Following behind the several masters, Shui Ling still felt as though she were walking on clouds, her entire body weightless, racking her brain but unable to figure out when Yang Kai had become friends with these masters.
What an extraordinary honor this must be!
Before long, the group arrived at the Holy Lord's Garden.
Yu Ying didn't take them to the guest hall but led them directly here.
An Ling'er and Xu Hui came out to greet them immediately, exchanged a few pleasantries, and ushered everyone inside, arranging for handmaidens to serve tea. Xu Hui announced in a clear voice, "The Holy Lord says he will arrive shortly, please wait a moment."
"Mm, he can do what he needs to do. We'll rest a bit first!" Chang Bao waved his hand dismissively, found a sturdy chair to sit in, and panted heavily.
He was large and cumbersome, not at ease with physical activity. Ordinarily, he never left the Alchemist Association in Shining City, keeping to himself. If it weren't for wanting to come to the Nine Heavens Holy Land to find Yang Kai, he would never have put himself through such trouble.
After bringing everyone here, Yu Ying excused herself and departed once more.
The five saint-grade alchemists were enormously prestigious figures, and neither An Ling'er nor Xu Hui dared to be careless. Both attended to them with the utmost care.
The five masters carried themselves with easy cordiality, showing no airs of superiority. They chatted casually with Xu Hui and An Ling'er, the atmosphere pleasant and harmonious.
Shui Ling and Yun Xuan's group, on the other hand, were stiff and uncomfortable, utterly out of their element.
Shui Ling hadn't expected that the old men she'd happened to run into outside were all alchemist masters. Once she learned their identities, she no longer dared speak freely.
Yun Xuan and the others also appeared quite restrained.
The Solo Pride Alliance was not a great power. Their entry into the Nine Heavens Holy Land was thanks to Shui Ling's connections. In front of the five masters, Alliance Master Yun Cheng sat ramrod straight with a solemn expression, not uttering a single word.
He simply couldn't insert himself into the conversation, nor did he dare try.
Every person here held a status far loftier than his own. On any normal day, managing to secure an audience with even one of them would have been nearly impossibly difficult, and now he was gathered in the same room with all five. The pressure bore down on Yun Cheng like a mountain, and for the moment, he had no idea what to do.
An Ling'er seemed to sense their awkwardness and, with great understanding, walked over to speak quietly with Shui Ling and Yun Xuan, inquiring about their relationship with Yang Kai.
Facing this Holy Maiden of the Nine Heavens Holy Land, both Shui Ling and Yun Xuan instinctively felt a cut below, answering her questions with careful deference.
However, under An Ling'er's gentle prompting, their expressions gradually relaxed considerably, and as they spoke of Yang Kai, occasional giggles of laughter drifted through the air.
They waited for a full half an hour before a tall, heroic figure strode in swiftly from outside.
Everyone turned their gazes toward him, and smiles appeared on every face.
"This junior Yang Kai greets the esteemed masters! To have the masters come personally to visit—Yang Kai is deeply honored and humbled!" Upon approaching, Yang Kai hastily bowed.
The five masters smiled and nodded. Du Wan said, "There's no need to be so formal. In the past, it was you who called us masters, but now… we hardly dare accept the title!"
He didn't spell it out explicitly, but the meaning was known to Heaven and Earth, to him and to Yang Kai alike.
Yang Kai smiled knowingly. "Elder Du flatters me. That this junior has achieved what he has today is largely thanks to the guidance the masters gave me back then."
Seeing him behave with such humility, the five exchanged glances, all feeling warm and gratified in their old hearts. They felt that Yang Kai had not become arrogant and dismissive of others because of his current accomplishments—that they truly had not misjudged him.
"Hey, there are still people over here, you know. Not going to greet us?" Shui Ling called out with a grin.
The moment Yang Kai appeared, her demeanor had loosened considerably. After all, of everyone present, no one knew Yang Kai as intimately as she did.
She had traveled with him from Zhongdu to the Tongxuan Continent all those years ago. She had participated in the succession battle that shook the world and the desperate fight against the Cangyun Evil Ground.
Though Yang Kai was now the exalted Lord of the Holy Land, Shui Ling didn't treat him as an outsider in the slightest.
Yang Kai chuckled and called out in their direction, "It's been too long, ladies. You've all become even more beautiful."
"What a silver-tongued charmer!" Shui Ling blushed and huffed.
Yun Xuan couldn't help looking a touch embarrassed as well, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she gazed at Yang Kai. Ruan Xinyu quietly nudged her from the side, whispering encouragement, "This is probably your last chance. If you don't seize it now, there won't be a next time."
Yun Xuan simply continued looking at Yang Kai with quiet, wistful eyes, saying nothing, which nearly drove Ruan Xinyu to tear her hair out.
In all honesty, if she were in Yun Xuan's shoes, she certainly wouldn't let Yang Kai slip away so easily. He was nothing like the boy he used to be—back then he'd looked like some unsophisticated country bumpkin who'd wandered out of a remote mountain village. But now he was Lord of the Nine Heavens Holy Land, exalted in status and considerable in strength. How could anyone let a catch like that go?
Cling to him tight, and a lifetime of carefree ease would be assured.
But this fool Yun Xuan showed not the slightest intention of making a move, which drove Ruan Xinyu to the brink.
"This junior greets Alliance Master Yun!" Yang Kai cupped his fists toward Yun Cheng once more.
Yun Cheng's body jolted, his face filled with honor, and he hastily rose to return the salute. "Not at all, not at all! Lord Yang is too kind."
Then, somewhat awkwardly, he added, "Last time, the Solo Pride Alliance was deceived by villains, and there were some discourteous offenses. I humbly ask Lord Yang's forgiveness."
"Trivial matter. No need to bring it up," Yang Kai said with an easy smile, his expression casual and relaxed.