A moment later, a hidden location appeared in his perception, and Yang Kai shot straight toward it. With the power of the void coursing through him, his vision blurred, and by the time he came back to his senses, he was standing under a clear blue sky.
Before him was the green stone of the Nine Heavens Holy Land, carved with the two characters "Holy Tomb." You entered from here, and when you came out, you emerged at this exact spot.
The moment he appeared, Yang Kai immediately suppressed his aura and silently released his divine sense to probe his surroundings.
He had no idea how long he'd been inside the Holy Tomb, but he guessed it hadn't been short. There wasn't a single person in front of the green stone — Xu Hui and the others had clearly all dispersed already.
This was the perfect opportunity for him to slip away unnoticed.
Once he left the Nine Heavens Holy Land, the sky would be his to soar in and the sea his to roam. Even if Xu Hui had heaven-defying abilities, he wouldn't be able to bring him back.
But after probing with his divine sense, Yang Kai's expression turned strange in an instant.
The entire Nine Heavens Holy Land was in shambles, as if a great battle had just taken place. Messy battlefields were visible everywhere, and the houses scattered between the nine peaks had mostly been reduced to crumbling walls and rubble.
A faint scent of blood hung in the air, and the faint sounds of pained wailing could be heard in the distance.
A familiar life aura was lingering not far from him. It seemed to have sensed his presence, because it suddenly became unstable.
Yang Kai whipped his head around and met An Ling'er's beautiful eyes head-on.
This holy maiden who symbolized nobility and purity now had a blue kerchief wrapped around her head, and her white dress was stained with dust and blood, as though she had just returned from somewhere busy.
When she saw Yang Kai, intense joy and disbelief burst forth in her beautiful eyes, and she froze where she stood.
Her lips parted, but before An Ling'er could call out, Yang Kai had already vanished from his spot. The next instant he appeared in front of her, clamping a hand over her mouth. No matter how she struggled and resisted, she couldn't break free as he carried her to a secluded corner pavilion.
"Don't scream. I'll let you go!" Yang Kai said softly.
A trace of fear flickered through An Ling'er's beautiful eyes, and she nodded hastily.
Only then did Yang Kai release her, chuckling as he stepped back to keep his distance — he didn't want her to mistake his intentions.
"You came out?" An Ling'er glanced around and asked in an extremely hushed voice.
Yang Kai gave a slight nod. "Just came out."
"I knew you could make it out!" An Ling'er bit her red lips lightly, and a look of immense relief surfaced on her delicate face. She had been worrying about Yang Kai's safety this entire time, and seeing him return safe and sound, the heavy stone in her heart instantly dropped away, making her feel much lighter.
Yang Kai had been forced into the Holy Tomb, and An Ling'er had always felt she bore a great deal of responsibility for that. Every time she thought about it during this period, she was consumed with guilt, and she had lost quite a bit of weight.
Now she could finally rest easy.
"Thank goodness you're out!" An Ling'er gently patted her chest. "Since you've come out, you should leave quickly, before the Grand Elder and the others discover you."
Yang Kai's eyes flickered as he glanced at her in surprise. "You're willing to let me go?"
"Mm." An Ling'er gave a bitter smile. "It's not like I don't know you have no desire to stay here. Keeping you would only make you resent me, so what's the point? Better to let you go."
Yang Kai's expression softened as he looked at her with some gratitude.
"What are you looking at? If someone finds you, you won't be able to leave!" An Ling'er said, furrowing her elegant brows.
"That you're very pretty!" Yang Kai threw out a quick compliment.
An Ling'er blushed and scolded, "Stop your sweet talk. I saw through you a long time ago — you're no good person. Don't think you can win my favor that way."
Yang Kai laughed awkwardly, then straightened his face and cupped his fists. "Then let's part ways here. I hope we'll have the chance to meet again."
"Mm, go quickly. Head south. The Grand Elder and the others are all to the north right now," An Ling'er advised.
Yang Kai gave a faint nod, oriented himself, and quietly crept northward.
Not long after Yang Kai left, a graceful figure suddenly appeared beside An Ling'er like a ghost.
"Ah — Elder Yuying!" An Ling'er started in fright, covering her mouth with a gasp.
Elder Yuying gazed in the direction Yang Kai had vanished, letting out a soft, wistful sigh. "You just let him go like that? Can you bear it?"
"You saw?" An Ling'er's expression grew awkward. She had no idea when Yuying had been following her, but judging from her tone, the entire scene had been witnessed.
"I only saw him leave in a hurry, without a shred of attachment."
"There's nothing here for him to be attached to." An Ling'er forced a smile.