Nowadays, even when new Open Heaven Realm cultivators were born on the human side, there were rarely any below the Fourth Grade. The Star Boundary and the Myriad Monster World, those two great nurseries of Open Heaven Realm cultivators, had given humanity a tremendous boost, raising the starting point of Open Heaven cultivators far beyond what it had been in the old days.
As a result, resources below the Fourth Grade were of little use to human warriors. The Ink Race, on the other hand, cared little about the quality of resources — everything was ultimately dumped into the Ink Nests anyway, so even low-grade materials served their purposes just fine.
Yang Kai's request drew only a moment's hesitation from Mo Na Ye before he agreed. With a subtle glance, more than a dozen Pseudo King Masters dispersed and headed back to the Gate of No Return to take inventory.
The other Ink Race powerhouses remained, maintaining their distant standoff with Yang Kai.
With nothing better to do, Yang Kai waved a hand and produced a table and chairs from his Small Universe, setting them up before him. He then brought out a tea set and stoked a flame to boil water. Lifting his gaze toward Mo Na Ye and Mo Yu, he said, "Why don't the two of you come and sit for a while?"
Mo Na Ye and Mo Yu exchanged a glance, then gave a soft snort. In the next instant, both figures darted over and seated themselves across from Yang Kai.
In the distance, the Pseudo King Masters watching the scene subtly channeled their power, ready to intervene at any moment. Yet those three supreme-level powerhouses simply sat in quiet composure, none showing any intention of making a move.
The scene looked utterly bizarre, stirring complex emotions in the hearts of the numerous Pseudo King Masters.
Before long, the tea was ready. Yang Kai poured a cup each for the two King Lords before him, then one for himself. He took a light sip, set down the cup, and said, "I'm no great scholar of the way of tea. I've never had the time over the years for these refined little pursuits. But among humans, many are fond of tea — it's an art in its own right. The Ink Race's invasion of the Three Thousand Worlds has displaced countless people and left many Great Domains and Universes dead and silent. I'm afraid many arts and crafts may be lost because of it. It is rather a pity."
Mo Na Ye raised his cup, took a sip, and said evenly, "I actually prefer the taste of your human wines. Tea is rather too bland."
Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "You're quite the connoisseur. Drink it or don't! But then again, given the nature of you Ink Race — every world you invade is a world doomed to destruction. If you really unified all the heavens, you wouldn't even have tea left to drink."
Mo Na Ye set down his cup and said gravely, "The Ink will be the only eternity in this world!"
Yang Kai raised a hand to cut him off. "Save your philosophy. We walk different paths and have nothing to say to each other. Humanity is the rightful master of these heavens. You're nothing but a band of marauders who've broken into someone else's home and run roughshod over it."
Mo Na Ye spoke calmly, "In the beginning, these heavens were ruled by the Sacred Spirits, then by the Monster Race, and finally by your human race. Races rise and fall, eras come and go — these heavens have never had any true master. If humans could claim them, then so can the Ink Race."
Yang Kai couldn't help but glance at him sideways. "You certainly know your history. The Sacred Spirits, the Monster Race, the humans — three eras of rule, and these heavens thrived through all of them. But if the Ink Race had its way, what would it bring? Nothing but destruction and ruin. If the day comes when these heavens are truly dead, do you think the Ink Race alone will survive? You're marching toward your own annihilation — you just dress it up with pretty words about 'eternity.' Since you know so much, let me ask you this: do you know how the Sacred Spirits were born?"
Mo Na Ye frowned. "You know?"
Yang Kai smiled with pride. "Of course I know!"
Before Mo Na Ye could press him, he continued, "But I'm not telling!"
Mo Na Ye couldn't help but roll his eyes, too exasperated to respond.
Yang Kai went on, "Your Ink Race originates from Ink itself. It is Ink's ideas and will that drive all of your actions. Ink is powerful in its own right, but ever since it was sealed within the Primordial Heavens Grand Restriction, it has never managed to break free. Trapped and restless, in the end it's nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well — the vastness of these heavens far exceeds anything it can imagine."
*Bang!* Mo Yu, who had been sitting in silence the whole time, slammed his teacup down hard and glared at Yang Kai. "The Supreme's power is not something for the likes of you to speculate about!"
Yang Kai glanced at him sideways. "What's the matter? A few words and you can't handle it? You're drinking my tea and you have the nerve to throw a temper at me? Who gave you the nerve?"
Mo Yu's face darkened. "Yang Kai, don't think that reaching the Ninth Order makes you invincible. Mo Na Ye and I may not be your match, but can you face a Supreme's clone?" The "Supreme's clone" he referred to was none other than the Ink Colossus.
Yang Kai let out a derisive snort. "Why would I bother fighting them? They have their own opponents."
Mo Yu was rendered speechless for a moment.
Yang Kai shrugged. "Forget it, I can't be bothered arguing with you. If arguing were useful, why would anyone bother cultivating?" He lifted his eyebrows at Mo Na Ye. "Right?"
Mo Na Ye clearly had no desire to dwell on this topic either. Shifting the subject, he said, "The resources will be gathered and delivered to you in three days. However, I have one small request of my own."
"Name it." Yang Kai raised the teacup to his lips, swirling it idly left and right.
"You need to stay here. You can leave only after all the Pseudo King Masters have returned to the Gate of No Return."
Having dealt with Yang Kai so many times, Mo Na Ye knew there was no precedent for him breaking his word — yet this time, he didn't dare trust him too far. If he handed over the resources and Yang Kai left immediately, he would certainly go to ambush the Pseudo King Masters on their way back. The only way to prevent that was to wait until every last one had withdrawn safely before letting Yang Kai depart.
He had even worried Yang Kai might refuse, and had been contemplating whether to hold back a portion of the resources as leverage until the Pseudo King Masters returned.