Protected by Cang Yan and the others, Yang Kai charged through the chaotic battlefield with ease.
A team formed by four Transcendence Stage Three experts was a formidable force in its own right, and those around them clearly recognized that Cang Yan's group wasn't to be trifled with. Naturally, no one provoked them without reason.
Screams rose and fell in waves. In a large-scale melee like this, injuries and deaths were inevitable — blood and severed limbs flew through the air, a truly wretched sight.
A distance of several dozen li was covered in roughly half the time it took an incense stick to burn.
Others had already arrived at the foot of the peak ahead of them. When Yang Kai and the others reached the area, they saw those people rushing frantically toward the Sky-Watching Cliff.
Cang Yan turned his head, scanning the surroundings, and asked in a low voice, "Junior nephew, is the one who proposed cooperation to you here?"
"Not yet." Yang Kai shook his head — he hadn't spotted Zhai Yao's figure.
"Should we head up?" Li Wan asked, barely able to contain his impatience.
"Let's wait a bit longer." Cang Yan furrowed his brow. "If Junior nephew's deduction is correct, that kid must know some secret that others don't. Moving together with him could give us an edge."
Those who rushed up to the peak first wouldn't necessarily be the ones laughing at the end. The peak itself was brimming with hidden dangers, and whether they could even reach the Sky-Watching Cliff was anyone's guess.
They stood in place and waited quietly, while squads of powerful cultivators occasionally sped past them, all eagerly charging into the mountains.
After roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhai Yao's voice suddenly rang out: "Brother Yang!"
"Over here!" Yang Kai quickly waved him over and carefully surveyed the group Zhai Yao had brought along. His eyes brightened at the sight.
He realized he had somewhat underestimated Zhai Yao's capabilities — the man had brought seven people.
Six of them were powerful cultivators belonging to the human, demon, and monster races, all at Transcendence Stage Two or Three. The seventh was someone whose cultivation Yang Kai couldn't gauge. This person's head and face were concealed beneath a cloak, seemingly reluctant to show their true appearance.
But judging by the exposed skin, this person was an elderly man.
As Yang Kai continued to observe, his expression shifted. He had a vague suspicion about the old man's identity but chose not to say anything.
Cang Yan and the others exchanged glances with the strong fighters brought by Zhai Yao. Everyone was quite satisfied with the others' cultivation levels and felt confident they wouldn't be dead weight. Their expressions immediately relaxed.
"Everyone, this matter is of great importance. I hope we can work together in good faith and not end up on bad terms by the end. Brother Yang and I get along very well," Zhai Yao said with a smile.
The six fighters he had brought nodded in unison. "Rest assured, Young Master Zhai."
Cang Yan also spoke up. "You're too kind, young brother. But just to be cautious, let me confirm — you truly don't need the Thousand-Year Demon Flower's elixir, correct?"
"That's right. I've already explained this to Brother Yang," Zhai Yao confirmed with a nod.
"Good, then there's no issue." Cang Yan appeared satisfied. "In that case, let's head up."
"Not yet." Zhai Yao shook his head with a smile. "Let's wait a bit more. It's not time yet."
"Wait longer?" Cang Yan frowned. He understood that these things couldn't be rushed, but the celestial phenomenon had already appeared, the Thousand-Year Demon Flower was about to bloom, and so many people had already charged up. If they delayed any further, there might not even be scraps left for them.
"It's still early. What we're seeing now is just a precursor to the true celestial phenomenon. When the real one manifests, that will be our time to go up," Zhai Yao explained casually. His expression was relaxed, showing not a hint of tension.
Cang Yan and the others exchanged suspicious glances. After a moment's thought, Cang Yan asked, "Young brother, it's not that I don't trust you, but how much do you actually know about this Thousand-Year Demon Flower?"
"More than any of you, by a fair margin," Zhai Yao replied with a light chuckle.
While they were talking, Yang Kai had been studying the cloaked old man with a measuring gaze. He was now fairly certain this person was Zhai Yao's teacher!
The reason Zhai Yao knew so much about the Thousand-Year Demon Flower was because of this very person.
The old man seemed to sense Yang Kai's stare. The corner of his mouth curved upward slightly as he spoke. "This young brother would be the one who won the final victory in the alchemy tournament that day?"
Yang Kai gave a slight nod.
"Mm, the young are truly formidable," the old man praised.
Cang Yan and the others looked at the old man with suspicion, unable to figure out who he was. His tone seemed rather arrogant.
"Yang Kai!" A sweet voice suddenly called from behind. Yang Kai turned to see Mina and Elder Du approaching. They hadn't even arrived yet when they were already waving enthusiastically.
When they drew close, Yang Kai looked at Mina with resignation. "What are you two doing here?"
Elder Du replied helplessly, "This little girl just won't listen to reason. She insisted on coming to see the excitement, and no matter how I tried to dissuade her, it was no use. So I came along with her."
"You're being reckless!" Yang Kai scolded with a stern face.
Mina stuck out her tongue and said sheepishly, "I'm just here to look around. I'm not going up there — there's no danger."
"Then be careful on your own," Yang Kai sighed.
Mina glanced around and grinned mischievously. "Aren't you going up? It looks like everyone else has already crowded in."
"We're still waiting," Yang Kai answered casually.
"Waiting for what?"