Having examined Zhang Ao's memories concerning the secrets of the starry sky, Yang Kai promptly refined his divine soul energy.
He obtained the man's comprehension and understanding of the Heavenly Dao and the martial path.
His own mental cultivation improved ever so slightly — a negligible amount.
As Yang Kai's strength continued to grow, the benefits gained from refining a dead man's soul energy grew increasingly meager. Still, by this method, Yang Kai would never have to worry about encountering a bottleneck on his cultivation path — he merely needed to kill high-level warriors at the right moments and absorb their insights, and he could cultivate forward without the slightest impediment. That is, so long as his physical body kept pace.
With Yang Kai's current level of mental cultivation, there would be no obstacles whatsoever before he reached the Third Level of the Sainthood Realm.
Gathering his thoughts, Yang Kai slowly rose. He was just about to step outside and take a look when Han Fei's sharp cry suddenly rang out from nearby.
"Who goes there?!"
The next instant, a piercing chill swept outward, and the sound of billowing robes reached his ears — it seemed Han Fei had given chase.
Yang Kai furrowed his brow and stepped out of the tent. He found a number of Ancient Demon clansmen gathered together, all pointing in the same direction.
"Master!" Li Rong hurried over. For Yang Kai's safety, her tent had been pitched right next to his, no more than five zhang away.
"What happened?" Yang Kai asked, simultaneously extending his Divine Sense to probe the situation.
"It seems someone has been spying on us these past few days, but we've never been able to figure out who. Commander Han Fei must have caught a whiff — that's why she gave chase."
"Even you couldn't detect them?" Yang Kai said, surprised.
"Mm. That person's ability to conceal their aura is extraordinary — they can erase their presence entirely, as if they simply didn't exist." Li Rong's delicate brows drew together.
"Now that's interesting." Yang Kai grinned. Though Li Rong was only at the Second Level of the Sainthood Realm, in actual combat she was every bit the equal of a Demon General. What manner of being could remain hidden even from her?
In this vicinity, the only one capable of such a feat was the Great Sovereign of the Demon Tribe.
But Yang Kai had already reached an agreement with him — the Great Sovereign would never go back on his word, and he certainly wouldn't stoop to spying on them out of boredom.
After a short wait, Han Fei flew back, her face cold as ice.
"Did you catch them?" Li Rong asked.
Han Fei shook her head. "Incredible speed, exquisite movement technique — I couldn't keep up."
"Did you get a look at who it was?" Yang Kai asked.
"A woman." Han Fei frowned. "But what was strange was that her clothes were in tatters, her hair a wild mess — like a madwoman. She didn't say a word. The moment she realized I'd spotted her, she fled immediately. Oh, and I couldn't sense any life force from her at all. If anything, she had a sort of… aura of death."
"An aura of death?" Li Rong said in surprise.
"That's right — the aura of death. The kind that lingers after a person has died." Han Fei nodded gravely.
Yang Kai's expression shifted. His figure flickered, leaving a trail of afterimages behind him. After halting, he asked, "Was her movement technique something like this?"
Han Fei nodded repeatedly. "Yes — exactly like that. Wondrously strange."
"Then I know who she is." Yang Kai gazed into the distance and let out a soft sigh.
The Ancient Demon commanders exchanged puzzled glances, unsure why Yang Kai had suddenly looked so somber.
"Master, is that woman someone you know?" Li Rong asked carefully.
Yang Kai shook his head. "I don't know her personally, but she is connected to me. She was the previous Saintess of the Nine Heavens Holy Land!"
He proceeded to recount the story of Nan Shenggu in full, leaving the Ancient Demon clansmen thoroughly astonished.
"She never killed a single soul in life, yet after death she slaughtered millions…" Li Rong murmured thoughtfully. "Somewhat similar to Senior Coffin Slave — yet completely opposite!"
Coffin Slave and Nan Shenggu — both were living dead! The only difference was that one brought devastation upon all living things while the other had never killed anyone. Both harbored obsessions so deep that even after death, their bodies continued to move in accordance with their will in life.
Because they were living dead, no aura emanated from them — which was why Li Rong and the others had been unable to detect her.
To deal with such a being, one either had to destroy them outright or shatter the will they had possessed in life. Once that will was obliterated, the dead body would naturally cease to move.
"It's time we dealt with this," Yang Kai said calmly.
Nan Shenggu was, after all, a member of the Holy Land. If left unchecked, she might once again trigger the kind of trouble that had erupted a few years ago.
Moreover, it would be detrimental to the peace of the Nine Heavens Holy Land.
Her appearance here this time was almost certainly because she had been targeting him. As long as he went out as bait, Nan Shenggu — who acted purely on instinct — would surely appear again.
He shared his plan with the commanders, and none of them raised an objection.
As a precaution, Yang Kai brought Li Rong and Han Fei along and ventured deep into the jungle.
After all, Nan Shenggu possessed cultivation at the Second Level of the Sainthood Realm and could not be underestimated.
They traveled a hundred li before reaching a valley, where Yang Kai finally halted. He surveyed his surroundings for a moment, then gave a slight nod.
Li Rong and Han Fei immediately concealed themselves, suppressing their auras as they took up positions in the shadows.
Yang Kai wandered through the valley on his own, half-hoping to find some rare herbs or natural treasures along the way. Unfortunately, after searching for a good while, he found only some heaven-grade and mysterious-grade herbs — not a single spirit-grade specimen among them.
Only after completing a full circuit of the valley did Yang Kai suddenly feel a subtle sense of unease.
Somewhere, as if from the void itself, he had the distinct impression that a pair of eyes was watching him.