Martial Peak Chapter 6099, Are You Willing To Go?

Wu Lun concluded the demonstration after a few minutes, dispersing the illusions with a sweep of his hand. He turned to the Twins, asking once more, “Do you not perceive it yet? This is merely fate, an unavoidable outcome. The two of you simply do not belong here.”

Seeing the twins remained unconvinced, perhaps refusing to accept reality or Wu Lun's words, he gazed towards the sky. “Well, irrespective of their will, I shall be taking them. Are you certain you do not wish to bid them farewell?”

At that precise moment, the space before Wu Lun rippled, and the very man who established this entire academy emerged.

As Yang Kai stepped out from the Void, he appeared utterly exhausted. His eyes were sunken, with dark circles beneath them more pronounced than usual, clearly indicating the immense stress this situation had caused him. This wasn't the physical fatigue one might feel from lack of sleep, but a profound exhaustion of the mind and Soul.

Yang Kai looked at the Twins and offered a weak smile, a rare expression they had never witnessed from their Father before. He had always been a strong, imposing figure, towering above all others. Yet, in this moment, he seemed like any ordinary man, or rather, just a Father.

However, this time, only he had appeared, a strange occurrence as their mothers were absent.

Noticing this, a sinking feeling gripped the Twins.

“Come here,” Yang Kai beckoned, bending down.

The two children obediently approached, and Yang Kai embraced them. Without any explanation, he simply held them close. The Twins exchanged a panicked glance, their thoughts racing.

“Wait… are we really going to be sent away?”

“From Father’s expression, it seems he's made up his mind…”

“But Brother, aren’t you usually excited about going somewhere new?”

“Yeah, but we likely won’t be able to return, you know? Trips that last a month or two are fine, but this… isn’t this too much? I don’t really want to go.”

“Me neither. Maybe we can plead to stay? Mother would definitely not allow Father to send us off like this.”

“Perhaps that’s why she isn’t here?”

The Twins exchanged a knowing nod and gently pushed Yang Kai away.

In unison, they asked, “Father, what’s happening? Why are you the only one here?”

Yang Kai let out a sigh and then glanced at Wu Lun.

The smiling man gave a gentle nod before vanishing. However, whether he was truly gone remained uncertain.

Yang Kai then erected a barrier, sealing the alleyway from the outside world, ensuring their conversation would remain unheard. He then turned back to the Twins and began to explain.

“Where should I begin… right. I should start by explaining the kind of place you two are going to…”

Yang Kai soon had the two children sit down as he elaborated on his discoveries over the years.

“You both know we are constructing a grand Artifact, a vessel designed to travel to worlds beyond the 3,000 Worlds. This will be the ship where your Mothers and I will board once all your children have grown. But do you understand why we need to undertake this endeavor?”

Yang Ji raised his hand. “Father, isn’t it to save your friend? The one trapped in a place you call the Taboo Realm?”

Yang Kai gazed into the distance, lost in thought. “Yes, but that is only part of the reason. The greater reason is the existence of the Taboo Realm itself and the other enigmas plaguing this world. Mysteries that even those at the pinnacle of this world remain unaware of.”

Yang Kai closed his eyes for a moment and made a gesture. Instantly, a magnificent river materialized between his hands, seemingly capable of encompassing the entire world. This was, naturally, the perfected Space-Time River, the repository of all 3,000 Daos.

Yang Kai spread the Space-Time River, enveloping not only the Twins but himself as well.

The river’s current surged over the Twins. However, despite its overwhelming flow, they found it as gentle as a soft breeze upon contact. There was no harsh impact, only a tender, encompassing embrace.

The water was neither cold nor warm, neither wet nor dry. It felt as if they were standing in mid-air, with their surroundings transformed into a night sky. Stars twinkled all around them, yet the supposed darkness was a golden-yellow hue, making the world appear brighter than possible.

These apparent stars were, in fact, manifestations of worlds, condensed into what resembled glowing stones.

From the seemingly unending expanse above, Yang Kai plucked a single orb, holding it within his grasp. Initially, it resembled a mere sphere, but upon its release, it began to swell at an astonishing pace, visible even to the naked eye as it descended.

Yang Ji and Yang Xu braced themselves, anticipating an impact as the object grew. However, their expectations were subverted when the orb surged past them, enveloping them within its expansion. They found themselves transported into the very world Yang Kai intended for them to witness.

The golden-hued water was supplanted by an oppressive, unending darkness that seemed impervious to any retreat.

This was no new creation, but rather a replica of a place they had all previously visited, conjured from Yang Kai’s memory: the world concealed behind the Profound Source Gate, a realm of perpetual shadow.

As the Twins surveyed their surroundings, a jolt of shock coursed through them. In the distance, they spotted their own projections, locked in combat with a Royal Lord. They themselves, however, were positioned in the sky above.

It became apparent that they stood precisely where Yang Kai had observed them before. His vantage point was so remote that the Twins, despite their profound mastery over the Dao of Space, would have been utterly incapable of detecting his presence.

Yang Kai himself, without a projected counterpart in this recreated scene, appeared in his true form beside Su Yan. More accurately, he stood behind her, his hands gripping her arms as if restraining her from rushing forward to their aid.

Yet, to claim this was an exact recreation of that pivotal moment would be inaccurate. Su Yan had merely paused momentarily before vanishing. Clearly, Yang Kai preferred not to expose his children to the reality of how he managed his wife in such dire circumstances.

Clearing his throat, Yang Kai gestured towards a distant point. “*Ahem.* Despite venturing so deep into hostile territory, you two remained oblivious to the enemy's advance. And it wasn't merely that Royal Lord and the Territory Lord you faced; they were mere scouts. A significantly larger force was mustering in the depths.”

With a subtle movement, Yang Kai altered their location, relocating them from the Twins' initial position to a vantage point so remote they could never have reached it, even with accelerated travel through the Void. It was only thanks to Yang Kai’s extraordinary Divine Sense, capable of penetrating the multi-layered, mysterious space of the Source World, that he had managed to map and reconstruct this area.

At this new location, a colossal swarm dominated the landscape, a host potent enough to overwhelm any world. Indeed, Yang Kai’s intervention aside, this force could have potentially conquered half of the 3,000 Worlds. Their sheer numbers were so overwhelming that the ground below was obscured, replaced entirely by the heads of insectoid creatures.

This massive army occupied no structures; no buildings were erected to house them. They appeared devoid of individual thought, driven solely by a bloodlust. Yet, they moved with remarkable synchronicity, like a single, cohesive unit acting under a unified command.

Yang Kai indicated this overwhelming assembly. “Do you not perceive the strangeness of this situation?”

Yang Xu inclined his head, responding, “There are simply too many of them.”

“Precisely. Without any apparent resources, how could such an army be sustained?” Yang Kai emphasized, his expression grim. “This indicates they must have plundered another world. And this force, it's highly probable, represents less than half of their true strength.”

“But Father, if you were aware of this threat, why did you not eradicate them? It should have been a simple matter for you, shouldn't it?” Yang Ji voiced the most pressing question in his mind.

“I attempted to, but I could only eliminate these manufactured beings. The two free-willed sources of this menace proved too elusive, capable of retreating to other worlds when necessary. Furthermore, your Uncle Eleven cautioned me against excessive interference in this world, warning of unforeseen repercussions that I could not possibly bear. Though he offered little explanation then, it was clear he was constrained from elaborating rather than unwilling. “Well, that is the current predicament on this front. However, this is a burden that your Father and your Uncles shall carry. It is a matter we will resolve entirely before the next generation, your generation, is ever called upon to face it.” Yang Kai's gaze sharpened, followed by a sigh.

He then directed their attention to another location. “This, however, is what I truly wish for you two to concentrate on.”

There stood a gate, ancient as if it had existed since the dawn of time, concealed within the shroud of darkness. Its presence was discernible only by the myriad figures flowing through it. As it remained ajar, a sliver of light escaped, revealing its form.

Upon glimpsing this, the Twins’ eyes widened in disbelief. Yang Ji exclaimed, “Is that not the Profound Source Gate we passed through?”

Yang Kai immediately countered, shaking his head. “This is a different gate, yet it bears an identical appearance to the one on our side.”

“Our side? Then, Father, you are stating that there are more of these?” Yang Ji exclaimed, quickly realizing, “So that's what you meant by ‘plundered another world’! This is the Profound Source Gate that leads to another world.”

“But then, that’s peculiar. Father, if you were aware of the existence of this other gate, why did you need to construct that ship, which is prepared for a long voyage?” Yang Xu soon voiced her question. “You could have simply traveled here and entered the other world. I believe, with how proficient you are in the Dao of Space, you would be able to move faster than any ship. At least, that's how Brother and I would have handled it.”

Yang Kai nodded and responded, “I too would have done the same. Didn't Little Eleven mention that many years ago, I came here? I naturally discovered another of these gates, but guess what? I couldn't open it. Even with all my strength, I couldn't open a single door, and I found quite a few.”

“Years later, when I asked Little Eleven why that was, he couldn't provide an answer. So, there must be some sort of mystery associated with these gates that we are unaware of. However, from what I understand, Mo or Little Eleven cannot open these gates themselves either. At least not from the inside. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been trapped here before Mu arrived and released him into our 3,000 Worlds,” Yang Kai theorized. The Twins naturally grasped most of his thoughts, having learned a great deal of history from their Aunt Yang Xue previously.

“So, the only practical way for us to journey to other worlds is from the outside. That's why we still require the ship, as most of the space beyond the 3,000 Worlds is merely empty,” Yang Kai declared, gesturing back to the Profound Source Gate. “It is equally strange how we can open the gate on our side to enter and exit, but not the other gates. So, it's a wonder how this particular gate is actually opened.”

“But Father, what does this have to do with needing us to be sent away?” Yang Xu inquired, as so far, there was no discernible link between the two topics.

“Of course, it’s related. Now, here's the question: do you believe these gates were created naturally?” Yang Kai asked, his expression critical.

The Twins exchanged glances and pondered for a while. It felt like a trick question, considering that, according to what they had been told, the original Profound Source Gate was made by Heaven and Earth. So, how could it have originated from human hands?

“No?” Yang Ji replied with uncertainty.

Yang Kai soon shook his head. “Initially, I also believed it was naturally formed, born from Heaven and Earth itself. However, when I examine things from a broader perspective, I began to notice a flaw in that assumption. The nature of Heaven and Earth dictates that no two things are perfectly identical (天下没有两片相同的叶子). So, how is it that these gates all appear perfectly identical to one another?”

“Then, Father, you are suggesting…”

“As likely occurred to you when I mentioned it. Someone must have created all of these, and we don't know who or what. A being that even I cannot comprehend. Even if I spent years trying to understand how these gates are constructed, I couldn't make any progress. Regardless of how rare the material, what haven't I encountered? Regardless of how profound the Dao, what haven't I mastered? Yet, how is it that even I cannot grasp the creation of such Artifacts?” Yang Kai's eyes narrowed, a trace of fear present within them.

When he was younger, this fear might not have surfaced so readily. However, now that he had so many loved ones, it was inevitable for him to feel apprehension – not for himself, but for his beloved family. If he had to sacrifice his life to protect his children, then so be it. But if he was acutely aware that he was not strong enough to shield them from this unknown entity, how could he possibly avoid worrying?

“This material, it is not from our world. I am certain of it. It cannot be from any world that exists on the same plane as our own,” Yang Kai stated, continuing his narration in a softer tone as he spoke of his past. “Yang Ji, Yang Xu, as you both are aware, our Yang Family did not originally hail from the 3,000 Worlds. We were from the Tong Xuan Continent, or more precisely, the Great Han Dynasty within what we now refer to as the Tong Xuan Realm, which cannot even be considered a Universe World. It is merely a Cultivation Star, and an isolated one at that. Just some backward region, where the peak experts are only at the Immortal Ascension Realm.”

“Through my journey, it was only later that we discovered the Tong Xuan Realm is situated within the Heng Luo Star Field. Amusingly enough, this pattern repeats itself, as the Heng Luo Star Field lies within the Star Boundary, which in turn lies within the 3,000 Worlds…”

“Every revelation or expansion felt like we were frogs at the bottom of a well. The world expanded each time I journeyed to a faraway land, where my adversaries grew stronger with each turn, where treasures and Artifacts became more profound, and where stronger Secret Techniques replaced my old ones. Each time, I grew, and I would never have grown to this extent had I never departed the Tong Xuan Realm. In fact, back then, we didn't even know that beyond the Immortal Ascension Realm lay the Transcendent Realm. We used to call it the Above Immortal Ascension Realm, quite foolish, wasn't it?” Yang Kai’s eyes seemed to hold a touch of joy as these nostalgic memories resurfaced.

However, those eyes soon turned resolute. “It is precisely because I recognize the potential you two possess that I cannot permit you to be confined here. Even if I don't wish for you two to depart, I must urge you to.”

“If I had never stepped out of the Tong Xuan Realm, I would likely be dead by now. Not because the world ended, but due to my own limited lifespan. Furthermore, the world around us would have been utterly annihilated by Black Ink Strength, and I would have perished without ever knowing.”

“In essence, I need to send you two away not only for your own benefit but for the sake of everyone else here. Honestly, I would prefer to undertake this journey myself if possible, but I understand that I cannot. This place still requires my presence. Unlike the previous time when I was a solitary wanderer in the cosmos, where my sole responsibility was my own survival, this time, I have taken on far too many obligations to simply walk away.”

“I must remain here to safeguard this place. Thus, I can only rely on the two of you to make this journey.” Yang Kai drew closer to the Twins and gently placed his hands on their shoulders. “Moreover, out of all the children, no, out of everyone here, you two are perhaps the closest to that destination. The Cultivation Technique you both practice is undeniably not of this world. Remaining here is akin to shackling your true potential.”

Yang Kai then attempted a jest to ease the tension. “Also, did you two think we hadn’t noticed how you’ve been slacking in your cultivation, only focusing on comprehending the Daos or experimenting with new powers? If you were truly dedicated, with that peculiar Cultivation Technique of yours, one could be playful while the other cultivates. I am convinced that if you two wished it, both of you would have already reached the threshold of the Dao Seal Realm by now.”

“No, that’s not it… we just…” Yang Ji began to explain, but Yang Kai merely shook his head.

“I understand. You didn’t want to leave your Siblings too far behind, is that it? Although, I suppose studying the Dao of Space and the Dao of Time has captured your interest more than mere cultivation. Otherwise, how would you two have achieved levels comparable to even Open Heaven Realm Masters and manipulated Principles while still only in the Dao Source Realm? Honestly, what are we to do with the two of you?” Yang Kai chuckled, then paused before emphasizing, “This is a failing on my part. Even after all these years, I haven't managed to create a suitable environment for the two of you to flourish. I couldn't find a proper Master for you.