Ten years might seem long to an ordinary person who had never cultivated, but for powerhouses of the Human and Ink Races — especially those at the level of Mo Na Ye and Yang Kai — it was nothing more than the snap of a finger.
Mo Na Ye was naturally dissatisfied with Yang Kai's proposal and immediately launched into a round of haggling, looking for all the world like a shrewd, penny-pinching market vendor.
However, the momentum of the situation firmly favored Yang Kai, and he held firm at ten years without budging an inch. Mo Na Ye grew utterly exasperated and snapped in irritation, "If we're going to do business, the least you could do is show some sincerity. With this attitude of yours, I can't see a shred of good faith. Granted, you have considerable capital at the moment, but your luck won't always be this good, Yang Kai. There's a saying among the Humans — walk by the river long enough and your shoes are bound to get wet. You're not unkillable, you know. And once we're on guard in the future, how many more chances do you think you'll get?"
That was actually a fair point. After the chaos he had caused this time, the defenses at the Gate of No Return would only grow tighter. Yang Kai admitted to himself that even with his current surge in strength, if his luck ran dry, he could still find himself in serious trouble.
It was precisely because of this that Yang Kai was willing to negotiate with the Ink Race. If he truly had the ability to destroy every King Lord-level Ink Nest, why would he bother wasting time talking? He would simply spend however long it took to wipe out every last King Lord-level Ink Nest stationed at the Gate of No Return.
These were the very foundation of the Ink Race. If the King Lord-level Ink Nests were destroyed to the last, the Ink Race would have no way to replenish their forces in the future, nor would they ever produce a new generation of King Masters.
With the Ink Race's current displayed reserves, without troop reinforcements and without more King Masters, the Humans merely needed to advance steadily and methodically, and sooner or later they would annihilate every last member of the Ink Race.
Yang Kai clicked his tongue. Mo Na Ye really wasn't the type to be easily bluffed. After a moment's thought, he said, "How about this — thirty years. I won't come back to the Gate of No Return for thirty years. That's my absolute bottom line. If the Ink Race doesn't agree, then there's nothing more to discuss."
Mo Na Ye was about to speak when Yang Kai fixed him with a sharp, solemn gaze and said in a low voice, "Think carefully before you open your mouth. If the word 'no' escapes your lips even once, I turn around and walk away!"
Mo Na Ye's mouth hung open, momentarily speechless…
He glared at Yang Kai with undisguised hatred, then sent out a pulse of divine sense to consult with Mo Yu.
Yang Kai waited in perfect composure, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Pseudo King Masters with undisguised menace, making every last one of them tremble with anxiety…
After only a brief pause, Mo Na Ye finally spoke. "We have a deal then. You take one fortress, and you won't show your face at the Gate of No Return for thirty years. I trust you'll honor your promise."
Yang Kai flashed a broad grin. "Relax. We've dealt with each other plenty of times — when have I ever broken my word?"
Mo Na Ye offered no comment.
Though Yang Kai had indeed never broken an agreement before, the circumstances then and now were entirely different. Previously, while the two races had been enemies, both had been relatively restrained because they each needed to build up their own strength — and that was precisely why Yang Kai had not acted recklessly. Things were different now. The all-out war between the two races had erupted, and it was a fight to the death. Honestly, Mo Na Ye had very little faith in Yang Kai's trustworthiness. Even if Yang Kai truly had no intention of honoring the agreement, there was nothing the Ink Race could do about it.
The reason he agreed was partly out of helplessness, and partly as a test.
"There are a total of forty-nine Human fortresses left behind on this side. Which one do you want?" Mo Na Ye asked.
"Let me take a look first," Yang Kai replied. Naturally, he would choose the one with the least damage. Otherwise, even if he brought it back, it would require enormous resources to repair, and the Human Race didn't have much to spare at the moment.
With that, Yang Kai began walking toward the Gate of No Return. The various Ink Race powerhouses instinctively retreated, parting before him with practiced ease.
It was only when he had drawn close to the Gate of No Return that Yang Kai halted and surveyed the scene before him.
He had been to the Gate of No Return many times before, but each visit had been to cause trouble. He had never truly paid attention to the condition of the abandoned fortresses. Now, examining them closely, he immediately felt the ferocity and intensity of that ancient battle.
When the Battle of the Gate of No Return had taken place, Yang Kai had still been trapped within the Great Sea Celestial Phenomenon. By the time he freed himself and rushed back, the Gate of No Return had already fallen, and the Human Race had retreated to the Domain of Space.
So he had not participated in that battle. He only knew that the Human Race had suffered devastating casualties, with more than ten Ninth-Order Grand Elders falling.
The Ink Race had fared no better. One of their Ink Colossi had been slain by the Humans during the assault on the Gate of No Return. Had it not fallen, the Ink Race would now have more than just two Ink Colossi.
Not a single fortress left behind at the Gate of No Return was intact. Across their weathered walls lay the scars of that titanic battle — and many a dark, dried stain of old blood.
Finally, Yang Kai settled his gaze on one particular fortress and raised his hand. "That one."
On one wall of the fortress, two large characters were faintly discernible, though time and the devastation of the battle had rendered them nearly illegible. Studying the shapes, he could just barely make out what appeared to be the words Chun Yang.
This must be the Pure Yang Fortress!
The one who had once been stationed here was the Ninth-Order Grand Elder of the Pure Yang Heavenly Abode — one of the eldest and most powerful Ninth-Order cultivators of that entire generation.
Yang Kai had long held the elder's reputation in high esteem, though he had never had the chance to meet him. He had heard that the final battle in the Domain of Space had been initiated by this elder, who had led a charge of numerous Ninth-Order Grand Elders against the Ink Colossi and several King Masters in one last desperate assault, ultimately sacrificing his life for the cause.
Reflecting on the deeds of his predecessors, Yang Kai's heart churned with emotion. He shot Mo Na Ye a cold look. "Move your Ink Nests off of it!"
Four Ink Nests had been set up upon the Pure Yang Fortress — one at the King Lord level, and the other three at the Domain Lord level. A considerable number of Ink Race creatures could be seen milling about within them.