Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and Yang Kai had spent all that time training and familiarizing himself with the technique of tearing through space.
More than half of that time had been spent within the rifts he tore open, quietly sensing the spatial currents and searching for the hidden mysteries within.
Whenever his divine sense was depleted, he would sit in meditation to recover. Once his mind, body, and spirit were fully replenished, he would resume the process — rinse and repeat, never tiring of it.
Now he could tear through space with ease, traversing the void to reach another part of the world.
However, even at full power, the distance was still rather short — he could only teleport roughly three to four hundred li in an instant. Moreover, he couldn't control the direction, so when he emerged from the void, he could only end up wherever fate took him.
Every time he used the technique, Yang Kai was exceedingly cautious and meticulous.
Because while within the spatial currents, he couldn't afford even the slightest carelessness. That chaotic energy was far too bizarre and unpredictable. On several occasions, Yang Kai had nearly been swept in — had he not fled quickly, he might never have escaped.
His powerful and resilient physique proved crucial in moments like these. Just as in the starry sky, the spatial currents were tremendously harmful to the flesh. Yang Kai estimated that even if a Saint Realm expert were to use this method, they would have to deploy an artifact to shield their body in order to stay safe.
On this particular day, Yang Kai returned from the void and appeared in a misty, gray valley.
He had no way of determining exactly where he would materialize, so he was always somewhat on guard when he came back, afraid of landing somewhere dangerous.
This time was no different — the moment he appeared, Yang Kai immediately suppressed his aura and silently extended his divine sense to probe his surroundings.
A moment later, his expression turned to one of surprise.
He discovered that at the mouth of the valley, no fewer than a hundred people had gathered, led by a single first-level Saint Realm expert. Among the rest, there were people of all manner of cultivation levels.
They all stood solemnly at the valley entrance, their purpose unknown.
Yang Kai immediately realized he had likely stumbled into some power's territory. However, with only a single first-level Saint present, he wasn't particularly worried.
He found a nearby spot, sat cross-legged, concealed his figure, and began restoring his spent energy.
Yang Kai had no intention of gathering intelligence on other factions, but after half a day of recovery, he noticed that the group at the valley mouth seemed to be performing some kind of sacred ceremony. Every person wore a grave expression, and those with lower cultivation appeared visibly excited and full of anticipation.
Yang Kai couldn't help but grow curious. Rather than leaving in a hurry, he decided to stay put and watch.
The ceremony lasted a full half day before it finally concluded. Amid a series of impassioned chants, the Saint Realm expert spoke words in a language Yang Kai didn't understand, his voice deep and unfathomable.
Shortly after, a martial artist whose cultivation was at the peak of the Zhenyuan Realm strode into the valley.
Peak Zhenyuan Realm wasn't considered weak in Zhongdu, but on the Profound Sky Continent, those with such cultivation were either mediocre in talent or very young.
The one walking into the valley belonged to the latter category.
Through the shroud of gray mist, the youth passed directly in front of Yang Kai. Yang Kai could see clearly that he was merely a boy of fourteen or fifteen.
Like Yang Kai himself many years ago, the youth's young face carried defiance and a yearning for power as he stepped forward with excitement.
Yang Kai shook his head with a quiet smile.
He stayed where he was, his divine sense locked onto the youth, wanting to see what would happen next.
The valley wasn't very wide, but it twisted and wound, stretching deep into the distance. The youth made his way through the mist with a steady gait, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
But before he had gone even a hundred zhang, a gentle force suddenly emerged from deep within the valley, rushing toward him head-on.
The youth had no way to resist. The push sent him stumbling backward.
Once he managed to regain his footing, his face was full of dejection and disappointment.
Yang Kai, however, frowned — because the moment that force had appeared, he had suddenly felt an itchy sensation on his back, as if something was crawling across it.
When he probed more carefully, he found nothing at all on his back.
Yang Kai slowly shook his head, a look of puzzlement on his face.
The youth, having been pushed back, hung his head and walked out. Before long, he emerged from the valley, and the crowd waiting at the mouth took one look at his expression and understood immediately.
The first-level Saint Realm expert didn't even glance at him and called out in a loud voice: "Next!"
Another martial artist, roughly the same age as the first youth, stepped forward to enter.
His experience mirrored that of the first boy — after advancing only a short distance, he too was repelled by a gentle force, and turned away in disappointment.
One youth after another walked in, and one after another returned in helplessness.
Even the Saint Realm expert presiding over the proceedings was beginning to look somewhat disheartened.
After observing for a long while, Yang Kai finally began to see the pattern. Though he still didn't know exactly what ceremony this was or what they were doing, it was clearly some kind of trial.