Chang Yuan somewhat understood what Yang Kai meant.
"I'm heading to the Star Domain. Maybe I can find some solutions there. That way, even if powerful enemies invade, we won't be completely without the means to protect ourselves. Of course, it's only a possibility—nobody can guarantee anything." Yang Kai shrugged.
From his experiences over the past dozen or so years, he had glimpsed a similar path forward.
It never hurt to prepare for the worst.
"So you're saying… Holy Lord Yang wants to venture into the Starry Sky for the sake of the continent's future?" Chang Yuan regarded him with a peculiar expression, then suddenly curled his lip. "You're not really that noble and righteous, are you?"
Though Chang Yuan hadn't interacted with Yang Kai many times or for long periods, he had his own methods for reading people. As the Demon Sovereign, his eye was razor-sharp—far beyond that of ordinary folk.
He felt that Yang Kai's urgency to reach the Starry Sky had nothing to do with what he claimed. There had to be other reasons.
Yang Kai burst out laughing and nodded. "There are indeed more important reasons, but those are personal matters—wouldn't be appropriate to share. I can only assure you they pose no harm to the Demon Territory."
"I'll take your word for it!" Chang Yuan nodded lightly, then turned his gaze to Li Rong, a flicker of interest crossing his face.
If Yang Kai truly departed the Tongxuan Continent, there was no reason Chang Yuan couldn't accept Li Rong as one of his demon generals. The Ancient Demon Clan possessed formidable combat strength, and their leaders were all powerhouses in their own right. With their addition, the Demon Territory would be unshakable.
Most importantly, he might be able to persuade the Ancient Demon Clan to truly become part of his demon race during Yang Kai's absence.
Chang Yuan was sorely tempted.
"Li Rong, you are of the demon race. The environment of the Demon Territory is better suited to your cultivation—going there will benefit your clan's development. And if the day comes when I'm able to return, if you're still willing to follow me, I will take you to an even vaster world." A wistful look crossed Yang Kai's face. "More than a decade ago, I said something similar to the people of the Han Dynasty."
Li Rong and Han Fei's beautiful eyes lit up.
"My lord, can you truly not take us with you?" Li Rong made one last attempt.
Yang Kai shook his head.
The Starry Sea was too vast, and far too dangerous. He didn't even have a direction for himself—how could he bring others along?
"Then the Ancient Demon Clan will await our lord's good news!" Li Rong nodded firmly and said no more. She knew that once Yang Kai had made his decision, further words were pointless. "Until then, my clan will temporarily reside in the Demon Territory. I wonder if the Demon Sovereign would be willing to accept us."
"I welcome it!" Chang Yuan laughed heartily.
After returning to the gathering point of the three races and holding a brief meeting, the various factions set off on their triumphant journeys home.
Each faction hailed from a different region. They traveled together for a stretch before going their separate ways. This great battle had inflicted enormous losses on every faction, and they were all eager to return home, gather resources, and recover their strength.
More than ten days later, Yang Kai parted ways with Xu Hui and the others, telling him to take Li Rong's group back to the Holy Land first while he visited the Dragon Phoenix Manor. He would return shortly.
Xu Hui accepted his orders and departed.
"Let's go as well." Yang Kai waited until the Nine Heavens Holy Land and the Ancient Demon Clan had gone far enough away before smiling at Chen Zhou.
Chen Zhou's expression was somewhat stiff. He harbored many questions and doubts but dared not ask directly, leading the way in silence.
After walking for a while, Yang Kai suddenly spoke. "Master Chen, were you perhaps wanting to ask about the Dragon Emperor?"
Chen Zhou flinched, his expression turning solemn at once. He cupped his fists. "If it is convenient, could Holy Lord Yang perhaps explain?"
In this great battle against the Bone Race, the might of the Dragon Emperor had manifested once more. Yet Sun Yu, the Dragon Emperor's successor in the Dragon Phoenix Manor, had not appeared on the battlefield.
And after that golden dragon dissipated, Yang Kai's figure had been clearly revealed within it.
When Yang Kai had returned from his breakthrough into the Saint Realm, Chen Zhou had even seen a lifelike golden dragon pattern on his body—as if it were alive!
These series of signs had given Chen Zhou a vague understanding of the truth, though he dared not be certain.
Naturally, he wanted Yang Kai to clarify.
"It's time I gave you an explanation." Yang Kai nodded gently, his expression serious. "Before that, I owe an apology to Master Chen and the honored members of your sect. I deceived you."
Chen Zhou's body trembled, and a look of "so it was indeed so" crossed his face.
"Sun Yu is not the Dragon Emperor's successor! I am."
"What?!" Elder Xiao Ling was utterly shocked, staring at Yang Kai in disbelief.
"The year the Dragon Valley's inheritance awakened—it wasn't because of Sun Yu. I accidentally stumbled into it, and Sun Yu happened to barge in at that exact moment, swept up by the energy of the awakening inheritance. We spent two years together inside the Dragon Valley."
"I didn't know much about the Dragon Phoenix Manor, so I left Sun Yu there. I asked him about certain things and also offered some guidance on his cultivation."
"So you're saying that Sun Yu's tremendous breakthrough over those two years was entirely due to Holy Lord Yang?" Chen Zhou was shaken to his core. Suddenly he understood why Sun Yu's cultivation progress after emerging from the Dragon Valley had been somewhat underwhelming—though faster than an ordinary person's, it was far from what a true Dragon Emperor successor should possess.