A month passed in the blink of an eye. The Holy Land disciples dispatched by Xu Hui to gather intelligence returned one by one. After listening to their reports, the Grand Elder vaguely realized that something had changed in the world and immediately hurried to the Holy Master's estate to request an audience with Yang Kai.
Yang Kai had been waiting for this day, so he hadn't gone to refine pills.
In the great hall, Xu Hui wore a peculiar expression as he said, "Holy Master, the disciples we sent out traveled for an entire month, investigating major events along their routes. They discovered a very strange phenomenon."
"What?"
"All across the continent, numerous entrances to different Minor Mystic Realms have suddenly appeared!"
Yang Kai's eyelids narrowed, his expression turning grave.
Ever since the entrance to the Holy Mausoleum had opened, the Starry Gate had materialized, and a Minor Mystic Realm entrance had emerged two thousand li away — ever since those three events had occurred, Yang Kai had harbored an uneasy suspicion, which was why he had sent Xu Hui's disciples out to investigate.
And the results of their investigation matched his suspicions almost exactly, filling him with a sense of foreboding.
Xu Hui continued, "Through the disciples' inquiries, they found that those entrances to the Minor Mystic Realms all seem to have opened at approximately the same time, and they opened on their own. During this period, warriors across the entire continent have been swept up in a craze for entering Minor Mystic Realms to search for treasures. Countless people have been flocking in and out of different Minor Mystic Realms. However, the disciples report that the majority of these realms are completely empty with no trace of life. Only occasionally does one or two actually contain ancient ruins and treasures."
"Have you determined exactly when those entrances opened?"
Xu Hui nodded. "It appears to have been about a month and a half ago."
A month and a half — this only deepened the suspicions already lodged in Yang Kai's heart. That timeframe corresponded precisely to when he had rescued Meng Wuya and Xia Ningshang.
Could the bizarre space where the Great Demon God's avatar had resided really be connected to these Minor Mystic Realms?
The Great Demon God had said that place was the hub of the entire continent, and that if it were destroyed, unimaginable things would happen.
Was the current situation what he had been referring to?
Because that place was the continent's hub, once it was destroyed, the hidden Minor Mystic Realms across the land had been able to resurface. But that didn't seem like a bad thing — why had the Great Demon God's avatar worn such a solemn expression?
Moreover, his tone at the time had been as though some great catastrophe was about to descend, a weight that had lingered in Yang Kai's mind ever since.
Seeing Yang Kai's expression shift between light and shadow, Xu Hui didn't dare say more, simply standing to the side and awaiting instructions.
After a long silence, the Grand Elder asked tentatively, "Holy Master, should our Holy Land also send people to search and explore the Minor Mystic Realms? There might be unexpected gains. The disciples have been cultivating for quite some time — it might be good for them to get out and move around."
Yang Kai looked up at him, pondered for a moment, then suddenly nodded. "Very well. Holy Land disciples may leave freely to search and explore Minor Mystic Realms, but have them keep an eye out for certain information for me."
"Please give your instructions, Holy Master!"
"If any Minor Mystic Realm contains places like Zhongdu, the Cangyun Evil Lands, or the Tianlang Kingdom, report it to me immediately. No delays!"
"Understood!" Xu Hui didn't bother asking what those place names signified. Just from Yang Kai's expression, he could tell these locations were of immense importance to him.
"Also, find Wu Jie for me. Tell him I need his help with something." Yang Kai issued another command.
The Grand Elder then respectfully withdrew.
Sitting alone in the great hall, Yang Kai's thoughts churned.
Though this development was unexpected, it might present an opportunity — a chance to return to Zhongdu.
He had always been deeply concerned about his loved ones back in Zhongdu, but he had never been able to find a way back. Previously, when he was drifting without a home and his strength was meager, that was one thing. Now that he had finally settled down and commanded significant power, he naturally wanted to bring his friends and family to this side and let them enjoy a better environment for cultivation.
This time, all the hidden Minor Mystic Realm entrances across the continent had opened on their own. Among those entrances, some would surely lead back to the world he had come from.
After all, Zhongdu was technically a Minor Mystic Realm itself.
Though it differed slightly from the others — the world of Zhongdu was considerably larger.
If any Sacred Realm expert with ill intentions headed to Zhongdu, the Eight Great Families would have no way to resist with their current resources.
He had to find the path home as quickly as possible and return to Zhongdu before anyone else.
An hour later, Wu Jie hurried over.
Yang Kai asked him to use the Youming Sect's current resources to keep watch for news from Zhongdu, and Wu Jie agreed readily, rushing back to make arrangements.
Ever since he had established ties with Yang Kai, Wu Jie's Youming Sect had been thriving. He naturally wouldn't refuse any request from Yang Kai.
After handling these matters, Yang Kai gave Xia Ningshang a few words of instruction, then took out the Flying Sky Shuttle by himself, transforming into a streak of azure light that vanished among the Nine Peaks.
A day later, he appeared at the Tianxiao Sect.
On Qixiu Peak, he found Master Fei Yu and similarly asked her to use the Tianxiao Sect's resources to help monitor intelligence.
Without staying long, Yang Kai departed once more.