Saying this, the Great Demon God's divided spirit reached out and pointed. Not far away in the void, the entrance to a void passageway suddenly appeared — pitch-black and deep, wide enough for several people to walk through side by side.
"Use your own Demon Yuan to break free from the Profound Divine Pillars' restraint, then leave through there." The Great Demon God waved his hand, ordering them to leave.
Li Rong turned her gaze to Yang Kai, waiting for his decision.
Yang Kai simply stared quietly at the Great Demon God, saying nothing, his eyes deep as distant stars.
"Why aren't you leaving yet?" Seeing that Yang Kai showed no movement, the divided spirit's commanding voice boomed through Yang Kai's mind like a great hammer striking his heart, sending his blood and qi churning. His face flushed crimson in an instant.
But Yang Kai quickly steadied himself and shook his head. "I'm taking them with me."
The Great Demon God snorted coldly. "You overestimate yourself. I've already given you a chance — if you won't take it, then stay here forever! Even though you're the inheritor of the original body's bones, breaking into this place still demands a price!"
Yang Kai's expression didn't change. He turned his head and glanced around, asking casually, "These eight stone pillars are called Profound Divine Pillars? On our way here, we also encountered one — much longer than these eight. The words 'Pillars of the Profound' were carved on it. What does it have to do with this place?"
Trapped yet composed, Yang Kai not only showed no anxiety but even had the leisure to chat idly with the Great Demon God's divided spirit. This left the Great Demon God somewhat incredulous, and even Li Rong watched Yang Kai with uncertain suspicion, unsure of what he was planning.
"There are many Profound Pillars — these eight are at the very center. Why do you ask?" the Great Demon God answered flatly.
"No reason." Yang Kai shrugged and grinned. "On our way here, we encountered a green ocean filled with countless powerful spiritual soul bodies, and then a strange blood sea. I imagine these were all restrictions the Great Demon God placed here long ago to prevent anyone from approaching these eight pillars, am I right?"
"And if they were?" The Great Demon God nodded in acknowledgment. Yang Kai's composure and eloquence in the face of crisis suddenly made him find this somewhat interesting.
"Nothing much!" Yang Kai's smile turned sly. "It's just that I find it rather strange. If you're truly so powerful that you can instantly restrain anyone who arrives here regardless of their cultivation, then why did the Great Demon God set up all those restrictions to keep people from reaching this place? Wouldn't that be rather redundant?"
"What are you trying to say?" The Great Demon God's eyes narrowed, a sudden unease stirring within.
"I'm saying... you look overwhelmingly powerful, but in truth you're nothing more than a wisp of a divided spirit with hardly any strength left! It's these eight stone pillars that bind us here — the Great Demon God's work from long ago. It has nothing to do with you!" By the time he finished, Yang Kai's voice had grown low and heavy.
Hearing this, Li Rong's expression froze. She turned a suspicious gaze toward the Great Demon God's divided spirit, extending her spiritual sense to probe more closely — only to discover that bound to the pillar, her divine sense couldn't move at all.
"You're that certain?" The Great Demon God's divided spirit glared at Yang Kai, looking as though his greatest secret had been exposed. His expression flickered, though his gaze remained resolute.
"You're so eager to have me and Li Rong leave because you don't want two wild cards staying here. I think when the Great Demon God set up the restrictions here, he left a hidden backdoor — anyone who can perform the Demon God Transformation won't suffer physical pain. As it happens, Li Rong and I fit that description perfectly, don't we?"
The Great Demon God suddenly burst into laughter. "You're really getting ahead of yourself. All that rambling — nothing but your own delusions."
Yang Kai shook his head. "After a person dies, their soul energy cannot remain in the world for long. Before long it dissipates. Even being the Great Demon God's divided spirit can't change that. Without a vessel, this wisp of spirit likely survives only by lodging in these eight stone pillars. But after so many years — how much of your power is really left?"
"You can find out for yourself just how much power I have," the Great Demon God's divided spirit sneered.
"Oh, I will — because you have no way to activate these pillars' power, and no way to set them free!" Yang Kai roared. "If that's the case, then I'll have no choice but to destroy these eight pillars myself!"
"You dare, boy?!" The Great Demon God's divided spirit's face twisted with fury.
"Then watch closely — see whether I dare!" Yang Kai laughed aloud. The power within his body surged wildly, his blood qi erupting in a violent burst.
The heavens and earth hummed and trembled. Everyone's vision warped as though reality itself had twisted. That savage force was enough to make even the two great sovereigns of the demon beast race change their expressions.
They had no idea how a martial artist at the Transcendent Realm could unleash such terrifying might.
*Crack...*
As though something had broken free, Yang Kai stepped down from the pillar that had bound him. He flexed his hands, his feet, and his neck — a series of sharp cracks rang out.
"Li Rong, come down and help!" Yang Kai called out.
Li Rong was stunned. She looked at Yang Kai, then at the Great Demon God's divided spirit, unsure of what to do.
In every demon's heart, the Great Demon God held an irreplaceable position. That bone-deep worship and reverence made it impossible for Li Rong to oppose him.
But Yang Kai was the master of her Ancient Demon race. When he gave an order, she had to obey.
She was torn beyond measure.
"He's not the Great Demon God. The Great Demon God's true body perished long ago. You don't need to carry any mental burden."