Take the initiative to attack

Ashamed to think further of those embarrassing moments, Xia Ning Shang turned her head and asked, "How did you find this hiding place?"

This location was extraordinarily concealed, an ideal spot to remain hidden. How had this junior brother managed to locate it so precisely in the dark?

Yang Kai grinned, "When you left earlier, I wandered around the area and stumbled upon it by chance. I never thought it would end up being our lifesaving refuge."

"That's our good fortune," Xia Ning Shang sighed softly.

"Rest well. When the storm passes, I'll find a way out and take you from here."

Xia Ning Shang's expression darkened as she slowly shook her head, "We can't leave."

"Where there's a will, there's a way. Why can't we?" Yang Kai chuckled.

"Because I activated the Nine Yin Eight Locks Formation, this valley is now sealed by its power. No one can leave before dawn."

Yang Kai suddenly understood, "So you left earlier to set up the formation?"

Xia Ning Shang nodded slightly, "It was initially meant to deal with the Nine Yin Condensed Yuan Dew, but I had no choice but to activate it early."

"Those eerie chains were the work of the formation?" Yang Kai recalled the scene earlier.

"Yes."

"Could they have already been killed?" Yang Kai's eyes lit up. If all those experts were dead, they might truly escape this time.

Xia Ning Shang shook her head, "No, the formation isn't primarily designed to kill. Those people are not weak; it's unlikely it killed them. At most, it might have taken out one or two of the weaker ones."

"That's still something," Yang Kai muttered to himself, a bit disappointed.

"However… although it couldn't kill them, the Yin Qi chains have invaded their bodies, likely sealing most of their power. Before dawn, they won't be able to recover. I'll see if I can regain some strength before then, and we'll escape together."

Yang Kai suddenly fixed Xia Ning Shang with an intense, predatory gaze, his voice tinged with excitement, "You said their power has been sealed? How much?"

Xia Ning Shang pondered for a moment, "At least sixty to seventy percent. The True Element Realm expert should be sealed by about eighty percent."

"So, they can't fight at full strength now?" Yang Kai's expression grew eager, his intent clear.

Xia Ning Shang looked at him anxiously, "What are you planning? Even if their strength is sealed, you can't possibly handle them. Don't do anything reckless, junior brother."

She had already seen through Yang Kai's thoughts.

Yang Kai chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, "How will we know if we don't try? Don't forget, this is a place where the Nine Yin converges. Now that their strength is sealed and they have to resist the invasion of Yin Qi, they're probably even weaker than you expect."

"But there are so many of them!" Xia Ning Shang clutched Yang Kai's arm, shaking her head repeatedly, "Don't be impulsive!"

Yang Kai gently patted her hand, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. If we stay hidden here, we'll eventually be discovered. Once we're cornered, we'll really have no way out. If I strike first, we might still have a chance."

"No." Xia Ning Shang shook her head vehemently, "I'm your senior sister, you have to listen to me. If you go out now, not only will you be unable to resist them, but the Yin Qi in this valley will also drain your energy completely."

"Little senior sister, if you want to live, don't stop me. You saw that Dragon Hui's face—imagine what would happen if you fell into his hands."

Xia Ning Shang's body trembled violently.

"Just let me go. Don't try to stop me," Yang Kai freed himself from her grasp.

"If you're determined to go, at least take this!" Xia Ning Shang, unable to dissuade him, offered a jade pendant.

"You need this more than I do," Yang Kai refused. "Don't worry, even though I'm only at the Fourth Stage of the Kai Yuan Realm, I have my ways of restoring my energy. The Yin Qi in this valley won't affect me. But you—if someone finds this place, can you hold them off?"

"I've regained some energy and can activate my defensive treasure. With their power significantly reduced, they won't pose much threat to me," Xia Ning Shang nodded.

"Then there's nothing to worry about!" Yang Kai slowly rose, making his way outside.

After being stifled and powerless for so long, it was finally time to stretch his limbs. Yang Kai's expression turned slightly sinister.

After taking a few steps, he paused and spoke softly, "Little senior sister, if I'm not back by dawn, leave on your own."

Xia Ning Shang's heart clenched, an inexplicable pain spreading through her.

Yang Kai turned and smiled, "If I do return, will you promise me one thing?"

"What is it?" Xia Ning Shang asked, holding back the sorrow in her heart.

"I'll tell you when I return." Yang Kai chuckled, slipping out of the mountain crevice. Once outside, he carefully concealed the entrance before scanning the surroundings and disappearing into the darkness.

Only Xia Ning Shang was left behind, alone and desolate.

There were still three or four hours until dawn, and the enemy numbered more than ten! This was bound to be a grueling battle.

In the dark forest, someone was sprinting rapidly, the footsteps indicating two people. Yang Kai hid behind a large tree, silently waiting for the approaching figures.

He didn't know which faction these two belonged to, nor was he aware of their strength. He could only observe and then decide his course of action.

If they were too powerful, Yang Kai would have to avoid them and seek out a weaker target.

As the footsteps drew closer, voices could be heard, "Brother Xiong, where could they be hiding? We've been searching for so long without any trace."

Another voice replied, "Be patient, Junior Brother. Senior Brother Nu and those animals from the Blood Battle Gang are also searching. Yang Kai won't be able to hide for long. We're just going through the motions. They might have already captured Yang Kai and that woman."

The junior brother nodded, "That's true. It's just a shame about that girl—she seemed quite beautiful. If she falls into Dragon Hui's hands, who knows what terrible fate awaits her."

Brother Xiong sneered, "Dragon Hui's lust will be his downfall. He's destined for mediocrity. When we rise to power, we'll have our chance for revenge."

As they spoke, a figure emerged about ten feet ahead, causing the two disciples of Wind and Rain Tower to stop abruptly. Brother Xiong shouted, "Who goes there?"

A soft laugh came from the figure, "Weren't you looking for me?"

"Yang Kai!" Brother Xiong was overjoyed. He hadn't expected to run into Yang Kai himself; this was truly an effortless find!

Brother Xiong was thrilled, and Yang Kai was equally pleased.

The conversation had already revealed their identities to Yang Kai. Of the five from Wind and Rain Tower, only Nu Lang was in the Qi Transformation Realm, while the rest were in the Kai Yuan Realm.

And against such warriors, Yang Kai had nothing to fear.