Universe Leaves

In the Main Hall, where the Chief Manager Qu Hua Chang was diligently working, she noticed Kate entering the hall. Immediately, Qu Hua Chang stood up and respectfully greeted her.

"Congratulations on Madam's exit," Qu Hua Chang said with a warm tone.

"I want to go to the Void Land. Can you arrange things for me?" Kate stated directly, her voice steady and commanding.

Qu Hua Chang hesitated slightly before replying, "Madam, in a few weeks, the Great Emperors will return. How about waiting for them? Or does Madam wish to leave today?"

"No, I'll wait for those old foggies," Kate replied nonchalantly, her casual tone surprising Qu Hua Chang.

"Y-Yes, then I will immediately send Madam a message when the time comes," Qu Hua Chang said quickly, her composure returning. As Kate turned to leave, Qu Hua Chang muttered to herself, her expression mixed with awe, "Out of all of Palace Master's wives, Madam Kate is the most mysterious... and the strongest, as the other Madams have said."

Kate turned her head slightly, giving Qu Hua Chang a sharp look. "Just send me a message," she repeated before vanishing on the spot.

Qu Hua Chang gasped softly. "Space Principles?" she whispered, her eyes wide with amazement.

After some time, Kate flew at blazing speed through the skies, her mind racing with thoughts. "The Manhua focuses on Yang Kai, so there might be more treasures hidden here," she thought to herself. "Just like the Dao Enhancement Lotus... maybe there's more waiting to be discovered."

While flying, a strange sensation pulsed through her Dao Seal, causing her to pause mid-air. "Hmm? What's that feeling?" Kate wondered, her brows furrowing. She immediately adjusted her flight path and landed in the nearest town. "I better investigate this thoroughly," she muttered as she walked through the busy streets.

Kate found an inn and stepped inside, drawing curious glances with her refined aura and confident stride. At the reception desk, she placed a single High-Rank Source Crystal on the counter. The receptionist froze in shock before quickly composing themselves.

"Please, this way, esteemed guest!" the receptionist said, bowing deeply and leading Kate to one of the best rooms in the inn.

Once inside, Kate shut the door and immediately sat cross-legged on the soft carpet. Her eyes grew serious as she dove into analyzing her Dao Seal.

"Something feels off... but what is it?" Kate thought, her senses focused inward. After carefully examining the changes, her expression shifted to excitement. "Hmm, it seems like I'll be able to comprehend a Divine Ability!"

Days passed as Kate remained in a deep meditative state. On the third day, the sensation within her Dao Seal finally became clear. "It's a defensive technique... and it shares similarities with Xie Yan's Divine Impact ability," she realized, her mind racing with ideas.

An ambitious thought sparked in her mind. "What if I combine the two? The power of Divine Impact, enhanced by the defensive nature of this ability… it could become something truly unique."

With that, Kate sank even deeper into her comprehension, her mind working tirelessly to merge the two techniques into a singular, powerful divine ability.

After three months of intense focus, an illusory circular shield adorned with the mark of Yin and Yang began to materialize around Kate. The shield hummed with energy, a powerful aura spreading across the room.

"After such a long time… looks like I still have my brain!" Kate thought proudly as she opened her eyes.

Suddenly, she stood up and shouted, "Break!"

The illusion shattered instantly into brilliant shards of light that faded away. A victorious grin spread across her face. "YES! I finally have my own Divine Ability Manifestation!" Kate exclaimed excitedly.

Unable to contain her joy, she started twirling around the room in a silly, impromptu dance. "I have my own Divine Ability Manifestation!" she repeated over and over, her voice brimming with pride.

But her celebration came to an abrupt halt when a familiar voice interrupted.

"Looks like you're having fun."

Kate froze mid-movement, her face paling as she turned slowly to see Yang Kai standing in the doorway, a teasing smile on his face.

"Ahem!" Kate cleared her throat quickly and straightened herself, trying to regain her composure. "Why does he always have to show up at the worst times?" she thought.

To her horror, Yang Kai began mimicking her earlier dance, spinning around with exaggerated moves. "Is this how you do it?" he teased, his tone playful.

Kate's face turned crimson as her emotions swung between embarrassment and annoyance. "You—! Stop that!" she barked, but instead of confronting him further, she flopped onto the bed and pulled a pillow over her face.

"I'm about to celebrate my decamillennial birthday… and this guy manages to make me feel this way," she grumbled silently to herself, the heat in her cheeks refusing to fade.

Meanwhile, Yang Kai just chuckled, clearly enjoying her rare moment of vulnerability.

"Since this is how she celebrates when she's extremely happy, I wonder how it would feel once she becomes one of my wives," Yang Kai thought to himself as he approached Kate with a playful yet gentle smile.

"All right, I'm sorry. Can you look at me now?" Yang Kai said softly, his voice laced with amusement.

Kate, still buried in the pillow, let out a muffled response. "You don't have to apologize. It's my fault anyway… I'm just embarrassed. Can you give me a little time to calm myself?"

Yang Kai chuckled lightly, stepping back to give her space. "No worries. I'll wait for you."

He folded his arms as he leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on Kate with a fond expression. Watching her flustered and trying to hide was a rare moment, one that made her look even more endearing.

"This side of hers is really cute…" Yang Kai thought, a smile tugging at his lips. "I hope I get to see more of her little celebrations in the future. Who knew someone so powerful could have such an innocent charm?"

Kate, hearing his quiet chuckle, groaned under the pillow, her embarrassment deepening. "Stop staring at me, you jerk!" she mumbled.

"I'm not staring," Yang Kai teased, grinning, "just… appreciating."

Kate sighed, knowing there was no escaping his teasing now. "You're impossible," she muttered, though the corners of her lips twitched into a tiny, reluctant smile.

"But in all of this cuteness lies a devil who will do anything for its own entertainment," Yang Kai thought to himself, his gaze lingering on Kate. "But comprehending her own Divine Ability Manifestation is extremely rare. I've always focused on her ability to copy anything… I ignored her own terrifying talent."

"Put me inside your Small Universe and let me copy your new things," Kate suddenly demanded, her voice casual but firm as she sat up.

Yang Kai raised a brow, letting out a small sigh as he opened the entrance to his Small Universe. "Fine. Go ahead."

Without another word, Kate vanished into the Small Universe. "Kate, I'm heading back now. Just copy whatever you want," Yang Kai said as he turned to leave.

"Yeah," Kate murmured, her attention already focused elsewhere.

Yang Kai paused at the door, a faint smile playing at his lips. "She's like a little fox who always finds a way to get what she wants… but at least she's a fox on my side."

"He directly teleported me here… in front of the Universe Four Pillars—the World Spring," Kate thought to herself, her expression filled with disbelief.

"Huh?!" Kate suddenly exclaimed, her heart skipping a beat as she examined herself. "How come I only have about a thousand years of lifespan left?" she muttered, shock evident on her face. "I should still have enough! Where did I lose it?"

Her brows furrowed as she extended her hand towards the World Spring, the ancient and powerful treasure radiating profound energy.

"Copy," she murmured softly.

An illusory form of the World Spring appeared in her hand, shimmering like a fragile mirage. Slowly, the illusion began to condense, gaining form and substance until it became real.

Kate's eyes narrowed as she observed the process. "This… this is a new process," she whispered. "I only lost about 400 years of lifespan this time… and I'm not in pain either. What's going on?"

Before she could delve further into the mystery, a box filled with radiant World Fruits materialized before her, hovering gently in the air.

"Thanks," Kate said casually as she grabbed the box and copied it as well, her excitement returning.

In High Heaven Palace.

"Palace Master," Qu Hua Chang greeted respectfully, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Is everything ready?" Yang Kai asked as he walked ahead, his voice calm but purposeful.

"Yes," Qu Hua Chang confirmed, hesitating for a moment before adding, "but did you see Madam?"

"Yeah, don't worry," Yang Kai replied with a faint smile. His steps remained steady, but his thoughts lingered elsewhere.

"This girl… she's having the time of her life in there," Yang Kai mused as he briefly turned his attention inward, observing Kate.

Inside Yang Kai's Small Universe, Kate sat cross-legged, immersed in cultivation. A faint crimson glow surrounded her as the remnants of Xie Yan's skills flickered around her like shards of light. The energy was dense, ominous, and ever-growing.

Meanwhile, outside, Yang Kai suddenly paused mid-step, his expression stiffening.

"Young Master, what's wrong?" Lu Xue asked, sensing his sudden shift in demeanor.

"Don't mind me," Yang Kai replied sharply, but his brows furrowed deeply.

Without warning, Yang Kai materialized inside his Small Universe, his figure appearing directly before Kate.

"Kate! What are you doing?!" Yang Kai roared, his voice breaking through the overwhelming energy surrounding her.

In front of Kate, a floating crimson sword pulsed menacingly, its surface inscribed with runic symbols that exuded pure malevolence.

"Huh, a sword technique?" Yang Kai muttered, his gaze narrowing on the blade.

Suddenly, a small Gate of Babylon shimmered into existence beside Kate. From it, a golden-handled dagger emerged, hovering elegantly in midair. Without hesitation, Kate grabbed the dagger and sliced her palm, letting her blood drip onto the crimson sword.

"What kind of technique are you cultivating?!" Yang Kai demanded, his voice rising in concern.

Before Kate could respond, the crimson sword shuddered violently, releasing a terrifying burst of evil aura that expanded outward like a shockwave.

"WHAT THE—?!" Yang Kai exclaimed, his eyes widening as the vile energy disturbed the balance of his Small Universe.

The ground trembled. Space distorted. Cracks of dark energy spiraled in every direction.

"What is this evil technique?! It's strong enough to disrupt my Small Universe!" Yang Kai thought in alarm, his instincts screaming at him to act.

In a flash, Yang Kai waved his hand, teleporting Kate out of his Small Universe. With a flick of his wrist, he encased her within the High Heaven Palace's Protective Array, layers of defensive light sealing her like an impenetrable cocoon.

The Protective Array hummed ominously as it activated at full power, sending shockwaves across the Star Boundary. The skies darkened, and the world seemed to tremble under the activation of the strongest sect's final line of defense.

Sect members, Great Emperors, and cultivators across the Star Boundary looked up in shock.

"What's going on?! High Heaven Palace's Protective Array is fully activated!"

"Did an enemy attack? Who could possibly force them to use the array?!"

Amidst the chaos, Yang Kai stood firm, his expression dark and unreadable as he stared at the swirling energy encasing Kate.

"What kind of monster did this girl awaken…?" he thought to himself.

Inside the High Heaven Palace Protective Array.

"This technique of mine… it's inspired by the Twilight Death Sword Technique of the Wendao Sect, the strongest evil sect," Kate thought to herself as the crimson sword pulsed in front of her.

Her hand trembled slightly as her blood continued to drip onto the blade, merging with the swirling evil energy around it. "All of my negative emotions and experiences are being transferred to the sword, feeding it its evil energy."

Her face remained calm, but her mind burned with focus. The dark aura surrounding her pulsed rhythmically, like a beating heart.

Outside the protective array, Yang Kai stood with his hands behind his back, watching the ever-thinning layers of red energy swirling within. The chaotic aura had begun to subside, becoming more stable by the day.

"It's been a month already," Yang Kai thought to himself, his sharp eyes never leaving Kate's silhouette within the barrier.

The previously turbulent energy now flowed like a gentle yet ominous stream, its oppressive nature gradually fading.

"Looks like she's about to finish," Yang Kai murmured, his tone a mix of curiosity and caution.

The crimson glow within the array flickered one final time before the last remnants of the evil energy began to thin further, signaling the technique's completion.

After some time, the evil energy was completely absorbed into the sword.

Kate opened her eyes and reached for the red-bladed sword hovering in front of her. With a swift motion, she swung it towards the sky.

To everyone's shock, a crimson arc shot forth, slicing through the air with a bone-chilling evil aura.

"What the—! That attack…" Yang Kai's expression turned serious. "Its momentum feels on par with a Third Rank Open Heaven Realm strike!"

Yang Kai's gaze sharpened as he observed her. "Looks like you've succeeded," he said with a faint smile. "Congratulations."

"Thanks. Now I finally have a personal weapon," Kate replied, her eyes fixated on the blood-red blade.

"So, what would you call this new technique of yours?" Yang Kai asked, curious.

Kate paused, her fingers running along the cold edge of the blade. "This sword devoured the Destruction Dao embedded in my blood…" She glanced up, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "How about Twilight Destruction Technique?"

Her voice rang out confidently as she added, "And I'll name this sword Twilight."

Yang Kai nodded approvingly. "Hmm. That's a good name." His eyes glimmered with challenge. "So, would you like to test it out?"

Kate's smile widened. "Good."

Before she could react further, Yang Kai appeared right in front of her, moving like a phantom.

"What the—?!" Kate barely managed to raise her sword and block Yang Kai's strike, but the impact sent her flying backward, crashing into a nearby pillar. Dust and debris scattered everywhere.

"You're as sharp as ever," Yang Kai remarked casually, hiding his trembling right hand behind his back. "Her sword is strange… I felt like the very gates of hell opened in front of me. If not for the Soul Warming Lotus, my soul might've been affected. Just what is that sword? It's the most evil thing I've ever encountered."

Kate stood up and dusted herself off, her expression still calm. Twilight had turned to golden dust, hovering faintly around her.

Yang Kai barely had time to process when he noticed Kate already on his right side, her speed nearly instant. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a Gate of Babylon opening on his left side, firing theTwilight sword straight at him.

"She's too close for my spear!" Yang Kai thought as Kate struck at him with her palm. He narrowly blocked her close-range strike and dodged the Twilight sword from the Gate of Babylon in one fluid motion.

Kate catch Twilight mid-flight, and she swung at Yang Kai with all her might but to her surprise, Yang Kai was already gone.

"I thought you were going to challenge me to close combat," Kate muttered, straightening up as the Twilight sword once again disintegrated into golden dust.

Yang Kai's voice echoed from a distance, still calm but cautious.

"You've gotten stronger, but don't underestimate me just yet."

Kate smirked as her golden dust swirled ominously around her and dissapeared. "We'll see about that next time."

"I've been suppressing my cultivation so you'd have a fair fight with me, but I didn't expect you to exceed my expectations," Yang Kai remarked, his tone carrying both surprise and admiration.

Kate smirked. "Then stop holding back. You'd better promote yourself to the Second Rank Open Heaven Realm if you want to keep up."

She snapped her fingers, and multiple Gates of Babylon opened, surrounding Yang Kai in a golden encirclement.

"This technique is always such a pain to deal with!" Yang Kai grumbled as he prepared to move. "Hey! Weren't we supposed to be testing your new sword?!" he shouted before he dashed forward at astonishing speed, breaking free from the encirclement in the blink of an eye.

Kate grinned. "I knew it. Now he won't retreat too far since he knows I can attack him no matter the distance. He has no choice but to come at me directly."

Yang Kai's spear shimmered as he closed the distance, aiming a precise strike at Kate.

But to his shock, Kate reached out with her left hand, attempting to grab the spear directly. At the same time, she lunged with her right hand, her Twilight sword for a deadly stab.

"Her reaction speed is insane!" Yang Kai thought, gritting his teeth as he twisted his body to narrowly dodge the attack. His superior body and cultivation allowed him to maneuver at the last second, evading Kate's counterstrike.

"That was too close," Yang Kai admitted to himself as he retreated a few steps, spear at the ready. "If my momentum had been even slightly off, I wouldn't have been able to dodge in time."

Kate stood her ground, her crimson Twilight blade gleaming ominously, her eyes fixed on Yang Kai.

"Too bad I don't have any useful sword techniques to use," Kate said as her Twilight Sword turned to golden dust and disappeared.

"Are you done?" Yang Kai asked, still holding his ground.

Instead of answering, Kate flew toward him with alarming speed. Yang Kai, sensing her intent, stored his spear back into his Space Ring and prepared for hand-to-hand combat.

But just as Kate closed the distance she vanished.

"Space Principle!" Yang Kai's mind screamed as his instincts flared.

"Behind!" Yang Kai shouted, spinning around just in time to see Kate, her fist inches away from his face.

He managed to narrowly dodge, twisting his body with an acrobatic motion, but to his horror, a Gate of Babylon suddenly materialized beside him. From within, Twilight's golden handle emerged, its sinister presence chilling his spine.

"Not good!" Yang Kai thought, his body moving instinctively. He retreated immediately, creating space between them.

But Kate was relentless. The moment her fingers closed around Twilight's handle, she swung at him with ruthless precision. The air trembled from the slash as the red blade passed just inches from Yang Kai, who dodged yet again.

"She's not giving me a moment to breathe," Yang Kai muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Her style of fighting is starting to piss me off." Yang Kai thought to himself, his brow furrowing as he analyzed her movements.

Kate smirked, her Twilight Sword gleaming ominously in her grip, ready to press her advantage.

"Why are you escaping like a rat?" Kate teased, her voice dripping with provocation, which only infuriated Yang Kai more.

"A rat? Look at you! Who fights like a thug!" Yang Kai shot back, his temper flaring.

"I don't fight like a thug. Can't you see how precise I am? If you were something ordinary, you'd be dead by now," Kate said with an air of confidence.

Yang Kai clenched his jaw, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "She's right... Her strange way of fighting is incredibly problematic, and she's still not even in the Open Heaven Realm," Yang Kai thought, his gaze sharpening.

"Yang Kai," Kate called out suddenly.

"What?" Yang Kai replied, still on guard.

"If you can, spend a little more time with your wives," Kate said softly.

Yang Kai smirked. "Why? Jealous?"

"No," Kate said with a sly smile. "I just want you to spend more time with them before I have you all to myself."

Her words caught Yang Kai off guard. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I'll have you on the battlefield... all for myself. So, you'd better get ready," Kate said, her tone unwavering.

"Battlefield?" Yang Kai echoed, frowning. "Are you still hung up on that kind of idea? Do you really want to fight me that badly?"

"Not really," Kate admitted. "I just want to see what happens when we're in a life-and-death situation. I want to know what you'll choose."

"I'll choose to let you live," Yang Kai said confidently, though his mind churned with doubt.

Kate shook her head slowly, her voice turning cold. "I don't think so. You'll either kill me... or suffer."

Yang Kai froze, staring at her with narrowed eyes. "Why do you talk like that? Do you know something I don't?"

"No," Kate replied casually, "it's just that a war concerning the entire 3,000 worlds is about to happen."

Yang Kai's expression hardened. "And you're on the enemy's side?"

"Yeah," Kate admitted, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

Yang Kai stared at her, his mind racing. "Let's go to the Void Land," Kate said, breaking the tension.

"Okay," Yang Kai agreed after a pause, his face unreadable as he followed her.

"How should I deal with this?" Yang Kai wondered, his thoughts swirling as he trailed behind Kate, every step weighed with uncertainty.

After a month, Kate traveled to the Void Land.

In her room, she sat cross-legged, deep in thought. "Since I've obtained Divine Abilities for both Yin and Yang, I might also be able to discover something within the Wood-type resource I refined," Kate thought to herself as she studied the Wood-type energy coursing through her Dao Seal.

"I got these treasures from that place. Maybe I should go back and search for more. The resources I still lack are Fire, Earth, and Water," Kate mused, her brows furrowed in contemplation. "That mysterious being also gave me a place to establish a base. If I remember correctly, that place and the huge tree should be the same."

With that, Kate stood up, her decision made. In an instant, she teleported to another location, appearing beside a familiar, ancient sword buried in the ground.

"I'm right! It's good that I left a beacon here, and that mysterious being allowed me to come and go as I please," Kate said with satisfaction, her gaze shifting upward. As her eyes climbed higher, she took in the colossal sight before her the crown of an enormous tree stretching endlessly into the sky.

"This should be the same tree," Kate murmured to herself, a faint smile appearing on her lips. Her excitement growing, she clenched her fists. "Now... I want to search for treasures!"

With a confident stride, Kate walked forward, her figure disappearing into the vast expanse surrounding the ancient tree.

After several years of fruitless searching, Kate's frustration reached its peak. "This is infuriating! I can't find anything useful!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing through the massive expanse. Her fists clenched as she hovered in midair, seething with irritation.

Taking a deep breath, she looked up at the towering tree. "Maybe I should head toward that massive crown," Kate thought to herself, her determination reigniting.

For three arduous months, Kate ascended the colossal tree. Despite her vast reserves of energy, the journey took a toll on her. "Even with my enormous reserves, I think I'm reaching my limit just climbing this tree," she muttered, landing on a massive branch to rest.

The branch she stood on wasn't ordinary it was vast, resembling an entire universe. As her gaze swept across the area, she couldn't help but marvel. "This is just a branch? No, this is a whole universe right here," Kate murmured in astonishment, her fatigue momentarily forgotten.

While recovering her strength, she suddenly sensed something unusual. A faint yet familiar energy brushed against her senses. "Hmm... is this Honkai Energy?" Kate said, narrowing her eyes. Without hesitation, she began following the trail of energy, driven by curiosity and a glimmer of hope.

Months passed as Kate traveled through the expansive world of the branch. Her journey led her to the end of a massive petiole, its sheer scale beyond comprehension. She stood in awe, her eyes widening as she took in the sight before her.

"This place is just a petiole? How can it be this vast?" Kate muttered in disbelief. "And that there's actually a universe inside one of these leaves. What the hell am I even looking at?"

Her heart raced as she made her decision. Gathering her energy, she leaped toward the colossal leaf, plunging into the unknown universe within.