Every time the Holy Master of the Holy Land entered the Sacred Mausoleum to face its trials, it was a major event, and thus, such matters were well-recorded in historical texts.
Xu Hui and the others naturally understood the time it would take.
The fastest took only fifteen days to exit the Sacred Mausoleum safely, while the slowest took no more than two months.
However, Yang Kai had already been inside the Sacred Mausoleum for four months, and there was still no sign of him. This led Xu Hui and the others to wonder: had Yang Kai truly perished inside?
All the Protector Elders sighed in regret, and they had lost the patience to continue waiting. They held important positions and were busy with trivial matters every day; they couldn't just keep waiting here.
Even Xu Hui, who was overseeing the matter, left after four months.
Only An Ling'er continued to wait outside the Sacred Mausoleum.
Three days after Yang Kai entered the Sacred Mausoleum, An Ling'er learned of it and immediately rushed over. She complained at length to Xu Hui and the others, but she was powerless to stop what had already happened.
For these four months, she had been waiting, but even though she strained her eyes until they ached, Yang Kai did not appear.
This day, two beautiful women, Yu Ying and Cheng Yuetong, arrived together. From afar, they saw An Ling'er standing outside the Sacred Mausoleum. They exchanged a glance, both letting out a soft sigh.
"Still waiting here, are you, girl?" Yu Ying took a shallow breath.
"Perhaps we were too hasty. Not only have we doomed the future hope of the Holy Land, but we've also destroyed a young man's promising future." A flicker of guilt and sorrow crossed Cheng Yuetong's fair face.
"What's the use of saying that now? When the Grand Elder proposed it, none of us objected. We all share the responsibility." Yu Ying slowly shook her head. "Fortunately, the person you sent to deliver a letter to the Tianxiao Sect was intercepted by the Grand Elder. Otherwise, if the Tianxiao Sect knew about this, they would never let our Holy Land off easily."
"Exactly. Such an outstanding young man would be vigorously nurtured in any sect." Cheng Yuetong also wore an expression of lingering fear.
The Nine Heavens Holy Land was currently beset by both external troubles and internal strife. If they were to make an enemy of the Tianxiao Sect as well, they would likely have to seal off the nine peaks immediately, completely isolating themselves from the world. If that happened, they wouldn't even be able to go out and search for or select the next Saintess.
"Did we overestimate him, or was his luck just bad?" Yu Ying sighed. "In the past, when a Holy Master candidate entered the Sacred Mausoleum, the old Holy Master would offer some guidance. But this time, he went in alone to explore. It was truly hard on him..."
"Let's go take a look," Cheng Yuetong said, stepping forward.
Moments later, the two arrived before the Sacred Mausoleum. Hearing the movement, An Ling'er turned her head. Seeing that they had come, she gave them a complex, acknowledging nod. It served as a greeting.
Previously, An Ling'er had been closest to these two female elders, but now she seemed somewhat cold. Clearly, she was still upset about them sending Yang Kai into the Sacred Mausoleum.
They looked at each other awkwardly. Yu Ying and Cheng Yuetong didn't know how to comfort her. They stood there, staring blankly at the bluestone at the entrance to the Sacred Mausoleum, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
After a long moment, Yu Ying finally spoke, "Ling'er, stop waiting. He probably won't be able to come out."
An Ling'er slowly shook her head.
"Be sensible, go back and rest. You've already waited here for four months," Cheng Yuetong also advised.
"He will come out," An Ling'er suddenly said in a low voice, her tone firm.
Yu Ying and Cheng Yuetong were stunned. They exchanged a glance. The former forced a smile, "How do you know? Never has a Holy Master candidate who entered the Sacred Mausoleum for this long remained safe and sound."
An Ling'er's expression turned proud. "What others can't achieve, he might not necessarily fail at. You haven't witnessed his abilities, so naturally you think that. I believe he will definitely come out."
The two beautiful women's eyes lit up. They probed carefully, "What kind of abilities does he have to make you view him so differently?"
Although they felt Yang Kai's aptitude was exceptional and his strength not bad, these two beauties had never actually seen Yang Kai fight. Naturally, they didn't know his true depth. An Ling'er was different; she had spent considerable time with Yang Kai and should have some understanding of his capabilities.
Yu Ying and Cheng Yuetong grew curious, hoping to learn something from her.
"I don't know everything, but he is always full of surprises. And he said... even without joining our Holy Land, within thirty years, he could reach a level equal to the old Holy Master!"
"Equal?" Yu Ying and Cheng Yuetong looked astonished. They exclaimed in low voices, "Wouldn't that mean reaching the peak of the third level of the Saint Realm?"
An Ling'er nodded solemnly.
Yu Ying pursed her lips and smiled, "Currently, he is only at the second level of the Transcendent Realm. To break through to the third level of the Saint Realm within thirty years... that seems rather unlikely."
"Indeed. There aren't many experts in the entire continent who have reached the third level of the Saint Realm." Cheng Yuetong also smiled. The two women clearly thought Yang Kai was boasting.
They had both been through the ranks and knew well how difficult it was to advance beyond the Transcendent Realm. Their own aptitudes were considered outstanding across the entire continent; otherwise, they wouldn't have reached the Saint Realm.
Even if Yang Kai was more talented than them, he couldn't possibly achieve something so impossible.