Two chapters today! Seeking recommendation tickets and monthly tickets.
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The several thousand warriors nearby weren't particularly strong. Only a dozen or two at the Transcendent Realm were worth a second glance; the rest were mostly at the Shenyou or Zhenyuan Realm level.
This left Sun Yu and the experts of Dragon Phoenix Manor deeply puzzled. They had no idea where this crowd had come from or what relationship they had with Yang Kai.
"They're all my friends and family," Yang Kai explained simply, then said earnestly, "Regardless, I truly need to thank you for this."
It was all because of a single remark Yang Kai had made back then that Sun Yu had dedicated himself wholeheartedly, keeping Dragon Phoenix Manor continuously investigating the matter. And once they'd received news, he'd personally led a team here.
Yang Kai was genuinely grateful. At the time, he'd had no other option but to call upon every personal connection he could leverage.
He could only imagine how the people at Dragon Phoenix Manor had tried every which way to dissuade Sun Yu from going out on this mission — yet the young man had pressed ahead without hesitation.
This kid was something else!
"Shi Kun, when we get back, pass a message to the Grand Elder. Tell him to interact more with Dragon Phoenix Manor in the future," Yang Kai instructed casually.
"Yes!" Shi Kun hurriedly acknowledged.
"This…" Chen Zhou rubbed his large hands together, a grin spreading across his face, somewhat at a loss for words. He stammered, "How can we accept such kindness?"
Dragon Phoenix Manor wasn't a particularly powerful organization at present, but the Nine Heavens Holy Land was riding high on its prestige. With a miraculous alchemy master in residence, there wasn't a single sect that wouldn't want to forge a connection with the Holy Land. Once such a relationship was established, there would be enormous benefits down the road — at the very least, the supply of Holy Pills would be guaranteed.
Chen Zhou had never expected this Holy Master Yang to be so warm and welcoming. The Head of the Manor was so shaken that he momentarily lost his composure.
Face flushing with excitement, Chen Zhou quickly said, "This Chen expresses his deepest gratitude for Holy Master Yang's generous offer. From now on, Dragon Phoenix Manor will stand together with the Nine Heavens Holy Land through thick and thin!"
He was someone who had weathered many storms in his life, yet even he found his emotions surging at a single word from Yang Kai.
"You're too kind. Since you're here already, I have a small favor to ask," Yang Kai said, another thought occurring to him.
"Please speak, Holy Master Yang," Chen Zhou replied with a serious expression.
"As Manor Head Chen can see, my friends and family are at vastly different cultivation levels, and the distance from here to the Nine Heavens Holy Land is extremely far. We might run into any number of unexpected troubles along the way. If it's not too much trouble, could you have your people escort us for a stretch?" Yang Kai smiled. "Of course, once we reach the Holy Land, there will be a generous reward."
Every member of Dragon Phoenix Manor lit up at those words.
Sun Yu hastily waved his hands. "Senior Yang, there's no need to be so formal with me! Just give me whatever orders you have. We're already here, so we'll simply travel with you. As for rewards — please don't even mention it."
Chen Zhou composed himself and quickly added, "Exactly. If Holy Master Yang insists on being so distant, that would be looking down on our Dragon Phoenix Manor."
Yang Kai nodded gently. "Then… I'll trouble all of you."
Sun Yu grinned happily. "Now that's more like it! This gives me another chance to learn by Senior Yang's side."
The members of Dragon Phoenix Manor immediately dispersed under Chen Zhou's arrangements, setting up a defensive perimeter and keeping watch on the surroundings.
They hadn't brought a large entourage — only around thirty or forty people. But the majority were at the Transcendent Realm. With such a group joining them, the journey ahead would be far safer. After all, they were familiar with the Profound Continent. Whatever situation arose, they could handle it easily — unlike the warriors from the Han Dynasty, who knew nothing about this land.
Ling Jian quietly pulled Sun Yu aside and asked in a low voice, "Disciple, when did you come to know that Holy Master Yang? From the way you speak, it sounds as though you spent some time learning by his side. How does your master not know about this?"
Sun Yu hemmed and hawed, not daring to reveal the truth, which only made Ling Jian more suspicious.
Two more days passed, and everything was ready. Several thousand people set out in a grand procession toward the Nine Heavens Holy Land.
The warriors who had come from the Han Dynasty gawked at everything along the way, curious about their surroundings. They would point and whisper in clusters of three or five, chattering amongst themselves.
The people from Dragon Phoenix Manor became the most sought-after members of the group. Every one of them was surrounded by countless warriors, all asking questions about the Profound Continent.
The Dragon Phoenix Manor experts didn't dare brush off Yang Kai's friends and family. They answered whatever was asked, though their feelings were a constant mix of amusement and exasperation at these bumpkins from the Han Dynasty.
They had discovered that these people were completely clueless about many things that were common knowledge here.
They sighed to themselves, wondering just how remote and backward the small Profound World these people had been living in must have been.
At the very back of the procession, Yang Kai walked shoulder to shoulder with Sun Yu. From time to time, Sun Yu would pose questions about doubts he had in his martial cultivation, and Yang Kai answered them freely, teaching without reservation.