Recalling everything they had experienced in that bizarre space, the two great demon masters of the Demon Race felt a sudden chill creep up their spines.
Whether it was the emerald sea, the towering ocean of blood, or those final eight stone pillars, each had contained power beyond imagination. Even a three-layered Saint Realm cultivator could only hope to withstand the first two restrictions — before those final pillars, they would be utterly helpless.
Mechanisms set up countless years ago were already this formidable. Just how high had the Great Demon God's true cultivation been?
Thunder Dragon and the Earth-Splitting Divine Ox barely dared to contemplate it.
Standing before that legend, they suddenly felt as weak as children, coming to a profound realization of their own inadequacies.
"Who knows how strong he really was?" Yang Kai remarked with a wry smile. "Maybe even beyond the three-layered Saint Realm. Above the Saint Realm, there might be higher stages still."
"Higher stages?" Thunder Dragon's eyes narrowed. "Why have I never heard of such a thing?"
"Ten years ago, I didn't even know there was a Transcendence Realm above the Shenyou Realm. Where I come from, the top-tier powerhouses don't even know the name of the Transcendence Realm, let alone the Saint Realm."
Thunder Dragon stared at Yang Kai in astonishment, and after a long moment the corner of his mouth twitched. "Just what backwater did you crawl out of? Your information network is spectacularly stifled."
"Never mind that. How are the two of you recovering?" Yang Kai asked.
"Almost there. Do you have any more of those pills you gave us? They don't look like much, but the effect of restoring power is extraordinarily good. Give me a few more — refining pills is no trouble for your Nine Heavens Holy Land anyway." Thunder Dragon made his request without the slightest hint of shame.
This expedition into the strange world had seen the four demon masters trekking through mountains and rivers only to come away with nothing, nearly losing their lives in the process. Yang Kai's side, by contrast, had reaped a bountiful harvest.
Li Rong had glimpsed a sliver of opportunity and advanced to the three-layered Saint Realm. Yang Kai had found and rescued an elder he had not seen in ten years, along with his senior sister.
Thunder Dragon felt that if he didn't extract some compensation, it would be an insult to everything they had endured.
"Wait until we get back. Once we're there, I'll give you some spirit pills." Yang Kai was equally generous, well aware they felt shortchanged.
"Good. Then I shall await your word with pleasure." Thunder Dragon laughed in satisfaction.
"Don't forget old Ox's share!" The Earth-Splitting Divine Ox poked his head over.
"Won't forget." Yang Kai nodded. "In the future, we'll be neighbors, and I'll be relying on the two of you for much."
"Think nothing of it, hahaha!"
After chatting for a while, Thunder Dragon and the Earth-Splitbing Divine Ox resumed their meditative breathing, waiting for Cai Die and Jin Ni to recover as well.
Yang Kai kept watch beside Xia Ningshang, glancing over at Meng Wuya from time to time, his mood buoyant.
After ten years apart, his little senior sister had not changed much. Her buxom figure, however, had grown fuller and rounder. Her black clothing traced the exquisite curves of her body in sharp detail as she lay on the ground, her chest rising and falling with each breath — a deeply alluring sight.
Yang Kai found himself looking a few extra times.
The sweet fragrance drifting from his senior sister's body filled his nostrils and left him feeling pleasantly at ease.
"Master… this young lady seems to have woken up," Li Rong suddenly transmitted through divine sense.
Yang Kai froze, then studied her carefully. Sure enough, he could see the faintest tremor in those long lashes of hers. The breath she exhaled was slightly uneven, and the heartbeat coming from within her chest was a touch stronger than normal.
"When did you notice?" Yang Kai replied instantly.
"While you were talking with Thunder Dragon and the others."
"Ah, that…" Yang Kai considered for a moment, then smiled in surprise. "Pretend you didn't see anything."
"Oh." Li Rong nodded gently, not understanding what game Yang Kai was playing with this senior sister of his. Ten years apart — if she truly had woken up, joy and reunion would be in order. Why wouldn't she open her eyes?
Yang Kai simply gazed at Xia Ningshang with an expression of deep contentment, a smile lingering on his lips.
His little senior sister really hadn't changed much. A decade apart, and her skill at faking sleep was still the same as ever. It could use some improvement.
Half a day later, Cai Die and Jin Ni had recovered in turn. But the memory of the torment they had endured within those stone pillars — and the utter helplessness — still left them shaken.
They had never imagined that with their cultivation and abilities, there could exist such a dangerous place in all the world.
Jin Ni went out to scout the surroundings and confirmed that this was not the Beast Sea Dense Forest. When she returned and relayed her findings to everyone, they all froze.
"Then where are we?" Yang Kai asked.
"There's a small town about a hundred li from here. I went there and made some inquiries. Apparently, this location is a full two months' journey from your Nine Heavens Holy Land… measured by the speed of a Transcendence Realm cultivator."
"That far?" Yang Kai exclaimed.
Thunder Dragon and the others couldn't make sense of it either. They had clearly entered from the direction of the Beast Sea Dense Forest, yet had emerged here. In the end, they could only attribute the blame to the spatial tunnel they had used to leave.
It was probably not the same spatial rift they had used to enter.
"It was very strange. I entered from the Demon Territories originally." Just then, Meng Wuya's voice drifted over, slightly hoarse, as if he had only just recovered enough strength to speak.
"Manager Meng!" Yang Kai's spirit lifted, and he quickly looked over.