Kai's expression gradually stiffened. He furrowed his brow in contemplation, and after a moment, his joyful face collapsed entirely.
Though he had clarified some things, it seemed to make no practical difference...
Even if he couldn't find the original light, would he be able to find the catalyst? After searching through so many Great Domains with absolutely nothing to show for it, even if he searched every last one, he might still come up empty.
Logically speaking, the Dark that had been born from that light had become Ink. If that light had never separated Brother Huang and Sister Lan, it would surely have grown into a being as mighty as Ink — renowned across the entire Three Thousand Worlds.
But by splitting off its Yin and Yang forces into Zhuozhao and Youying, what had the light itself become? No one knew.
Even the World Tree had no answer.
The Old Tree had existed since the dawn of time, intimately connected to the Three Thousand Worlds and countless Universes. If even he didn't know, how could anyone else?
Yang Kai suddenly felt utterly disheartened.
"Yah!" A foot suddenly flew out, kicking him square in the face. The sheer force sent Yang Kai tumbling backward, his vision erupting with stars.
After finally steadying himself, his face was slick and wet. He reached up to touch it — blood.
He shook his head and walked back, looking at Brother Huang. "Why'd you kick me?"
Brother Huang snorted coldly. "That long face of yours — looking like someone in your family died. It's genuinely infuriating to watch."
Yang Kai let out a bitter laugh. "Was it that obvious?"
Brother Huang and Sister Lan nodded in unison.
Brother Huang hopped up and slapped his small hand on Yang Kai's shoulder, adopting an air of worldly wisdom. "Listen here, kid. There's no obstacle in this world that can't be overcome. If you give up before you've even started, you might as well just die now and save yourself the trouble."
Yang Kai protested innocently. "I haven't given up! I just feel like—"
"Don't 'feel like.'" Brother Huang cut him off. "Everything in this world — birth, death, the cycle of reincarnation — follows its own law. Don't try to carry everything on your shoulders. You can't bear it. This calamity is a calamity for the entire universe, not just for you alone. If the world is going to be destroyed without you, then let it be destroyed."
Yang Kai lowered his head and said nothing.