If that were truly the case, then his future movements would be far more convenient. Even if he encountered a situation like before, he wouldn't need to spend too much time traveling. Whenever he wished, he could simply open his Small Universe and, through the connection between the subsidiary tree and the World Tree's true body, return at will.
That was what the logic suggested, but Yang Kai couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. Things didn't seem as simple as he'd imagined.
The Old Tree didn't answer the question directly. Instead, it asked, "Think about it yourself. What is the origin that allowed me to guide you here to the Grand Ruins Boundary, and what is the origin of the various Universe Worlds scattered throughout this place?"
"Origin?" Yang Kai fell into contemplation at those words.
Thinking it through carefully, the reason he could use the World Tree's power to enter the Grand Ruins Boundary was that he had refined over two thousand Universe Worlds back in the day. Every single one of those Universe Worlds was imprinted upon a World Fruit on the Old Tree's body. It was through that imprint that he and the Old Tree had become inextricably linked.
That meant no matter where he was, he needed an undying Universe World as a medium in order to use the Old Tree's power to enter the Grand Ruins Boundary.
It was precisely for this reason that he had once deliberately refined an undying Universe from the Three Thousand Worlds and taken it to the Primordial Great Seal—so that he could freely travel to that location at any time to check on conditions there.
And every time he departed from the Grand Ruins Boundary, he needed a World Fruit as a medium. If he wanted to go to the Star Boundary, he had to find the corresponding World Fruit for the Star Boundary. If he wanted to reach the Primordial Great Seal, he had to find the World Fruit corresponding to the undying Universe he had left behind there all those years ago...
Yang Kai's eyes lit up with sudden understanding. "The origin is the World Fruit."
Upon the tree trunk, the Old Tree nodded. "You could also say it is an undying Universe."
"So my idea won't work."
His Small Universe didn't have a corresponding World Fruit. When he'd returned just now, he had merely used his own subsidiary tree to strengthen the connection with the Old Tree. After all, every subsidiary tree was an extension of the Old Tree itself, and between an extension and the true body, an inseparable bond already existed.
Realizing this, Yang Kai felt a twinge of disappointment.
"I may no longer be able to guide you to the Grand Ruins Boundary in the future," the Old Tree suddenly said.
Yang Kai started, then quickly grasped the problem. "The cost this time was too great?"
He had noticed earlier that the Old Tree's condition was even worse than the last time he'd seen it. The massive canopy had begun to yellow, its leaves showing signs of withering.
The Old Tree gave a low hum. "The distance is too far. Even with the subsidiary trees establishing a connection, my power hasn't fully reached that range yet. I'm afraid I'll have to enter a deep slumber from now on."
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Yang Kai asked. If the Old Tree fell into slumber, he would certainly lose one of his methods of teleportation. At the very least, he would no longer be able to visit the Primordial Great Seal whenever he pleased.
The Old Tree considered for a moment, then swayed its trunk. "You probably can't help much. Unless—like this time—more Universes establish a connection with me."
But that was an unrealistic proposition. Virtually every Universe still surviving in the Three Thousand Worlds had already been corrupted and killed by the Ink Force. Where would he find more Universes?
On his way back, Yang Kai had indeed seen many newly born Universe Worlds, but the Old Tree's power couldn't reach that far. Using a subsidiary tree was technically possible, but the Old Tree had no way of producing that many subsidiaries.
The last time it had parted with three subsidiary trees, it had already lost an enormous amount of Yuan Qi.
It was safe to say that this slumber might very well be permanent. The Old Tree could only awaken again after humanity thoroughly defeated the Ink Race and the Three Thousand Worlds underwent countless ages of recovery to regain their vitality.
Yang Kai fell silent. Ever since the connection between him and the Old Tree had been established, the Old Tree's help had been invaluable. Now, unable to offer anything in return, he felt a deep sense of helplessness.
"Where do you want to go now?" the Old Tree asked. "Before I enter slumber, I can send you off one last time."
"The Star Boundary," Yang Kai said, slowly rising to his feet. He gazed at the aged face on the tree trunk and clasped his fists in a respectful bow. "Please rest easy, Tree Elder. Leave the matter of the Ink Race to me. The day you awaken shall be the day the Ink blight is vanquished!"
The Old Tree chuckled softly. "I'll be waiting for that day!"
He hoped that day would come.
Yang Kai nodded, then flickered toward the World Fruit corresponding to the Star Boundary. At the same moment, the Old Tree summoned its strength. The cosmos flipped in an instant, and a Universe rapidly expanded in Yang Kai's field of vision.
Within the Grand Ruins Boundary, the Old Tree spent the last of its power. The face upon its trunk slowly faded. In the instant before its consciousness sank into dormancy, it suddenly realized something.
This time they met, Yang Kai had already reached the Ninth-Order... In its previous state of exhaustion, it hadn't even noticed.
In the void of the Star Boundary, Yang Kai broke through space and arrived.
As always, the moment he materialized, a powerful divine sense swept toward him from somewhere within the Star Boundary—one of the powerhouses left behind to guard the world, sensing the disturbance and probing with their spiritual perception.
An ordinary powerhouse would not possess such sharp awareness; not even an Eighth-Order could. But the Great Emperors born of the Star Boundary were different. They were intimately connected to the world, recognized by the Heavenly Dao itself, and so long as they paid attention, no suspicious activity could escape their notice.