Editor and Proofreader: Leo of Zion Mountain & Dhael Ligerkeys
With Yang Kaiâs current cultivation and Alchemy skills, it was largely thanks to luck that he had refined five Extraordinary Pills in one furnace.
He originally thought he would only be able to create three pills, so the results had given him a pleasant surprise.
The only part that Yang Kai felt was a pity was that not a single pill with Pill Veins had appeared amongst the five Spirit Pills. This was understandable though as Extraordinary Treasure Pills were difficult to refine in the first place, and it would truly be too heaven-defying if Pill Veins had also been formed.
Over the next few days, Yang Kai remained on Soaring Swallow Peak and calmly focused on cultivation while patiently waiting for news from the Azure Sun Temple.
Searching for the Tribulation Fruit wasnât something that could be done in one or two days. Yang Kai had given the three-month time limit entirely out of consideration for Qin Yu, as any longer and she would not be able to survive.
Azure Sun Temple was her and Yang Kaiâs only hope.
Soaring Swallow Peak was in a remote location in Azure Sun Mountain Range, so it was quite quiet and nobody came to bother Yang Kai.
However, Yang Kai didnât expect that a surprising guest would come to visit him a few days later.
The visitor was actually Gao Xue Ting.
He was surprised, but he did not neglect courtesy and performed the duties of a host by inviting Gao Xue Ting in and attending to her politely.
He originally thought that Gao Xue Ting had some business with him, but it didnât happen the way that he expected. This icy Emperor Realm Master spent more than half a day with Yang Kai, but she simply acted like a Senior inquiring about her Juniorâs cultivation while also asking Yang Kai some questions about his own Martial Dao.
Yang Kai carefully thought things over as he answered each question, having no idea from Gao Xue Tingâs unchanging expression if she was satisfied with the answers or not.
It was rare to have a chance to be so close to an Emperor, so Yang Kai also took the opportunity to ask some things that he didnât understand. Gao Xue Ting didnât hold back any knowledge she had and did her best to explain everything in an easily understandable manner.
Yang Kai learned a lot.
Before she left, Gao Xue Ting mentioned that she wanted to test how strong Yang Kaiâs Divine Sense was.
Although Yang Kai didnât understand why, he didnât refuse, gathering his Divine Sense before sending it out towards Gao Xue Ting.
She naturally received it without any difficulty; however, she did send a meaningful glance towards him, as if she could tell that he hadnât used his full strength.
In the end, Gao Xue Ting gave Yang Kai a gift before she left.
After Yang Kai saw off Gao Xue Ting, he still felt confused about why she had come to visit him. Judging from his interaction with her back at the Four Seasons Realm, Gao Xue Ting wasnât the type who actively tried to get along with others.
It wasnât that she had a violent temper or a bad personality, rather it was just her innate icy nature and the cold look she kept on her face that seemed to tell strangers that they should remain a thousand kilometres away from her.
Yang Kai could actually sense that Gao Xue Ting wasnât a bad person.
Yang Kai furrowed his brow slightly as he glanced at the item in his hand while muttering to himself, âThis doesnât make sense at all. What was she doing?â
He was holding the gift that Gao Xue Ting gave him before she left, a small shield the size of a palm. Light swirled around this shield, giving it a mystical appearance, and the aura fluctuations it gave off were definitely not weak. Gao Xue Ting had called this artifact the Purple Sun Profound Light Shield!
This was actually a Dao Source Grade Low-Rank artifact!
Not only that, it was a Soul-type artifact, something quite out of the ordinary!
Soul-type artifacts were typically created from rather special materials, and they could only be driven by a cultivatorâs Divine Sense. Source Qi was completely useless on these artifacts.
They were also several times rarer and more expensive than ordinary artifacts.
So, even though this shield was only Dao Source Grade Low-Rank, its true value wasnât any less than a Dao Source Grade High-Rank artifact, and in fact, it might even be more valuable than the latter.
This small shield was obviously a defensive artifact, and if one could refine it in their body, they would be able to use it to protect their Knowledge Sea and Soul from foreign threats.
Yang Kai actually didnât have any Soul-type artifacts. Back when he was still quite weak, he did have an offensive Soul-type short sword artifact, but he had long since stopped using it as his strength improved.
He had also learned the Blossoming Lotus Secret Technique, and its offensive prowess far exceeded that of the majority of Soul-type artifacts, which was why he had never considered finding such an artifact before.
Gao Xue Tingâs gift indeed compensated for one of his shortcomingsâŠ
With this artifact protecting his Knowledge Sea, and with Yang Kaiâs already strong Soul, it would be quite difficult for someone to injure him with a Divine Sense attack.
There was a saying that one shouldnât refuse gifts from an Elder, so although Yang Kai wasnât a disciple of Azure Sun Temple, Gao Xue Ting was still an Emperor Realm Master and technically his Elder. That was why Yang Kai had simply thanked her and accepted the gift without even thinking about it when she gave him this artifact.
After looking it over, he figured it wouldnât take too long to refine.
Since he had nothing to do apart from waiting for news on the Tribulation Fruit, Yang Kai decided to start refining it right away.
Yang Kai no longer hesitated, sat down cross-legged, and sent his Spiritual Energy towards the Purple Sun Profound Light Shield.
More than ten days passed by slowly.
Over these ten-plus days, Yang Kai remained sitting in his room without moving, working diligently to refine the Purple Sun Profound Light Shield.
Thanks to his persistence during this time, he had completed about a third of the refinement process and was now barely able to activate some of this artifactâs power.
However, completely refining it would require more accumulation over time.
As expected of a Dao Source Grade Low-Rank Soul-type artifact, this Purple Sun Profound Light Shield seemed to possess impressively strong abilities. Even in its current state of refinement, it was able to form a purple light barrier that covered the outside of Yang Kaiâs Knowledge Sea, adding a powerful layer of protection.
Anyone who wanted to harm Yang Kaiâs Knowledge Sea would first have to break through this purple shield.
Since Yang Kai hadnât finished refining it yet, he didnât know if it had other abilities. Still, just this alone was more than enough for him to look forward to.
On this day, Yang Kai suddenly sensed something, so he hurriedly opened his eyes and looked outside. Right when he opened his eyes, someone spoke up in a loud voice, âBrother Yang, Iâm here to see you.â
Upon hearing this voice, Yang Kai knew that the one who came to see him was Xia Sheng.
Right when Xia Sheng spoke, he immediately pushed the door open and entered.
Someone else spoke up right after, âSenior Brother, he hasnât invited you in yet, what if you disturbed his cultivation by doing this?â
This person was Xiao Bai Yi.
âEn en, perhaps Junior Brother Yang was studying some Secret Technique. Senior Brother, donât be so reckless!â Murong Xiao Xiaoâs voice also chimed in, conveying some worry with it.
âAhâŠâ Upon hearing this, Xia Sheng couldnât help showing an embarrassed look, like he was caught between a rock and a hard place, muttering in a low voice, âWhat should I do then? I already shoutedâŠâ
âItâs alright, please enter!â Yang Kai responded.
Xia Shengâs expression immediately eased up as he laughed loudly while entering.
âPardon the intrusion!â Xiao Bai Yi muttered as he walked in as well.
Soon, several people appeared in front of Yang Kai.
Yang Kai was surprised that, in addition to Xia Sheng, Xiao Bai Yi, and Murong Xiao Xiao, Chen Mu Ji was actually present as well.
Chen Mu Ji and Yang Kai didnât know each other and had basically only greeted each other a few times, never sharing a real conversation.
Xia Sheng warmly introduced the two of them to each other.
The guest room here was rather simple, so Yang Kai simply invited them in and asked them to make themselves comfortable. Next, turning to Xia Sheng, he asked, âDo you have something to tell me since you all came here together?â
Xia Sheng nodded lightly and smiled mysteriously as he said, âThe Temple Master is summoning us!â
âMe as well?â Yang Kai raised his brow.
The ones present were all elites of Azure Sun Temple, so it was only normal that they would be summoned; however, Xia Sheng seemed to mean that Yang Kai had been summoned as well, confusing him greatly.
âOf course!â Xia Sheng nodded with a serious expression as he explained, âTemple Master especially had us come here to bring Brother Yang to see him.â
âDo you know what this is about?â Yang Kai inquired.
âSomething good!â Xia Sheng smiled and chuckled.
Xiao Bai Yi added from the side, âLast time we left, didnât the Temple Master mention an additional reward? I believe itâs about that.â
âA rewardâŠâ Yang Kaiâs expression seemed incredibly strange, âBut, I already made a request of Temple Master Wen, what else would he reward me with?â
Xia Sheng smiled and continued, âHow could that small request possibly make up for your contribution of six extra Star Seals? Temple Master has always been the type to give fair rewards and punishments. Brother Yang, since youâve made such a major contribution to the temple this time, it wonât be balanced out by a small request.â
âIndeed!â Xiao Bai also nodded, âYouâve noticed already that Temple Master only summoned us this time, yes? We were the only ones who obtained extra Star Seals. I, Xiao Xiao, and Junior Brother Chen were all able to get rewards just by giving a single extra Star Seal, not to mention you who brought back six all at once.â
âLetâs stop chatting and leave already, Iâm really eager to know just what the Temple Master will reward me with,â Xia Sheng said with an impatient expression.
âIn that case⊠Iâll be troubling you all to lead the way,â Yang Kai said politely.
The five of them then each used their own Movement Skills to fly towards Azure Sun Templeâs Main Peak.
It didnât take long for them to arrive at Myriad Saints Peak where they landed and walked into the main temple.
However, Yang Kaiâs expression suddenly changed just before he crossed the threshold. At that moment, he sensed a mystical power engulf him and before he could react, he felt a weightless sensation overcome him.
When the others passed the templeâs threshold, they noticed that Yang Kai had suddenly vanished.
âWhereâs Brother Yang?â Xia Shengâs expression changed greatly as he exclaimed in astonishment.
Xiao Bai Yi, Murong Xiao Xiao, and Chen Mu Ji also wore serious and shocked expressions.
âDonât worry, the Temple Master called him for a private discussion,â Someone suddenly spoke from in front of the group. Turning around, they discovered it was Gao Xue Ting who spoke. At this moment, Elder Gao seemed like a silently standing, blooming white lotus flower that was clear yet distant.
The group of Juniors all exchanged a glance, not knowing why Wen Zi Shan had taken Yang Kai away by himself, but they also didnât worry about it further and instead spoke in unison, âGreetings, Elder Gao!â