Two updates today
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The power of the void was peculiar — it only ever emanated from locations where Void Corridors existed.
Where there was void power, it meant a Void Corridor lay ahead. Yang Kai perked up and gazed into the distance.
After a while, a pitch-black opening came into view, roughly several dozen li away from where the Yang Clan members resided.
No wonder he hadn't detected the void power earlier, Yang Kai mused quietly.
A moment later, the Divine Tree came to a halt before the Void Corridor.
The corridor was about a zhang in diameter — wide enough for several people to enter at once — but the Divine Tree's enormous trunk would never fit through it.
Forcing its way in would very likely destroy the Void Corridor, and the chaotic void power would grind everything to dust.
"Brother Gou Chi, do you recognize this place?" Yang Kai asked, his expression grave.
Gou Chi surveyed the area for a moment and nodded slightly. "I do. After we were captured, I believe we were all brought in through here."
"Good!" Yang Kai was thoroughly satisfied.
Though he had already reached an agreement with the Yang Clan, there was no telling whether they might lead him to a different Void Corridor. If that world wasn't the Demon Territory but some dangerous or unknown land, then all his efforts would have been for nothing.
"That kid's certainly cautious enough," the Yang Clan leader remarked dryly. "Since I've agreed to let you leave, I won't go back on my word. Besides, this place has only one entrance and exit — there are no other Void Corridors!"
"A cautious man lives a thousand years!" Yang Kai said, entirely unbothered. Then his expression turned serious again as he instructed Gou Chi and the other Demon Race member: "Take An Ling'er and go ahead. I'll catch up shortly."
Gou Chi and the other Demon Race member had both had their True Yuan and Divine Sense sealed with restrictions. Right now, aside from being physically sturdier than ordinary mortals, they were no different from common folk — staying behind would serve no purpose.
They both nodded. The other Demon Race member said nothing and darted straight into the Void Corridor, vanishing without a trace. Gou Chi, however, spoke up with a low voice of caution: "Brother, be careful out there. I'll wait for you on the other side!"
Yang Kai smiled and nodded.
Only then did Gou Chi leave with An Ling'er. Before their figures disappeared into the Void Corridor, An Ling'er turned back to look at Yang Kai with a face full of worry, as though afraid he might not make it out.
Once the three were gone, Yang Kai drew in a quiet breath. Rather than leaving, he sat down cross-legged on the tree trunk.
The Yang Clan members furrowed their brows and eyed him warily, afraid he was hatching some new scheme.
"Kid, why haven't you left yet? I've granted every one of your demands!" The Yang Clan leader stared at him the way one would at a plague god, desperate to see him gone as far as possible. They had already accepted the heavy losses from this encounter — as long as they could keep this Divine Tree that possessed wisdom and consciousness, every price paid was worth it.
"What's the rush? I'm going to rest a bit," Yang Kai said with a chuckle. Then, as if truly beginning to circulate his True Yuan, he started adjusting his breathing.
Meanwhile, his consciousness had already slipped silently into the tree trunk. His Divine Soul manifested within the tree's heart. With the Divine Tree protecting him, he had no fear of the Yang Clan powerhouses striking at him covertly.
Sensing Yang Kai's arrival, the Divine Tree was immediately overjoyed, and the energy flowing within its trunk surged with noticeably greater urgency.
"Don't get excited just yet!" Yang Kai quickly sent a divine thought. "Let me ask you — I'm about to leave here. Are you willing to come with me?"
The cluster of soul energy at the tree's heart instantly enveloped Yang Kai, radiating an urgent emotion.
"So you are willing," Yang Kai grinned. "Good. I've never tried this before, but the method should work — I hope it will. Listen: if it doesn't work, you'll have to stay here for the time being. I promise you, it won't be long before I come back and take you away."
Yang Kai's message was rather complex, and the Divine Tree didn't seem to grasp it all right away. But from the emotions Yang Kai projected, it managed to pick up on some of the meaning. It grew momentarily sullen, though it quickly brightened again — apparently reassured by Yang Kai's promise.
"Then it's settled. Let me leave a mark on you first!" As he spoke, Yang Kai spent a considerable amount of Divine Soul energy to imprint his own mark deep within the tree's heart.
This way, even if he couldn't take the Divine Tree today, he would still be able to sense its presence through that subtle mark.
This process was different from the soul imprint he had placed on An Ling'er — one was about receiving, the other about giving. In other words, if the tree's heart suffered damage, Yang Kai's soul would be injured in turn; whereas if An Ling'er was hurt, Yang Kai would be unaffected.
Once the communication was complete, Yang Kai withdrew his consciousness from the tree's heart and returned to his physical body.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Yang Kai rose slowly to his feet, his cold gaze sweeping over the Yang Clan powerhouses below with a distinct, unreadable intent. His body stood as straight and upright as a javelin, his expression resolute and steely.
The Yang Clan leader's heart lurched. He barked, "No good — the kid's breaking his word! He's probably planning some trick!"
Yang Kai let out a hearty laugh and called out boldly, "No tricks — just a little parting gift for you all!"
As he spoke, the Divine Sense power within his sea of consciousness erupted with a thunderous boom, surging outward like a tidal wave and enveloping the Divine Tree entirely.
From deep within his body — from the place where the Wordless Black Book was hidden — a tremendous pulling force surged forth.
Thud…