Back then, Yang Kai had been gravely wounded and desperate to heal. Having confined himself within this projected space, he could not act freely for the time. Monaye had used a small-scale Ink Nest to contact No Return Pass, requesting that the King Lord bring a host of Mo Clan powerhouses to set an ambush here.
Since the King Lord had taken up residence at No Return Pass, apart from the one occasion when Yang Kai had rampaged through the pass and the King Lord had given chase, he had never once left.
Especially after Yang Kai's strength had grown to the point where he could pose a dire threat to No Return Pass, Mo Yu had become the single most important guarantee of the pass's security. No one knew when Yang Kai might turn up at No Return Pass to cause trouble, and under such circumstances, how could Mo Yu afford to leave casually?
He had been effectively pinned in place by Yang Kai, unable to move an inch.
And yet this time, in order to ensure the plan's success, Monaye had managed to recruit the Mo Clan's only King Lord. That spoke volumes about his determination and audacity.
Numerous Innate Domain Lords recalled from the front lines lurked in the shadows, standing by. Everything had been prepared long ago — all they needed was for Yang Kai to free himself, and they would strike with devastating force.
There was one rather troublesome element, however: this eerie projected space.
Monaye suspected that this place most likely could not contain Yang Kai. But if Yang Kai sensed danger after breaking free, he could simply retreat back inside to take shelter!
This bizarre projected space was practically a natural fortress for Yang Kai.
And so, in the plan Monaye had quietly devised with Mo Yu, the strategy was to wait until Yang Kai had moved some distance away from the projected space. Then Mo Yu would strike with overwhelming force, engaging Yang Kai and holding him for as long as possible. That would give the Domain Lords carrying the formation anchors time to deploy the formation at their leisure.
Once the formation was complete, Yang Kai would have no sky to flee to and no ground to burrow into. At that point, Mo Yu could kill him within the formation without difficulty.
The arrangement was watertight. While Monaye dared not claim a hundred-percent guarantee, sixty or seventy percent was certainly within reach — more than enough reason for the Mo Clan to gamble. The critical variable in this plan was how long Mo Yu could keep Yang Kai occupied.
As long as Mo Yu could delay Yang Kai long enough, the plan would execute to perfection.
That was why, when he saw Yang Kai heading out of the projected space, Monaye had felt a flicker of puzzlement — but also keen anticipation.
What he never imagined was that his plan would be on the verge of collapse before it had even begun — and the cause was Mo Yu exposing his aura?
No — that couldn't be right!
The King Lord would never carelessly reveal himself. Monaye had impressed upon him the need for utmost caution again and again, and after suffering defeat at Yang Kai's hands time and again, the King Lord would not show the slightest carelessness.
Yang Kai was bluffing!
In a flash of insight, Monaye grasped everything. He opened his mouth to warn the King Lord, but a vast and overwhelming aura had already erupted — and in the next instant, from somewhere in the void, a bolt of black radiance hurtled toward Yang Kai with the fury of thunder and lightning!
Monaye closed his eyes in anguish…
The clash of powerful fighters reverberated from outside, punctuated by a muffled grunt from Yang Kai.
When Monaye opened his eyes again, he saw that Yang Kai had already retreated back into the projected space. And beyond its boundary, the imposing figure of King Lord Mo Yu stood silently, a pair of fleshy wings spread wide behind him. Bony spurs jutted from the wings like fangs — a thoroughly grotesque sight.
Yang Kai's arms trembled uncontrollably, blood dripping from his fingertips. After a head-on clash with the Mo Clan's true King Lord, both his arms had nearly been broken. Yet he was smiling — a smile brimming with mockery.
King Lord Mo Yu stood outside with a grim expression, frowning as he regarded Yang Kai, then glanced at Monaye. Understanding seemed to dawn on him, and he could not suppress a cold snarl.
It was not that he was easily provoked. It was simply that the Mo Clan placed far too much weight on Yang Kai. The moment Yang Kai had spoken, Mo Yu's instinct had told him that his position was compromised. If he did not act immediately and Yang Kai activated his Space Laws to flee, there would be no chance to strike.
So he had struck decisively.
But Yang Kai had not ventured far from the projected space. Though caught off guard by the blow, he had used the impact's momentum to retreat back inside.
More figures now emerged from the shadows, gathering slowly around Mo Yu — a group of Innate Domain Lords.
They were supposed to have used the window while the King Lord engaged Yang Kai to deploy the Four Gates Eight Palaces Sumi Formation. But with the situation as it was, they had no idea what to do, and could only await the King Lord's orders.
Through the barrier of the projected space, the two sides locked eyes. Yang Kai shook out his arms, chuckled softly, and turned to look at Monaye. "The Mo Clan certainly knows how to roll out the welcome mat!"
Monaye replied evenly, "Since Brother Yang had already guessed as much, why bother testing us? Simply ask, and I will hold nothing back."
What he could now confirm was that Yang Kai had anticipated his secret arrangements all along — which was precisely why he had deliberately stepped out of the projected space to probe them. And sure enough, the moment he had tested the waters, the truth had revealed itself.