Even separated by an entire Great Domain, the Cosmos Furnace's appearance had generated some commotion, but Xiao Xiao and Wu Qing's side had not perceived it very clearly and had not paid it much mind.
However, several decades later, similar disturbances once again emanated from the Empty Domain, this time interspersed with traces of Ink Clan powerhouses revealing themselves.
Xiao Xiao and Wu Qing had never figured out what was happening over in the Empty Domain. It wasn't until Mo Naye suddenly appeared this time—manifesting in the bearing of a King Lord—that Xiao Xiao finally connected all these anomalies together.
She stared at Mo Naye while explaining to Wu Qing: "Inside the Cosmos Furnace, there are Supreme Open Heaven Pills nurtured by Heaven and Earth. Those Supreme Open Heaven Pills aren't just useful to the Human Race—they're useful to the Ink Clan as well!"
Wu Qing turned to look at her, a flash of astonishment crossing his eyes.
In terms of age and seniority, Wu Qing was far behind Xiao Xiao, so despite both being Ninth-Order, there were many things he was simply unaware of.
Xiao Xiao only knew about this because she had once heard other Human Race Ninth-Order powerhouses mention it.
Wu Qing finally understood. "You mean to say—his advancement to King Lord came from finding opportunity within the Cosmos Furnace?"
Xiao Xiao nodded. "Otherwise, how could an Innate Domain Lord possibly achieve the status of King Lord!"
An Innate Domain Lord advancing to King Lord, and two anomalous disturbances in the Empty Domain over the span of several decades—two seemingly unrelated events that, when combined, revealed the truth.
Wu Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The intelligence on the Human Race's side had been correct after all—an Innate Domain Lord could not advance to King Lord. But if it was because he had obtained opportunity within the Cosmos Furnace, then everything made sense.
"Your luck certainly wasn't bad." Xiao Xiao looked at Mo Naye, suddenly smiling like a blooming flower. "Quite a few new Ninth-Order powerhouses should have been born among our Human Race, yes?"
Throughout history, every time the Cosmos Furnace opened, the Human Race had always gained something, whether large or small. So once she had realized the Cosmos Furnace had appeared, Xiao Xiao was certain that new Ninth-Order powerhouses must have emerged among the Human Race.
The smile on Mo Naye's face had already faded. After a moment of silence, he said: "Within the Cosmos Furnace, a total of four Ninth-Order powerhouses were born from the Human Race!"
This was the truth—though he did not mention that before this, the Human Race already had two Ninth-Order powerhouses in Luo Tinghe and Wei Junyang.
"Yang Kai must be one of the four!" Xiao Xiao nodded slightly. This was not a question but a statement delivered with absolute certainty.
The corner of Mo Naye's mouth twitched. The depth of their trust in Yang Kai showed that this Ninth-Order powerhouse harbored tremendous expectations for the man.
Very well—the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.
Composing himself, Mo Naye chuckled lightly: "Brother Yang is truly a once-in-an-era genius. I have always held Brother Yang in the highest regard, and in those years I dealt with him on many occasions."
"Looks like you came out on the losing end quite a few times." The corner of Xiao Xiao's mouth curled upward.
Mo Naye pretended not to hear her teasing and continued: "You may not be aware, but Brother Yang's advancement to Ninth-Order was not achieved through the Supreme Open Heaven Pill. Rather, he cultivated an exceedingly profound secret art. Within the Cosmos Furnace, my Ink Clan had superior numbers and strength, with complete arrangements in place—ambushes and traps laid, waiting only for him to step into the net so we could close it. But Brother Yang is Brother Yang after all. Even in such a desperate situation, he managed to turn the tide, breaking through on the very precipice of battle. Not only did he ruin my grand design, he seized the opportunity to slay one of my Ink Clan's King Lords. In that battle, my Ink Clan suffered devastating casualties. After that battle, within the Cosmos Furnace, my Ink Clan no longer had the strength to resist. The survivors could only hide and skulk, never daring to show their faces. I myself endured great torment, knowing my days were numbered. Since Lady Xiao Xiao is aware of some of the Cosmos Furnace's secrets, she should know this—those who enter the Cosmos Furnace through the same entrance will return to the same place. And Brother Yang and I had entered through the same entrance!"
In just a few sentences he recounted the struggle within the Cosmos Furnace, sparing no praise or admiration for Yang Kai—which, paradoxically, made Xiao Xiao and Wu Qing frown deeply, a vague sense of foreboding settling over them.
Even upon hearing that Yang Kai had cultivated a profound secret art to break through to Ninth-Order, and that he had slain a King Lord, they felt little joy.
Sure enough, Mo Naye shifted his tone: "When the Cosmos Furnace closed, I had already prepared myself for a fight to the death with Brother Yang. A man of his caliber—if I, Mo Naye, were to die at his hands, it would not be unjust. But why don't the two of you guess what happened next?"
Xiao Xiao and Wu Qing both fell silent, their expressions grave.
Since Mo Naye was alive, it meant that Yang Kai had failed to kill him at the time. Something must have gone wrong. There was no need to indulge Mo Naye's malicious habit of keeping people in suspense.
He didn't press the matter, continuing naturally: "When the Cosmos Furnace closed and I returned from it, I could find no trace of Brother Yang. Heh—heh, that was how I managed to keep my life. I then spent a hundred years recovering before I regained my strength. Of course, that's not the main point. The main point is... even today, Brother Yang has completely vanished without a trace!"
"The day the Cosmos Furnace closed, not seeing Brother Yang struck me as peculiar. I didn't pay it much mind at the time, because my Ink Clan's intelligence on the Cosmos Furnace was rather limited back then. But now, with the Cosmos Furnace having been closed for so many years, Brother Yang still showing no sign—that is far too strange!"
Xiao Xiao's expression turned somewhat ugly. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Mo Naye smiled, staring directly into Xiao Xiao's eyes: "I'm afraid Brother Yang is trapped somewhere inside the Cosmos Furnace, unable to escape!"
"What of it?" Xiao Xiao countered coldly. Regardless of whether Mo Naye's words were true—even if they were, what of it?
Mo Naye let out a soft sigh. "Nothing, really. It's just that a man of Brother Yang's caliber being trapped in the Cosmos Furnace is truly lamentable. There's normally no one I can speak to about such matters. Seeing you two Lords here today, I couldn't help but say a bit more. I hope you'll forgive my digression."