The Ink Race's hierarchy differed from that of the Human Race. Humans relied on their own cultivation realms to define their ranks. Though the Ink Race also used strength to determine hierarchy, the classifications below the Lord-Rank were relatively coarse.
For instance, the lower-rank Ink Race encompassed all those equivalent to the Human Race's lower three grades, while the upper-rank Ink Race corresponded to the middle three grades. Only once one reached the Lord-Rank was a distinct tier carved out, corresponding to the Human Race's seventh grade. The Domain-Rank corresponded to the eighth grade, and the King-Rank was the ninth grade.
As for those below the lower-rank Ink Race, they were all mere fodder! Such Ink Race members were typically freshly spawned from Ink Nests, with little potential for growth. In every major battle between the two races, it was these grunts who suffered the heaviest casualties—cannon fodder for the Ink Race, whose deaths served to drain the Human Race's strength while simultaneously releasing residual Ink Force from their bodies to create a more favorable battlefield for the Ink Race armies that followed.
How strong was the overall quality of the tens of millions of Ink Race troops that had marched from the Initial Heaven Great Seal? Li Wuyi had no way of knowing—he couldn't probe too carefully. But based on the intelligence available, this Ink Race army was likely the most powerful force the Human Race had ever encountered. Within the army, wave after wave of heaven-shaking, earth-trembling auras blazed without any attempt at concealment, and even from a great distance, Li Wuyi could sense them with perfect clarity.
Those were unmistakably the auras of the Ink Race's Pseudo King-Ranks!
"Are there any King-Ranks?" Yang Kai asked via divine transmission.
Li Wuyi shook his head. "No way to tell."
The Pseudo King-Ranks couldn't control their own power, so they had no way to suppress their auras. But a true King-Rank could. Even if there was a King-Rank somewhere in this Ink Race army, Li Wuyi would have difficulty detecting them.
After a brief pause, Yang Kai said, "Stay hidden. I'll go take a look."
Li Wuyi immediately nodded. "Then be careful."
He knew what Yang Kai was capable of, so there was little to worry about. Moreover, with Lei Ying's innate talent as an ally, there was arguably no one in the world better suited for reconnaissance than Yang Kai.
In the next instant, he activated Lei Ying's innate talent, concealing both his figure and aura, and shot toward the ink-colored flood that was the rapidly marching Ink Race army.
From a distance, the torrent already looked imposing; up close, its vastness was even more overwhelming.
Within moments, Yang Kai had reached the flank of the Ink Race army, no more than a few tens of thousands of kilometers away. This distance was actually quite close—yet also safe enough.
Until he knew whether a King-Rank powerhouse was present in the army, this was the absolute limit. Any closer, and even with Lei Ying's innate abilities to back him up, he might alert the Ink Race.
The ink-colored torrent flowed rapidly across his field of vision as Yang Kai observed silently, his heart growing heavier with what he found.
From a distance, he'd known the army contained no small number of Pseudo King-Ranks, but determining the exact count had been impossible. At this close range, however, Yang Kai could sense them clearly in an instant.
There were roughly three hundred Pseudo King-Ranks!
Tens of millions of troops, three hundred Pseudo King-Ranks—this proportion was comparable to No Return Pass at its peak. It was a staggering ratio.
Beyond the Pseudo King-Ranks, there were also many Innate Domain-Ranks, ordinary Domain-Ranks, and a large number of Lord-Ranks.
Yang Kai didn't even see a single lower-rank Ink Race member among them. Every single Ink Race soldier was upper-rank or above!
This discovery weighed on his spirits.
The army before him could be called an elite force—truly the most elite army the Human Race had ever seen.
Even No Return Pass couldn't compare.
Were there any King-Ranks? Yang Kai continued observing. The reason he'd come personally to scout this situation was precisely to answer this question.
This matter was absolutely critical to the future of the Human Race!
The auras radiating from the Pseudo King-Ranks were nearly indistinguishable from those of true King-Ranks, but upon careful observation, certain telltale differences could still be detected.
In terms of raw intensity, the Pseudo King-Ranks and true King-Ranks were virtually identical, but the Pseudo King-Ranks' auras tended to fluctuate, whereas a true King-Rank's would remain steady.
For someone like Yang Kai, who frequently dealt with Ink Race King-Ranks and Pseudo King-Ranks, the distinction was immediately apparent.
At a distance of tens of thousands of kilometers, he matched pace with the Ink Race army, observing continuously.
It took a full half-day before Yang Kai finished his inspection. This probe had uncovered no trace of a King-Rank's presence.
Still not entirely at ease, Yang Kai closed the distance to the Ink Race army slightly, deliberately releasing a faint wisp of his aura—just enough to ensure that even if a King-Rank noticed it, he could immediately suppress it again.
After a few moments, Yang Kai finally relaxed.
He could now confirm that this Ink Race army had no King-Rank powerhouse among them. A long breath escaped his lips.
It seemed the situation wasn't as bad as he'd feared. The Initial Heaven Great Seal hadn't completely collapsed after all.
Because if it truly had collapsed, the Ink Race wouldn't have sent Pseudo King-Ranks this time—they would have sent real King-Ranks.