Causal Retribution; The Relationship Between Ning Heling and Yun Tianhe

At the same time, at the top of the First Pavilion, within the deep purple Domain of Karma.

Just as Tushan Youyao was adjusting the threads of karma, a sudden anomaly occurred.

That wisp of thread, originally judged as familiar and gentle, suddenly mutated the moment she touched it.

An unimaginably massive and violent force of karmic backlash, like an enraged primordial beast, roared back along the karmic threads controlled by Tushan Youyao.

The strength and ferocity of this force far exceeded Tushan Youyao's expectations, even surpassing the backlash that a Life and Death Tribulation itself could trigger.

It carried a supreme majesty that disregarded everything and crushed all creation, as if she had offended an absolute existence that even the Immortal Realm would have to avoid.

Pfft—!

Tushan Youyao's true body, along with her six avatars, were struck simultaneously as if by lightning, violently coughing up a large mouthful of blood containing fragments of soul power.

The deep purple Domain of Karma trembled violently, its light flickering erratically, on the verge of imminent collapse.

The auras of all seven entities instantly withered to the extreme. Their demon cores quivered violently, their divine souls felt as if pierced by thousands of steel needles, their vision darkened, and their consciousness began to blur.

It is over! Tushan Youyao's heart turned completely cold.

This power of backlash was too terrifying. Following the karmic connection, it was about to completely shred the demon cores and divine souls of her true body and her five avatars.

Right at this critical moment, in the instant destruction was about to descend—

Hmm?

A soft hum, carrying a trace of faint confusion but seemingly echoing directly within the origin of her soul and crossing the barriers of endless space and time, exploded simultaneously within the collapsing seas of consciousness of her and her five avatars.

The moment this voice sounded, time seemed to stand still.

That roaring, terrifying force of karmic backlash capable of annihilating everything suddenly ground to a halt.

Not only that, Tushan Youyao was astonished to discover that not only had this sudden fatal backlash vanished.

But even all the exhaustion accumulated deep within her divine soul and demon core from continuously casting the Nine Nether Karmic Tribulation over the past three days, as well as the remnants of previous karmic backlashes,

Were completely cleared and soothed away after this single sound.

In their place came a gentle yet indescribably vast nourishing power, slowly permeating her divine soul and demon core, making her condition even better than it had been before.

Tushan Youyao sat blankly on the spot, her breathtakingly beautiful face written with extreme shock and disbelief. Her beautiful eyes were wide open, her pupils slightly constricted.

This voice... this voice...

It was too familiar!

Familiar enough to make her soul tremble, familiar enough to instantly remind her of that voice from a thousand years ago by the cold pool on the outskirts of Qingqiu, the voice that had fished her out from the brink of death and despair.

Familiar enough to remind her of the first ten years when the Heavenly Demon Pavilion was founded, during those countless days and nights of listening to teachings and receiving guidance, that unique tone which always carried three parts casualness and seven parts seriousness.

It was Master!

Although it was just a short Hmm?, she would absolutely never mistake that voice!

But... had not Master been missing for a thousand years?

Could it be... some kind of contingency plan Master left behind back then?

Some kind of protective talisman or defense mechanism sealed deep within the divine souls of his disciples, triggered and activated when they encountered an irresistible, fatal crisis involving the karmic level.

This thought caused a complex surge of bittersweet emotions to well up in her heart.

The sorrow came from this familiar Hmm?, which evoked her endless longing and worry for her Master even more.

Master, I have been saved by you once again, but where are you now?

......

Heavenly Human Sacred Land, Eighth Peak, Yaoguang Peak, the summit.

Yun Tianhe stood with his hands behind his back at the highest point of the peak, his profound gaze overlooking the weaving streams of light and the scattered cultivation caves among the mountains below.

Beside him, Ning Heling stood obediently. Her slender figure and light cyan immortal flowing dress accentuated her increasingly fair skin.

She seemed a bit restless, leaning forward slightly, almost pressing against Yun Tianhe's arm. She tilted her small face up to look at her Master's profile, her clear eyes filled with concern.

Through a special channel of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion, he and his Tenth Junior Brother Han Feng, who was responsible for standing guard, had already learned the news about Eldest Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Sister, and Junior Sister Luo encountering a death tribulation in the Outer Realm.

Fifth Senior Brother Xiao Yi, because he was currently in secluded cultivation refining a Saint Bone and in a state of deep meditation, had not been disturbed for the time being.

However, neither he nor Han Feng had set off immediately.

The reason was simple: their Master, Gu Changyuan, had already personally set out for the Outer Realm several days ago.

With their Master's speed, even if they gave it their all, it would be absolutely impossible to catch up. Furthermore, with Master there, what need was there for them to make a superfluous move?

Master, are you worried about the situation with Martial Aunts and the others?

Ning Heling asked softly.

Hearing this, Yun Tianhe's brows relaxed slightly. He withdrew his distant gaze and looked at his charming and lovely disciple beside him:

Yes, I am somewhat worried. However... with Master there, I believe Eldest Senior Sister and the others will definitely be fine.

Based on the speed Master estimated himself and the time he left, he should have long since arrived deep within the Outer Realm by now.

The corners of his mouth even curled into a faint smile, carrying a bit of emotion and pride:

With Master's currently unfathomable strength, let alone the eight Half-Immortal City Lords of the Outer City, I am afraid even if all the unknown perils of the entire Outer Realm were added together, it would not be enough for the old man... Hmm, perhaps he could settle it with just one hand?

This analogy was a bit exaggerated, but having witnessed his Master casually bring out a Saint Bone, as well as that aura as deep as the abyssal sea, Yun Tianhe felt this might not be an empty boast.

Ever since receiving the Saint Bone bestowed by his Master, Yun Tianhe completely understood that his Master's current level was entirely beyond the speculation and imagination of disciples like them who were still struggling in the Half-Immortal realm.

He had personally entered the perilous Outer Realm for experiential learning and deeply knew the terrors of that place as well as the preciousness of its resources.

Yet the Saint Bone his Master casually gave out, he dared to assert, looking at the entire Outer Realm, one probably could not find a second piece.

Just releasing its aura would probably be enough to scare off the vast majority of keen-sensed alien beasts in the Outer Realm.

Ning Heling nodded vigorously. She put her hands behind her back and leaned forward again, almost leaning into Yun Tianhe's embrace.

A hint of playfulness appeared on her upturned small face. She blinked and lowered her voice to ask:

By the way, Master, about the matter between us... say, if one day Grandmaster finds out everything, will he... cleanse the sect of us?

As she spoke, she even made a throat-slitting gesture, yet there was no real fear in her eyes, but rather a bit of mischievousness.

Her relationship with Yun Tianhe had long surpassed that of ordinary master and disciple; they had become Dao Companions.

This matter was known not only by Gu Changyuan's other nine founding disciples but also well understood by the vast majority of the Lunar Elders within the Sacred Land.

It was just that everyone held an open and blessing attitude towards it. After all, although the cultivation world emphasized seniority and etiquette, regarding the union of cultivators who were truly mutually affectionate and did not violate fundamental ethics.

Especially between top-tier experts, there were no absolute prohibitions. Although examples of masters and disciples becoming Dao Companions in history were few, they were not non-existent.

However, a trace of apprehension lingered in Yun Tianhe's heart.

He had no idea what his Master, Gu Changyuan, would think of this matter.

True, his Master had always despised red tape and rigid dogmas, often teaching them, "To cultivate the Dao, one must first cultivate the heart. Rules are dead, but people are alive."

But this involved a rather unorthodox situation: his own direct disciple and his grand-disciple becoming Dao Companions. Would his Master feel this crossed some personal bottom line?

Yun Tianhe raised his hand and gave Ning Heling's smooth forehead a light, exasperated flick.

"Master is... quite open-minded, right? I've never seen him care about such superficial customs before. So... he probably won't actually get mad."

Meeting Ning Heling's playful, "Really? I don't buy it" gaze, Yun Tianhe found his own confidence wavering.

It should be fine. Master probably wouldn't get angry. And even if he did, he would at least spare his life.

Right.