The Eighth-Order cultivators present were all sensible people. While they still harbored the desire to return to the battlefield and slay enemies, this place genuinely needed people to hold the fort. Upon hearing the robed elder's words, they nodded in agreement.
"I've fought the Mo Tribe my whole life. Now that I'm old, it's about time I enjoyed some peace. Staying here suits me just fine."
"Indeed, all the fighting and killing can be left to the young ones."
"The youngsters will have to take up the responsibilities of us seniors eventually. Back in our day, we went through the same thing, didn't we? Let's give them a chance to hone themselves."
For a moment, voices of agreement echoed all around.
The robed elder swept a smiling gaze across the group, then looked to Yang Kai and said, "The old fogeys all want to stay and enjoy themselves, so let us remain here. The materials we extract may not amount to much, but they'll at least be of some use."
Yang Kai nodded. "Then I thank you all. But please also be prepared—this situation won't last forever. One day, the Human Race will launch a full counterattack, and when that day comes, I may need your strength once more."
Someone laughed heartily. "We may be old, but we're as vigorous as ever—only growing firmer with age. Slaughtering a few Mo brats is still no trouble."
After some more talk and laughter, everyone produced the materials they had extracted over the years and handed them to Yang Kai. The haul was considerable. Fearing the risk of discovery by Mo Tribe powerhouses, they had not stored everything in one place but had instead distributed the goods across over a dozen Spatial Rings. That way, even if something went wrong here, they could ensure that not everything would be lost in one sweep.
Fortunately, the Mo Tribe had failed to notice over all these years that a Human Race team was quietly extracting resources deep within the Mo Battlefield. The main reason was that this team had concealed themselves well enough, hiding almost near the ancient battlefield—a place the Mo Tribe rarely ventured to.
Having collected the Spatial Rings, Yang Kai bid everyone farewell and departed. The group of Eighth-Order cultivators watched him leave. After centuries of waiting, their efforts had finally borne fruit, and the Human Race's situation was not as dire as they had feared. Their spirits soared.
After taking his leave, Yang Kai traveled onward, teleporting through space.
Finding this resource-extraction team had taken considerable time, but the return trip was far simpler. By using the Ethereal Pearls he had left at intervals along the way as relay points, he arrived at the outer perimeter of No-Return Pass in less than half a day.
Looking up, he saw that the Domain Gate he had previously sealed had been reopened. He was not particularly concerned.
The Mo Tribe now boasted numerous powerhouses—two Race Lords and dozens of Pseudo-Race Lords gathered at No-Return Pass. Even if he had sealed the Domain Gate, that many strong fighters working together could force it open; it was merely a matter of how long it would take.
But with Manaye's intelligence, he should have already grasped the gravity of the situation. Sealing the Domain Gate had been effortless for Yang Kai, but for the Mo Tribe, it was nothing short of a catastrophic disaster.
Especially for the Mo Tribe armies still out on campaign!
Upon careful perception, he could sense powerful auras scattered throughout No-Return Pass, completely unhidden, like bright lights in the pitch of darkness. Mo Tribe patrols constantly swept through the area. The entire No-Return Pass was on edge, every sound sending hearts racing.
There was good reason for it. Two months ago, Yang Kai had suddenly appeared at No-Return Pass, transforming into a Sacred Dragon to battle the gathered Mo Tribe powerhouses. Though they had ultimately driven him back and given him a thorough beating, ensuring he didn't come away unscathed, the Mo Tribe had also suffered losses.
Setting aside the Pseudo-Race Lords who had been injured in that battle, an entire Race Lord-level Mo Nest had been destroyed, and a Domain Lord who had been on the verge of advancing to Race Lord had also been killed by Yang Kai.
Though Yang Kai had fled into the Mo Battlefield, Manaye knew him well enough—the bastard would be back.
Unable to determine when he would return, the entirety of No-Return Pass had been placed under full alert, prepared at all times.
It could be said that Yang Kai, though a single individual, had become a thorn in the side of every Mo Tribe powerhouse at No-Return Pass—deeply uncomfortable, thoroughly revolting.
After observing for a moment, Yang Kai activated Thunder Shadow's innate ability, concealing his form and aura. Like a phantom shadow, he streaked toward No-Return Pass.
In that same instant, a Pseudo-Race Lord stationed somewhere within No-Return Pass felt a faint flicker of warning in his heart. Under normal circumstances, he would not have paid such a subtle sensation any mind. But Manaye had given strict instructions beforehand, and so he snapped his eyes open, unleashing his aura in an instant.
A moment later, Manaye's figure appeared beside him in a flash. He glanced at the Pseudo-Race Lord, who gave a solemn nod.
Manaye looked left and right, his divine sense sweeping outward in all directions, but he found nothing.
Not far away, Yang Kai couldn't help but furrow his brow. He had originally planned to use Thunder Shadow's innate talent to slip past undetected and eliminate that Pseudo-Race Lord, but he hadn't expected them to be so alert.
What he could confirm was that they had not detected his presence. However, at the Pseudo-Race Lord level, cultivators possessed a certain intuition for unknown dangers. His intent to target that individual—and the act of acting on it—would inevitably trigger some degree of alertness.
What surprised Yang Kai was that the Pseudo-Race Lord had reacted so dramatically to such a minor trigger.
Isn't this way too cautious? Yang Kai was utterly speechless.
What he hadn't realized was that, due to their previous clashes and the intelligence they had gathered, the Mo Tribe's assessment of him had risen to an incredible degree. Manaye, knowing full well that Yang Kai would return sooner or later, had issued strict orders—no matter how faint the anomalous sensation, it was not to be ignored. That was why the Pseudo-Race Lord had responded with such exaggerated caution.
This had already happened several times before, each time turning out to be a false alarm. But the vigilance had never been relaxed.