The warriors in this area weren't nearly as densely packed as at Leiguang, but Yang Kai noticed that their overall level of cultivation was significantly stronger than what he'd seen there.
The spiritual energy here flowed like the waters of a great river, ceaselessly coursing through the valley. The moment Yang Kai arrived and took a single breath, he felt his entire body relax, his mind clearing and his spirits lifting.
The valley was enormous. When Yang Kai hovered in midair and looked down, he couldn't even see the far end of it. He couldn't help but let surprise show on his face.
If anything, this was less a valley and more a vast, sunken plain.
Around the valley, mountain peaks pierced the clouds, soaring thousands of feet into the sky—more than a hundred of them. Flying beasts and spirit herbs teemed upon the peaks, radiating vigorous vitality.
Though these peaks appeared to be scattered randomly around the valley's perimeter, Yang Kai sensed they were arranged in a peculiar pattern. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth from the surrounding region seemed to be drawn by some mysterious force, flowing continuously through the hundred peaks and into the valley below, nourishing the warriors and the spirit herbs growing on the mountains.
Cang Yan and Fei Yu exchanged a glance and silently nodded to themselves.
Yang Kai had spotted the mystery here at a single glance—his eyes were clearly far from ordinary.
"These hundred peaks are the foundation of my Tianxiao Sect," Cang Yan explained.
"Oh? Is there something special about them?"
"Of course." Cang Yan nodded gently. "You must have noticed that the spiritual energy from outside is converging into the sect. This is the Hundred Peak Spirit Formation—a colossal grand formation built using the one hundred and one peaks around this valley as its nodes. Only half of these peaks formed naturally."
"And the other half?"
"Our sect's founder created them by hand." Cang Yan grinned.
Yang Kai's expression shifted, and he exclaimed in admiration, "Your sect's founder is truly extraordinary."
"Naturally. Once one's strength reaches a certain level, one can overturn rivers and seas, or even pluck stars and invite the moon. Legend has it that there are powerful beings who can venture deep into the starry sky itself, seeking great fortunes and opportunities among the countless stars."
"Deep into the starry sky?" Yang Kai's eyes widened with wonder. It was as though a great door was slowly swinging open before him, revealing marvels he had never even imagined. His eyes began to shimmer with a brilliant light as he listened intently.
"Deep into the starry sky!" Cang Yan nodded firmly. "A few days ago, you saw the strange green stone in Elder Du's hand, didn't you? That was a product of the starry sky—something that doesn't exist on the Tongxuan Continent. That stone was incredibly precious. A pity it was ultimately damaged."
"The starry sky holds all manner of herbs and minerals beyond your wildest imagination—far exceeding even saint grade. There are even star beasts more powerful than those who've entered the Saint Realm, each one immensely strong and unimaginably vast. The smallest of them could very well be bigger than the entire valley of our Tianxiao Sect."
Yang Kai's jaw dropped, looking as though he could barely believe what he was hearing.
What Cang Yan described sounded simply too fantastical.
"Well, these are just legends. What the starry sky actually looks like, I don't really know. No powerful being has ever proven they ventured deep into it." Cang Yan sniffed and added, "But even so."
Yang Kai let out a surprised laugh and nodded. "Still, your Tianxiao Sect's Hundred Peak Spirit Formation is truly remarkable. Where I come from, something like this would be completely beyond imagination."
"Where you come from?" Cang Yan looked startled.
"Oh, I'm from a small place—a backwater corner. Nothing as exciting as this world," Yang Kai explained simply.
"I see." Cang Yan nodded slightly. "The Hundred Peak Spirit Formation is indeed an extraordinary feat. Even on the Tongxuan Continent, it's extremely rare to encounter one. This formation doesn't just gather the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—it can also serve as a defensive barrier in the event of a great disaster. However, no one has ever dared to invade our Tianxiao Sect, so I've never actually seen the Hundred Peak Spirit Formation fully activated."
"You two stop chatting and get going already." Fei Yu interrupted their conversation, sounding somewhat impatient.
"Just giving our young friend an introduction," Cang Yan said. Having decided to cultivate a good relationship with Yang Kai, his manner of address had become notably warmer.
Cang Yan said no more and led Yang Kai and Fei Yu flying downward.
Perhaps because the spiritual energy here was so incredibly dense, the view from midair was somewhat hazy. Everything at the bottom of the valley was shrouded in mist, as though it were some perilous hidden realm.
A short while later, the three of them touched down.
Cang Yan strolled forward, and the Tianxiao Sect disciples he encountered along the way all greeted him with bows and respectful salutations. These warriors were all of considerable cultivation—most were at the Shenyou Realm, their auras thick and powerful, appearing far stronger than others of the same rank and level.
Yang Kai watched with clicks of his tongue and expressions of wonder.
These Tianxiao Sect disciples had their spirit and vitality turned inward, their life force surging, their flesh and meridians extraordinarily tough, their true yuan dense and abundant. Their combat strength was clearly not to be underestimated.
After handing the five rescued disciples over to others for care, Cang Yan led Yang Kai to a somewhat secluded courtyard and spoke: "Stay here for now. I'll come find you after I've reported to the founder."
"Don't I need to go meet that senior right away?" Yang Kai frowned slightly. He had assumed he would immediately be brought before the Tianxiao Sect's founder.
He had many questions he wanted answered and was eager to meet this Saint Realm powerhouse, hoping his doubts could be resolved. But from what Cang Yan said, it was clearly not yet time.
"Go when the founder summons you." Cang Yan smiled and, without another word, turned and left with an easy, carefree air.
Fei Yu looked at Yang Kai, showing considerably more consideration, and said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The founder wouldn't bear any ill will toward a little fellow like you. If he truly meant you harm, there would have been no need to specifically send Cang Yan to meet you. Here—take these two things to pass the time when you're bored."
As she spoke, she suddenly tossed two objects toward Yang Kai.
Yang Kai caught them and discovered they were shackles forged from some kind of unfamiliar stone.