Wu Jie wore a look of candid openness. In this moment, he appeared rather magnanimous and aboveboard.
After a while, Yang Kai reined in his hostility and snorted softly. "If you’re not here to fight me, then why show yourself?"
"To discuss matters, of course." Seeing Yang Kai’s attitude soften, Wu Jie relaxed visibly and chuckled.
Yang Kai was taken aback, frowning deeply. "Are you mistaken? You and I are sworn enemies—what is there to discuss?"
"I never swore we were enemies, Holy Master. That was your idea alone, wasn’t it?"
"What do you mean?" Yang Kai fixed him with a cold stare.
"I mean that I, Wu, am willing to turn hostility into friendship with the Holy Master. What do you think?"
"You may be willing, but I’m not!" Yang Kai slowly shook his head. "You’ve been chasing me for days, and before that you opposed me. Do you really think a few words can erase this grudge? Are you that naive?"
Wu Jie’s expression turned helpless. "I was left with no choice… Zhang Ao and Manager Cao pressured me together. I had to put on a show. During the last attack on the Nine Heavens Holy Land, my Youming Sect didn’t send many inside, and we barely engaged. Most of our people were killed by those demon beasts."
"Serves you right," Yang Kai snorted coldly, but Wu Jie wasn’t lying—during that battle, he truly hadn’t seen the Youming Sect fight much.
"Heh heh…" Wu Jie grinned sheepishly. "I know the Holy Master probably doesn’t believe me, but well… my Youming Sect’s creed has always been to take payment and settle debts. I received a lot from Zhang Ao and Manager Cao, so naturally I had to act alongside them. But now? I don’t want to do that anymore."
"Why not?" Yang Kai’s gaze burned into him.
"Because I think you, Holy Master, are someone capable of great things! Zhang Ao and Manager Cao believe that capturing you will grant them the Nine Heavens Holy Land’s inheritance and a chance to advance to the third level of the Transcendence Realm. I can only say they’ve been blinded by power."
"You don’t think so?" Yang Kai looked at Wu Jie with keen interest.
Wu Jie shook his head solemnly. "If reaching the third level of the Transcendence Realm were that easy, your Holy Land wouldn’t have only one Holy Master at that level. You’d have long been invincible. I don’t know what secrets your inheritance holds, but I know nothing in this world comes that easily. Every previous Holy Master hasn’t lived long, and only one per generation achieves that realm. Clearly, this inheritance is powerful, but it comes with many restrictions… Even if they capture you and obtain it, success isn’t guaranteed. The chances of failure are high."
"You see more clearly than they do." Yang Kai found himself reassessing Wu Jie. This man, dressed in black robes with an aura as eerie as a vengeful ghost, possessed a surprisingly sharp mind.
"The Holy Master flatters me!" Wu Jie smiled and cupped his fists, his attitude humble. "That’s precisely why I don’t wish to be your enemy. Moreover, you’ve proven your strength… No one in the Transcendence Realm has ever evaded three Transcendence Realm cultivators for so long. If Zhang Ao hadn’t been at the second level, we’d have lost you long ago. At this rate, we could chase you to the ends of the earth and never catch you."
"But you cut me off." Yang Kai’s face hardened, wary of Wu Jie’s unpredictable methods.
"That came at a great cost…" Wu Jie smiled bitterly and shook his head. "To be honest, when I was young, I had an extraordinary encounter and gained certain secret techniques that allow me to tear space and cross a thousand li in an instant!"
"Tear space?" Yang Kai’s eyes narrowed.
"Yes. But doing so risks getting lost in the spatial rifts, with no way out for eternity. If it weren’t impossible to catch you otherwise, I wouldn’t have used such a risky method! Since I obtained it, I’ve only used it twice—each time at enormous risk."
Wu Jie seemed genuinely sincere, revealing his abilities without reservation.
"Is the Holy Master interested?" Wu Jie said with a sly smile. "If so, I can offer it freely."
Yang Kai’s expression shifted, his gaze flickering.
He couldn’t deny interest in a technique that could tear space and cross vast distances instantly. But Wu Jie’s attitude was intriguing.
"What exactly do you want?" Yang Kai frowned, his voice low.
"You worry too much, Holy Master. I truly want nothing. I came here only to show my stance… My Youming Sect wishes to befriend you forever. What do you think?"
Yang Kai stared at him coldly, catching the key nuance—Wu Jie spoke of befriending him personally, not the Nine Heavens Holy Land.
To Wu Jie, Yang Kai himself was clearly more valuable to befriend.
"What’s in it for me?" Yang Kai relaxed slightly. He could tell Wu Jie wasn’t lying; his soul showed no irregular fluctuations.
"Wasn’t the technique I just described enough?" Wu Jie smiled leisurely. "I have no great talents—I simply know the times! That’s why the Youming Sect has survived until now. Your current cultivation may be lower than mine, but I believe within decades, you’ll surpass everyone. I don’t want you settling scores with me later, wiping out my entire sect. Besides… I feel that fighting you now isn’t necessarily a winning move."
"You really do know the times!" Yang Kai’s lips curved into a dark smile.
He suddenly realized this Wu Jie was quite interesting—a scoundrel, yes, but an upright one, with a keen eye. Inside the Divine Battle Hall, Yang Kai wasn’t afraid of him.
"The Youming Sect once enjoyed your old Holy Master’s protection. I hope to receive yours in the future. I ask for little—only that my sect may continue to thrive."
"I agree," Yang Kai said with a solemn nod.