"Wait!" Mo Yanyu's voice cut through the cavern, sharp with urgency. "You must not be so reckless!"
Yang Kai froze, his hand inches from the shimmering curtain encasing the Five-Colored Soul-Warming Lotus. His eyes, alight with anticipation, flicked to her, a trace of impatience crossing his face.
"What now?" he asked, his tone clipped but curious.
Mo Yanyu stepped forward and pointed to the liquid-like barrier surrounding the lotus.
"Do you see that? The barrier around the Soul-Warming Lotus? Do you know what it is?"
Yang Kai's brow furrowed, his gaze shifting to the translucent veil. It shimmered like water, rippling faintly, yet its presence sent a chill through his soul, as if it could unravel his very essence. "Some kind of protection," he said, his voice steady but uncertain. "A ward, maybe?"
Mo Yanyu nodded, her eyes narrowing with Red Cloud Sect-trained caution. "Exactly. I don't know its nature, but I've heard of such mechanisms. The elders spoke of ancient treasures guarded by barriers. Touching it could be disastrous—soul damage, or worse."
Mu Yu Die, clutching her zither, shivered, her delicate frame tensing. "She's right," she said, her voice soft but firm. "My father warned of artifacts sealed by soul-based wards. They can trap your mind.
Di Yalan, her shield resting against her hip, snorted. "You're both acting like he's a fool," she said, her pragmatic tone cutting through the tension. "Yang Kai's not stupid. He took down the insect king, didn't he? Let him decide."
Yang Kai's lips curved into a fearless grin. "You don't need to worry," he said, his voice brimming with assurance. "I know what I'm doing." He closed his eyes, focusing his mind, and a low hum filled the chamber.
The women's eyes widened as a swarm of insects surged into the cavern—tiny scouts, hulking third-order beasts, and the towering fifth-order titans, their exoskeletons glinting in the lotus's glow.
Mu Yu Die's fingers plucked "The Heaven Devouring Insects."
Di Yalan's smirk returned, her shield shifting as she leaned forward. "Clever," she said, her tone approving. "If anyone can break that barrier, it's those bugs."
Yang Kai's will threaded through the swarm, a current of command that made the insects move as one. "Go," he ordered, and the Heaven Devouring Insects descended on the barrier. Their mandibles clicked, their claws scraped, and the air filled with a grating buzz as they gnawed at the liquid-like veil. Sparks of energy flared where they bit, the barrier rippling violently, its glow dimming with each assault.
Mo Yanyu watched. "It's working," she murmured, stepping closer to Yang Kai.
Her shoulder brushed his, a subtle gesture that didn't escape Mu Yu Die's notice. The younger woman's pout deepened, her fingers tightening on her zither as she shot Mo Yanyu a sidelong glance.
"Careful, Yanyu," Mu Yu Die said, her voice teasing but edged with envy. "Don't get too close, or he'll kiss you again."
Mo Yanyu's blush flared anew, and she swatted the air, flustered. "Quiet, you!" she snapped, though a smile tugged at her lips. "I'm just… making sure he doesn't do something stupid."
Di Yalan chuckled, shaking her head. "You two," she said, her tone light but firm. "Focus. If that barrier breaks, we need to be ready for what's next."
Yang Kai ignored the banter, his focus locked on the swarm. The insects were relentless, their Heaven-Devouring nature living up to its name. The barrier's ripples grew chaotic, its once-steady glow flickering like a dying flame. Cracks of light formed, spiderwebbing across the veil, and with a final, piercing buzz, the barrier shattered, dissolving into motes of energy that faded into the air.
The Soul-Warming Lotus floated free, its five-colored brilliance bathing the chamber in a radiant glow. Yang Kai's heart raced, his grin widening as he stepped forward, the women close behind.
Mo Yanyu grabbed his arm, her grip firm but not forceful. "Wait," she said, her voice softer now, almost pleading. "You're sure it's safe? The lotus… it's too powerful. What if it rejects you?"
Yang Kai turned to her, his gaze softening for a moment. He placed a hand over hers, his touch both reassuring and possessive. "This is my chance." His tone left no room for doubt.
Mu Yu Die's eyes narrowed, her jealousy flaring, but she said nothing, her zither humming faintly as she watched. Di Yalan, ever the pragmatist, nodded. "If you're sure, do it," she said. "But we're right here if something goes wrong."
Yang Kai stepped toward the lotus, his hand outstretched.
He took a deep breath, his heart pounding with anticipation, and reached out, his fingers brushing the flower's ethereal petals.
The moment he touched it, a surge of warmth enveloped him, like bathing in pure World Energy. His whole body felt alive, every pore opening to drink in the surrounding Qi without needing to run his True Yang Secret Art. Every inch of flesh, every drop of blood, thrummed with vitality, refreshed and invigorated. Yang Kai's eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face as he immersed himself in the sensation, overjoyed by the lotus's power.
Mo Yanyu, standing nearby with her Spirit Blade at her side, watched with bated breath. Her earlier caution lingered, her fingers twitching as if ready to pull him back. "Yang Kai," she said, her voice soft but edged with worry, "are you sure it's safe? That lotus… it's too powerful."
Yang Kai glanced at her, his grin softening into something reassuring. "It's fine, Yanyu."
Yang Kai is sitting cross-legged before the lotus. He closed his eyes, running his True Yang Secret Art, and felt like a fish in water, devouring the rich World Energy that poured from the flower. The lotus's power was profound, its nourishment seeping into his soul, enhancing his perception and clarity.
The Godly Thief, who'd risen from nothing to challenge the Endless Sea Islands' great sects in just thirty years, owed his strength to this very treasure.
For Yang Kai, with his own supreme techniques and the Heaven Devouring Insects, the possibilities were limitless.
The women watched, their expressions a mix of awe and apprehension. Mo Yanyu's worry gave way to fascination as Yang Kai's aura grew steadier, his breathing deep and rhythmic.
The women settled around him.
They didn't interfere, each content to cultivate in the cavern's rich World Energy their own techniques humming softly. The lotus's aura enveloped them all, a soothing presence that lulled them into a trance-like state, the passage of time forgotten as they sank deeper into their practice.
A full month and a half passed, unnoticed. Yang Kai, lost in the lotus's embrace, felt the world energy refine his body and soul mind. His cultivation surged, his meridians expanding, his True Yang Yuan Qi flowing like a river. When he finally stirred, exhaling slowly, his eyes opened to a world sharper and clearer than ever before. He checked his realm, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. Without realizing it, he'd broken through to the Separation and Reunion Boundary Fourth Stage, a leap that felt effortless yet profound.
At the same time, a wave of clarity washed over him, his entire being refreshed. His mind was sharper, his thoughts swift and precise, as if a fog had lifted. His perception, too, was heightened—he could sense the faint hum of the women's Yuan Qi, the distant buzz of his insects outside, and even the subtle shift in the cavern's air. Involuntarily, he took a deep breath, his body trembling with a warm, invigorating comfort, every fiber alive with newfound power.
He searched for the Soul-Warming Lotus within his mind, probing his Knowledge Sea, but found no trace of it, no matter how carefully he checked. Yet he knew it was there, nestled in his soul, waiting for the day he'd cultivate his Divine Sense to perceive it.
"Haa… a Five-Coloured Soul Warming Lotus…"